My Latitude C600/C500 will not power on at all. No lights what so ever!

Question

I'm trying to help a friend with her Dell Latitude C600/C500, Model PP01L, PN 8D860 A00, OS is Windows XP.  It will not power on at all.  No lights what so ever.  The battery is completely drained and will not charge.  The AC adapter is putting out the 20 VDC as labeled.  I've tried the battery in and out with the AC adapter.  I've tried holding down the power switch for 30 seconds with the AC adapter out and the battery out.  I've tried reseating everything that will come out.  Hard drive, memory cards, switched the memory cards, disc drive, battery.  The plug in the computer where the AC adapter connects feels tight.  When I had the computer apart, I didn't see anything that looked burnt, melted, or exploded.  I asked her what happened, and she said it was working fine, until about a week ago and it just quit. As for the battery being drained, shouldn't this computer work without the battery in, if the AC adapter is connected. Any thoughts on what else I can check before I start buying parts and replacing willy nilly would be really appreciated.  Is there a way I can check the reserve battery without unplugging it.   I pretty much thinking the motherboard or the processor is shot and this C600 is heading for the recycle bin.

speedstep · Accepted Answer

The socket to the motherboard is probably broken. This is common. C600's can be had for $200 or less if you can find them.

http://www.pcretro.com

Dell Latitude C600/C500 Pentium 3 1.0Ghz Notebook Laptop

US $59.95

11d 5h 55m

Dell Latitude c600 Pentium 3 750MHz 128MB 14" Laptop

US $49.99

5d 5h 58m

Bay Wolf · Accepted Answer

You don't have to upgrade the BIOS. I wanted to know because if it was a failed BIOS update, the motherboard would have been toast.

Take a look at SpeedSteps advice. It may be the socket to the motherboard that is bad.

Bay Wolf · Answer

A C600.  Now that brings back memories. To answer your question:  Yes.  The system should run without the battery in if it is plugged into AC. By any chance did someone try to upgrade the BIOS?

Ken Glosenger · Answer

Bay Wolf, no one has tried to upgrade the BIOS.  Should it be upgraded, and how would you get at it if the computer won't turn on?

Ken Glosenger · Answer

Thank You SpeedSteps and Bay Wolf

Don54 · Answer

Not sure if my C600 has the  same problem but I also have power problems.    A while back I was using battery power and received the message switch to the electrical outlet but did not get it plugged in fast enough.   The electric charges the battery but will not power up the pc and battery will not power it either.   Can someone tell me what happened and to do to fix it?

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