It will try to reboot, but nothing will be on the screen. It then goes into a never-ending cycle of trying to reboot every 5 seconds or so (from what I remember).
The very first post in this thread describes the problem very well.
Another victim of this annoying problem here. I haven't read all this thread but mine seemed to particularly go off when I leaned on top of the DVD area.
I can confirm it has nothing to do with SP2 (which I havn't installed yet) or any other software problem.
I just spent an hour taking apart my I5150.
- Carefully vacuumed all the hairs and dust around all the insides and parts.
- Made sure all visible screws were nice and tight (some of them tightened a little more)
- Put everything back
Now it is much better! When the laptop seated on a flat surface I can use it as normally (though how long this lasts for I wouldn't like to guess).
Unfortunately it still goes off when I pick up the laptop or move it around.
Aznman, start by (re)reading other posts on this thread. Unless Dell announces a recall or "warranty amnesty" for those in your situation, all you can do is disassemble and try to find where the short/open circuit is happening. Some suggestions I proposed to Onila might help. Others like Rich have seen improvement just by disassembling, cleaning/tightening, and reassembling. Feedback from several post-ers who have returned their notebooks to Dell will hopefully shed more light as to exactly where the problem is.
If you still have some functionality, an external keyboard and mouse might postpone the inevitable.
I've had my 5150 since July 03. I didn't have problems with it until around April 04. I figured out that it was the overheating issue. I dealt with that and life went on as normal. However, in mid September, my 5150 started shutting off when it was touched. I checked my warranty and it expired in July 04 (shame I didn't find this out sooner!). I'm pretty sure it's a problem with the motherboard but I'm not sure what to do since my warranty has expired. Should I send it in to Dell and pay around $800 for it or should I look for a new motherboard on my own? I checked around and there don't seem to be many in circulation.
I completely disassembled my 5150 earlier today and put everything back together. I noticed many months ago that I was missing the "O" screw on the back of the laptop. Also, my CD/DVD drive pops out sometimes. Usually taking out the drive seems to make the computer happy but it still shuts down whenver I touch it.
I know that this has already been covered but these problems began right after I installed XP SP2 and upgraded to A37 (I believe I was running on something much less than A23 before my upgrading began). I have always wondered if simply putting a screw in the "O" space would help. Incase no one has done that yet, I'm on my way to do it now.
I sure hope someone from Dell is reading this. Maybe if I violate the TOS they'll look.
By the way, I'm sure glad that I'm not the only one facing this problem but it's very interesting to see it happened around roughly the same time.
Interesting, Onila. If a slow RAM module, why would the problem act like it was mechanical and not just show as a POST (power on self test) BIOS or Dell diagnostics error, unless process of reseating the module corrected a bad connection? Others have reseated the module without success. Perhaps problem with your notebook is different from what the others are experiencing.
Your advice is well taken, however. Certainly worthwhile to go through Dell's support process before tearing things apart. It is encouraging that you got help despite being out of warranty.
I tried calling Dell earlier this afternoon but gave up (I have a term paper to write and didn't feel like wasting the afternoon away on hold). Regarding the RAM issue, I continue to experience the shut down problem with the default 256 I got from Dell and when I put in the 1GB I bought separately. I also tried using different hard drives to see if it was a bad hard drive but I still experienced the same problem. I'll try calling them later this week and see if that helps.
Well, for now anyway. I put a screw into the "O" space and the laptop turns on fine, for now. I'll have to test it some more but I think that might have solved the problem. I hope.
No,no. Don't just send it in or spend anything yet. I thought I had the same problem everyone else here has and after getting on the phone with Dell service(I am not under warranty either)they helped me get mine up and running. I lost one of my RAM modules and will replace it because it runs slower than usual, but other than that everything is fine and I haven't spent $ or anything.
Take the time to to call DELL. Tell them the problem you have without prejudice towards this problem and see what they can do. I told him what mine was doing and he told me I had 2 different problems happening and we went through the process on the phone and I am up and running.
It's worth the wait. I waited about 20-25 minutes. Good luck.
When I said that "I lost one of my RAM modules" I mean one was bad and he told me that was why it was shutting off. We had two 256 modules and the one went bad. Maybe a power surge of some sort.
I have actually had good help 3 times since my warranty expired. One time we were 3 hours trying to figure out why my DVD wouldn't play DVDs. That's a whole other issue, but it works now....I think.
I used a screw from an old HP laptop that no longer works. I tried tapping over the CD/DVD drive repeatedly and it continued to work, for the most part. It only shut off when I thumped it pretty hard with my finger. So, as long as I don't bang it up too bad, it works. The length size of the screw is about the same size as the ones that hold the front part of the laptop together (the part closest to you when you're using it). I'm going to open it up later and see if I can't make things stay in place more.
For a while, it went down hill, i couldn't use it at all, when it was sitting normally.
I haven't been playing about with the lid or anything since i started using it tonight, and apart from one occasion, when it cut out, as if i'd cut the power supply... it's been fine.
It's sitting on a pretty unstable table ... haha.. unstable table ... collapsing actually of danger in (not bit. a wobbles
I've been doin' little movie edits, and been online for most of the night, and ... im happy ... :smileyvery-happy:
Well of course my notebook was supposed to be in my hands yesterday. But I called this morning and they stated that they were still waiting on the parts. Keep in mind they received my notebook last Monday. So now I am still waiting for an ETA..
Anyone else experiencing this also.. the delay in getting their notebook back?
I've had two phone calls this week to say that they are still waiting on parts. I presume they've been overwhelmed by the demand for motherboards (if that's what's been replaced) due to the fact that so many of us have been having problems.
cordless_larry
69 Posts
0
October 17th, 2004 11:00
rich1980
14 Posts
0
October 17th, 2004 14:00
Message Edited by rich1980 on 10-17-2004 10:21 AM
dspman
306 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 19:00
Aznman, start by (re)reading other posts on this thread. Unless Dell announces a recall or "warranty amnesty" for those in your situation, all you can do is disassemble and try to find where the short/open circuit is happening. Some suggestions I proposed to Onila might help. Others like Rich have seen improvement just by disassembling, cleaning/tightening, and reassembling. Feedback from several post-ers who have returned their notebooks to Dell will hopefully shed more light as to exactly where the problem is.
If you still have some functionality, an external keyboard and mouse might postpone the inevitable.
Message Edited by dspman on 10-18-2004 02:05 PM
aznman43
62 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 19:00
I've had my 5150 since July 03. I didn't have problems with it until around April 04. I figured out that it was the overheating issue. I dealt with that and life went on as normal. However, in mid September, my 5150 started shutting off when it was touched. I checked my warranty and it expired in July 04 (shame I didn't find this out sooner!). I'm pretty sure it's a problem with the motherboard but I'm not sure what to do since my warranty has expired. Should I send it in to Dell and pay around $800 for it or should I look for a new motherboard on my own? I checked around and there don't seem to be many in circulation.
I completely disassembled my 5150 earlier today and put everything back together. I noticed many months ago that I was missing the "O" screw on the back of the laptop. Also, my CD/DVD drive pops out sometimes. Usually taking out the drive seems to make the computer happy but it still shuts down whenver I touch it.
I know that this has already been covered but these problems began right after I installed XP SP2 and upgraded to A37 (I believe I was running on something much less than A23 before my upgrading began). I have always wondered if simply putting a screw in the "O" space would help. Incase no one has done that yet, I'm on my way to do it now.
I sure hope someone from Dell is reading this. Maybe if I violate the TOS they'll look.
By the way, I'm sure glad that I'm not the only one facing this problem but it's very interesting to see it happened around roughly the same time.
Message Edited by aznman43 on 10-18-2004 04:27 PM
dspman
306 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 20:00
Interesting, Onila. If a slow RAM module, why would the problem act like it was mechanical and not just show as a POST (power on self test) BIOS or Dell diagnostics error, unless process of reseating the module corrected a bad connection? Others have reseated the module without success. Perhaps problem with your notebook is different from what the others are experiencing.
Your advice is well taken, however. Certainly worthwhile to go through Dell's support process before tearing things apart. It is encouraging that you got help despite being out of warranty.
aznman43
62 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 20:00
aznman43
62 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 20:00
Onila
13 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 20:00
No,no. Don't just send it in or spend anything yet. I thought I had the same problem everyone else here has and after getting on the phone with Dell service(I am not under warranty either)they helped me get mine up and running. I lost one of my RAM modules and will replace it because it runs slower than usual, but other than that everything is fine and I haven't spent $ or anything.
Take the time to to call DELL. Tell them the problem you have without prejudice towards this problem and see what they can do. I told him what mine was doing and he told me I had 2 different problems happening and we went through the process on the phone and I am up and running.
It's worth the wait. I waited about 20-25 minutes. Good luck.
Onila
13 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 20:00
When I said that "I lost one of my RAM modules" I mean one was bad and he told me that was why it was shutting off. We had two 256 modules and the one went bad. Maybe a power surge of some sort.
Hope this helps.
Onila
13 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 21:00
Onila
13 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 21:00
aznman43
62 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 22:00
NewAgeJesus
18 Posts
0
October 18th, 2004 22:00
KingSnake1
2 Intern
•
193 Posts
0
October 19th, 2004 12:00
Well of course my notebook was supposed to be in my hands yesterday. But I called this morning and they stated that they were still waiting on the parts. Keep in mind they received my notebook last Monday. So now I am still waiting for an ETA..
Anyone else experiencing this also.. the delay in getting their notebook back?
cordless_larry
69 Posts
0
October 19th, 2004 15:00