Flashing CAPS lock , wont boot , memory issue

Hi bilbodell,

I would suggest you to run MpMemory test on the computer.

1. Boot the system to the utility partition by tapping F12 at dell logo and select Diagnostics.
2. From the One time boot menu select Diagnostics and Press Enter.
3. It runs a test on all the hardware components.
4. If it test fails please capture the error code and let me know the error code, I would tell you the next course of action. In case the test passes, follow the next steps.
5. From the options menu, select Test Memory.
6. If MpMemory fails, follow these steps:

• Replace the specific memory module indicated.
• If no specific memory module is indicated, troubleshoot by other means including swapping or removing memory modules.

If MpMemory passes, follow these steps:

• Determine if the problem is intermittent, as intermittent problems can be difficult to catch.
• If these tests pass or memory is not suspected as an issue, then select Test System from the option menu to run Dell Diagnostics to determine what else might be causing the problem. All tests are generally recommended.

Please post the results.

Thanks for the reply but the machine screen stays black and I no longer get a dell logo, the caps lock just flashes very fast.

I have tried different known good memory from another system and the same thing continues. Ho can I get to the diagnostics screen if I cant get past the logo?

Hi bilbodell,

Flashing Caps Lock light indicates that the memory is believed to be good but it is about to be exercised (such as when shadowing the BIOS and when testing / zeroing all memory). It could also indicate that the system is not accepting the memory module.

Please try a different memory stick, also check the memory stick you are trying to insert meets the technical specifications for the memory module supported by Inspiron 1501 as shown in the below table:

 Please check and reply for any further help.

Hi bilbodell,

I appreciate your effort of performing the troubleshooting steps; based on the results this could be a problem with the memory card slot on the motherboard of the system, as even after changing multiple memory cards the system is not responding.

If there is a possibility, try swapping the motherboard at a local tech store and check the functionality of the computer and reply.

I am looking for a replacement mother board, on the ram slot it says ouw953 48643-73j-a116, online I can only see ouw953 , will any board with this number be ok?

Hi bilbodell,

Yes, ouw953 is the right motherboard part number for Inspiron 1501; you can also check this part # JN596.

Check this link for your reference: http://bit.ly/UZ8LWp

Kindly reply for any further help.

I have replaced the mainboard and it is doing the same thing! What the heck could it be? Could it be the processor??

and it has come back again so ran diags and it froze on the memory test, lines down the screen. and  now flashing caps lock again.

okay strange it started working, with the new board. I went into the bios to set the time and now it doing the same again.

Flashing caps lock...

Hi bilbodell,

I must appreciate the ease with which you are handling this technical issue on your computer.

Yes you are right the problem could be with the connection of the hardware components on the motherboard. I can understand it can be annoying when the technical devices fail to work the way they are designed but before coming to a conclusion try reseating the wireless card/hard drive/memory and processor on the motherboard and run the diagnostics once again and check.

Please refer this ink to reseat the components: http://bit.ly/TFnk6w

Kindly post the results.

I picked up a replacement processor after reseating everything several times. I even had only the motherboard processoe and memory connected, all removed from the shell, it would boot occasionally but never get to the desktop before failing with flashing capslock again.

I am pleased to report the replacement processor has solved the issue. The question now is, how could memory make the processor fail and is the original board actually faulty or was it just the processor? I do not want to disassemble it again to find out! At a guess, the motherboard was faulty and this is what allowed the processor to become damaged.

?

Hi bilbodell,

Glad that the issue is resolved. I appreciate all your efforts in fixing the problem.

It would be difficult to target the point or the component which might have caused the damage to the processor/ motherboard without running any test.

Hope your system is working fine now, please reach out to me in for any further help.