I have a XPS 1710 and I have this problem.

I did it and it didn't work.

I don't mean to threadjack, but I had the same issue.  I narrowed it down to a bad RAM slot (B), as both my 1GB chips work in slot A, but not if B is populated.  So I can boot with 1GB, but I don't suppose there is something I can do to fix the other slot.  If you have any input, it would be much appreciated.  It saves me from tossing 2 good 1GB dims and buying a 2GB one.

info:

Dell XPS M1710.

ok, so i am having this same problem. i have a Dell Inspiron E1505 running Windows 7 Fire. 80 gig hard drive and 2 512mb ram sticks. i was using my computer normaly like any other day, when i clickd the shut down button in the start bar but nothing happened. so i held the power button untill completly shut off. i turned it back on and when prompted to start in either safe or normal, i chose normal. the screen whent black and was completely unusable for about 5 minutes. i plugged it into its power source and pushed the power button, the charge light, power light and bluetooth light came on as well as the numlock light. but thats as far as i got, i read this thread and removed the ram thinking this may be the problem, but now as i push the power button, it stays on for 3 seconds and turns back off. any ideaas?

This works. I purchased a battery and coin cell battery and it didnt fix the problem. I reseated the RAM memory and it did not work. What did work was removing both memory sticks and using one at a time.. this got the comp to start up fine.

I had the same problem, Caps Lock flashing, the turn off on an Inspiron 9100.

Replaced the memory with 2 new 256 meg & replaced the hard drive, started right up & running like new.

In fact it seems faster than when it was new.

Okay I'm really bad at computers, but I would like some help. I have kind of the same problems. My computer is a hp Pavilion. Today I pushed the turn-on button and the 'keyboard' turned on, and the small led-lights around the keyboars also blinked. But the screen did not turn on. And then the 'caps lock', 'num-lock' and 'scroll' lights blinked at the same time, maybe every 5-10 seconds, and kept on like that. It did not turn of itself. And then I tried to turn it off and turn it on again but it did the same thing again. And I tried to take the battery out, and in again and turn it on, and it did the same again. What should I do ?