How to Reset the Real-Time Clock to Recover Your Dell Laptop
Summary:
This article provides information about how to reset the Real-Time Clock (RTC) on a Dell laptops. RTC reset helps recover supported Dell laptops from a no power, no post, or no boot
issue.
...
Please select a product to check article relevancy
This article applies to This article does not apply to
The Real-Time Clock (RTC) reset function allows you or a Dell service technician to recover a Dell Latitude, Inspiron, Precision, Vostro, Alienware, or XPS laptop from a no power, no POST, or no video issue.
The RTC reset resets the BIOS to factory default settings, reset the computer date and time, and unprovision Intel vPro (The IT administrator’s vPro account and password on the computer is unprovisioned. You must complete the setup and configuration process again to connect it to the vPro server).
NOTE: Real-Time Clock (RTC) reset is available on select Dell Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, Vostro, and XPS laptops only. See the list of Dell laptops that support RTC reset below.
During the reset process, the computer will restart several times, and depending on how it is configured, you may see the keyboard backlight or other LED indications when the power button is held and after it is released. Once the reset is complete, the computer should reboot, and the Dell logo screen indicates that the reset is complete successfully.
NOTE: Once the RTC reset is complete, the computer may remain in a no boot status until the time, date, and other BIOS settings (SATA drive selections, so forth) are correctly set to boot to Windows. Failing to boot immediately after a reset does not mean that the reset has failed. You must restore the previous BIOS settings, such as the SATA Operation mode to RAID On or AHCI mode for the computer to boot into the operating system.
The following items are unaffected by the RTC reset:
If TPM is on and enabled, RTC reset is not affected (Remains on and enabled)
Service Tag
Asset Tag
Ownership Tag
Admin Password
System Password
Hard drive Password
Key Databases
System Logs
The following options may or may not be reset based on the custom BIOS settings:
The Boot List
Enable Legacy Option ROMs
Secure Boot Enable
Allow BIOS Downgrade
How to Reset the Real-Time Clock (RTC)
Turn off the computer.
Connect the AC adapter to the computer.
Press and hold the power button (around 30-35 seconds), until the power LED blinks three times.
Release the power button.
The RTC reset is complete after the power button is released.
NOTE: Real-Time Clock (RTC) reset is available on select Dell Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, Vostro, and XPS laptops only. See the list of Dell laptops that support RTC reset below.
NOTE: If the AC adapter is disconnected from the laptop during the process or the power button is held less than 25 seconds or longer than 40 seconds, the RTC reset process is aborted.
If your Dell laptop is still not able to boot into the operating system, see the Dell knowledge base article:
Dell Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, XPS, and Precision laptops that support RTC reset
NOTE: In addition to the computers listed below, all Intel based Dell computers with 8th Generation (Kaby Lake) (2017) processors support RTC reset.
All Intel based Dell computers 9th Generation and newer (Coffee Lake) (2018) support an improved RTC Reset with power rail (which is an additional feature to RTC Reset that also restarts the internal power circuits of the motherboard).
Supported computers:
DELL G3 3579
DELL G7 7588
Inspiron 14-3467
Inspiron 14-5468
Inspiron 15-3552
Inspiron 15-3558
Inspiron 15-3565
Inspiron 15-3567
Inspiron 15-3568
Inspiron 15-3576
Inspiron 15-5558
Inspiron 15-5559
Inspiron 15-5567
Inspiron 3542
Inspiron 5370
Inspiron 5378
Inspiron 5557
Inspiron 5570
Inspiron 5577
Inspiron 7373
Inspiron 7460
Inspiron 7472
Inspiron 7559
Inspiron 7560
Inspiron 7567
Inspiron 7570
Inspiron 7572
Inspiron 7577
Latitude 11 3180
Latitude 11 3189
Latitude 12 5280 Mainstream
Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1
Latitude 12 5289 2-in-1
Latitude 12 7212
Latitude 12 7280 Ultrabook
Latitude 12 7285 2-in-1
Latitude 13 3380
Latitude 14 3480
Latitude 14 5480 Mainstream
Latitude 14 7480 Ultrabook
Latitude 15 3580
Latitude 15 5580 Mainstream
Precision 15 3520
Precision 15 5520
Precision 15 7520
Precision 17 7720
Precision 5540
Precision 5550
Precision 5560
Precision 5570
Precision 5760
Precision 5770
XPS 13 9360
XPS 13 9365 2-in-1
XPS 15 9560 (Kaby Lake CPU)
XPS 9320
XPS 9380
XPS 9500
XPS 9510
XPS 13 7390
XPS 13 7390 2-in-1
XPS 13 9300
XPS 13 9305
XPS 13 9310
XPS 13 9310 2-in-1
XPS 13 9315
XPS 15 7590
XPS 15 9520
XPS 17 9710
XPS 17 9720
XPS 9315 2-in-1
Alienware M15 R5 Ryzen Edition
Alienware M15 R7 AMD
Alienware M17 R5 AMD
Dell Latitude laptops that support Self-Heal
Also, all Dell Latitude E1 to E3 series laptops and E4 to E7 series laptops listed below support the Self-Heal feature.
How to Use Self-Heal on Dell Latitude:
Duration: 00:58 When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
Dell Latitude laptops that support Self-Heal feature
Latitude 3150
Latitude 3160
Latitude 3340
Latitude 3440
Latitude 3450
Latitude 3550
Latitude 5250
Latitude 5450
Latitude 5550
Latitude 6430U
Latitude 7350
Latitude 7370
Latitude E5250
Latitude E5270
Latitude E5440
Latitude E5540
Latitude E5550
Latitude E5570
Latitude E6230
Latitude E6330
Latitude E6430
Latitude E6430 ATG
Latitude E6430S
Latitude E6440
Latitude E6530
Latitude E6540
Latitude E7240
Latitude E7240X
Latitude E7250
Latitude E7270
Latitude E7440
Latitude E7450
Latitude E7470
Additional Information
Recommended Articles
Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.
Is your computer out of warranty? For Out of Warranty support, browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag to view our offers.
Note: Offers are only available for consumer and commercial computer customers in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and China. Offers are not applicable to Server and Storage systems.
Affected Products
Alienware Area-51m, Alienware M15, Alienware M17, Dell G5 15 5590, Dell G7 15 7590, Dell G7 17 7790, Inspiron 7373 2-in-1, Inspiron 15 5582 2-in-1, Inspiron 15 5583, Inspiron 15 5584, Latitude 3180, Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Latitude 3190
, Latitude 5280/5288, Latitude 7280, Latitude 3301, Latitude 13 3380, Latitude 5300 2-in-1, Latitude 5300, Latitude 7300, Latitude 3400, Latitude 5400, Latitude 5401, Latitude 5480/5488, Latitude 5491, Latitude 5495, Latitude 7400 2-in-1, Latitude 7400, Latitude 7480, Latitude 3500, Latitude 5500, Latitude 5501, Latitude 5580, Latitude 5591, Precision 3520, Precision 3530, Precision 3540, Precision 3541, Precision 5520, Precision 5530, Precision 5540, Precision 5550, Precision 5560, Precision 5570, Precision 7530, Precision 5760, Precision 5770, Precision 7730, Precision 3431, Vostro 14 3468, Vostro 5480, Vostro 15 3568, Vostro 3572, Vostro 3590, Vostro 15 5568, Vostro 15 7580, XPS 13 7390 2-in-1, XPS 13 7390, XPS 13 9300, XPS 13 9305, XPS 13 9310 2-in-1, XPS 13 9310, XPS 13 9315 2-in-1, XPS 13 9315, XPS 13 Plus 9320, XPS 13 9360, XPS 13 9365 2-in-1, XPS 13 9380, XPS 15 7590, XPS 15 9500, XPS 15 9510, XPS 15 9520, XPS 15 9560, XPS 15 9570, XPS 15 9575 2-in-1, XPS 17 9710, XPS 17 9720
...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000125880
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 17 Sept 2024
Version: 27
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.
Article Properties
Article Number: 000125880
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 17 Sept 2024
Version: 27
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.