Dell G3 15 (3500) Usage and Troubleshooting Guide
Summary: Learn how to use and troubleshoot issues related to LCD, drivers, webcam, Windows, input devices, networking, and more on your G3 15 3500.
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Instructions
For help with issues such as: wired and wireless networking, Windows, mouse, touchpad, keyboard, LCD, webcam and downloading drivers, see an expanding section below.
For specifications, browse to the: Dell G3 3500 Online Manual Page Select Dell G3 3500 Setup and Specifications (see the Specifications of G3 3500 section).
For port locations, browse to the: Dell G3 3500 Online Manual Page Select Dell G3 3500 Setup and Specifications (see the Views of G3 15 3500 section).
To view or download the Service Manual, browse to the: Dell G3 15 (3500) Online Manual Page Select Dell G3 15 (3500) Service Manual
To locate your Service Tag or Express Service Code, browse to the: Where is the Service Tag located?
For how-to's and troubleshooting information about Wired and Wireless networking, browse to the: Dell Networking and Wireless Support Center
For information about how to turn the wireless antenna on and off on a Dell Computer, see Dell Knowledge Base article: How to Turn the Wireless Antenna On and Off on a Dell Computer
- Using the SupportAssist application provides automatic computer updates and detects issues that it resolves for you. Let us take the effort out of maintaining your Dell Computer or Tablet. For more information about SupportAssist, browse to the: SupportAssist for PCs and tablets
- To run online hardware diagnostics to ensure that your hardware is working correctly, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: How to use the Dell PC Diagnostics The article explains how to access the hardware diagnostics and the different kinds of test available for your Dell computer or tablet.
NOTE: The diagnostics either fixes the problem automatically, or it guides you through the steps to resolve the problem. When the diagnostic identifies a failing part, depending on the failing part, we immediately start the process for a free in-warranty replacement part.
- When the computer cannot access the Internet, you can run the onboard diagnostics (ePSA) on your computer. For more information, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: Resolve Hardware Issues With integrated and Online Diagnostics (ePSA or PSA Error Codes)
This section covers the Microsoft Windows operating system that is installed on your computer; select the tabs below to find out more information.
For help with using Microsoft Windows, see the: Dell Windows Support Center (You must select the operating system you need help with.)
When the computer stops responding or you are troubleshooting slow performance issues, perform the following steps:
- Press the Power button for at least 15 seconds to ensure that the computer turns off.
- Disconnect all external peripherals including the keyboard, mouse, and external monitor. Peripherals also include external storage devices such as flash drives, USB devices, printers, cards, and so on
- Press the Power button to see if the computer turns on and boots up correctly. If not, see Dell Knowledge Base article: The computer Does Not Turn on, or is Stuck on the Dell Logo Screen
- When the computer does boot up correctly, download and install SupportAssist. For more information about how to obtain and install SupportAssist, browse to: SupportAssist for PCs and tablets
- Perform system maintenance on your computer, for more information see Dell Knowledge Base article: Optimization and Maintenance of Microsoft Windows or Troubleshooting Slow Performance Issues
- Start connecting external peripherals one at a time, and check to see if the computer continues to respond.
This link takes you to the Dell Knowledge Base article: Microsoft Windows Locks Up or an Error Occurs
For information about the drivers available, browse to the: Dell G3 15 (3500) Drivers Page
This article provides information about how to download drivers for Dell computers, How to Download and Install a Driver
This section covers the latest new features and utilities installed on your computer; read the following article to find out more information.
This section covers the hardware that is installed on your computer; select the tabs below to find out more information.
See the following Dell Knowledge Base article: s for information about how to use or troubleshoot mouse, keyboard, or touchpad issues.
- Keyboard Usage and Troubleshooting Guide
- Mouse Usage and Troubleshooting Guide
- Touchpad Usage and Troubleshooting Guide
NOTE:
- Some keys on your keyboard have two symbols on them. These keys can be used to perform secondary functions. To perform secondary functions, press Fn and the wanted key. Press and hold the Fn key, and then press the Esc key to switch the primary behavior of the function keys (F1-F12) between two modes - multimedia key mode and function key mode.
- When the computer is powered on, the battery LED also acts as the hard drive activity light. Press and hold the Fn key, and then press the h key to switch between the activity light function of the battery and the hard drive.
For information about how to turn the touchpad on or off, see Dell Knowledge Base article: Disabling or Enabling the Touchpad on a Dell Laptop
You experience a situation in which the computer does not start at all, or it does turn on but the computer does not show any image. (The lights turn on, and fans are spinning.) Look at the Battery LED for a blinking amber/white pattern to determine failures listed in Table 1. (Located on the left side of the computer, Figure 1)
Figure 1: Battery Charge/Status LED Location
NOTE:
The blinking patterns consist of 2 sets of numbers that repeat a group of Amber blinks, and then a group of White blinks.
First Group: The LED blinks with an Amber color 1 to 9 times, followed by a brief pause with the LED off for 1.5 seconds.
Second Group: The LED blinks with a White color 1 to 9 times. Followed by a longer pause before the next cycle starts again with the LED off for 3 seconds.
For example: For a No Memory Detected Error (2,3). The battery LED blinks 2 times with an Amber color, followed by a pause and then blinks 3 times with a White color. The battery LED will pause for 3 seconds before the next cycle repeats itself again. Each LED blink takes 0.5 seconds.
The computer does not shut down when displaying the Diagnostic Error Codes.
Diagnostic Error Codes always supersede any other use of the LED. For instance, on Notebooks, battery codes for Low Battery or Battery Failure situations are not displayed when the Diagnostic Error Codes are being displayed.
|
Blinking Pattern |
Component | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber | White | ||
|
2
|
1
|
CPU | CPU failure |
|
2
|
2
|
BIOS ROM failure | System board failure (included BIOS corruption or ROM error) Try to flash the BIOS to the latest version. For more information, browse to Dell BIOS Updates (see the How do I update BIOS using a USB flash drive? section). |
|
2
|
3
|
Memory | No memory/RAM detected |
|
2
|
4
|
Memory | Memory/RAM failure |
|
2
|
5
|
Memory | Invalid memory installed |
|
2
|
6
|
Chipset | System board/Chipset error |
|
2
|
7
|
LCD | LCD failure |
|
2
|
8
|
LCD | LCD power rail failure |
|
3
|
1
|
RTC power failure | CMOS battery failure |
|
3
|
2
|
PCI/Video | PCI or Video card/chip failure |
|
3
|
3
|
BIOS recovery image | Recovery image not found Try to flash the BIOS to the latest version. For more information, browse to Dell BIOS Updates (see the How do I update BIOS using a USB flash drive? section). |
|
3
|
4
|
BIOS recovery image | Recovery image found but invalid Try to flash the BIOS to the latest version. For more information, browse to Dell BIOS Updates (see the How do I update BIOS using a USB flash drive? section). |
|
3
|
5
|
Power rail | Power rail failure Try to flash the BIOS to the latest version. For more information, browse to Dell BIOS Updates (see the How do I update BIOS using a USB flash drive? section). |
|
3
|
6
|
BIOS recovery | BIOS Recovery Image not found while performing auto-recovery Try to flash the BIOS to the latest version. For more information, browse to Dell BIOS Updates (see the How do I update BIOS using a USB flash drive? section). |
|
3
|
7
|
ME Error | Management Engine error during boot Try to flash the BIOS to the latest version. For more information, browse to Dell BIOS Updates (see the How do I update BIOS using a USB flash drive? section). |
For additional help with your computer: Contact Technical Support
When the Battery LED does not blink with an Amber/White pattern, perform the following steps:- Press the power button for at least 15 seconds to ensure that the computer turns off.
- Disconnect all external peripherals including the keyboard, mouse, and external monitor. Peripherals also include external storage devices such as flash drives, USB devices, printers, cards, and so on
- Remove the A/C adapter from the computer and unplug the A/C adapter from the electrical outlet.
- Ensure that the connections on the power cable and A/C adapter are firmly pressed together.
- Insert the A/C into the computer and a good electrical outlet (not on a surge protector or power strip).
- Press the Power button to see if the computer turns on and boots up correctly. If not, see Dell Knowledge Base article: The computer Does Not Turn on, or is Stuck on the Dell Logo Screen
- Start attaching devices one at a time and testing to see if the computer turns on.
There are times when changes to the settings in the System Setup (BIOS) prevent the computer from booting into Windows or connect to the Internet. Setting the BIOS back to its defaults may help fix these issues.
- Reboot the computer.
- When you see the Dell logo during POST, press the F2 key to enter the setup screen.
- On the System Setup screen, click Load Defaults.
- Ensure that the BIOS Defaults are selected and click OK (when asked).
- Click OK on the Warning window (when asked).
- Click Exit, and the computer restarts.
This section covers the hardware that is installed on your computer; select the tabs below to find out more information.
For information about troubleshooting a laptop LCD Screen, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: Troubleshooting a Laptop LCD Screen That is Black, Blank or Hard to See
For help with resolving USB port issues, see Dell Knowledge Base article: How to resolve USB port issues
For information about and help with resolving Hard Drive issues, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: Understanding and Troubleshooting Your Hard Drive
For information about and help with resolving Audio issues, see the Speakers and Headphones Support site.
Battery Charge and Status LED
The battery charge and status LED indicator are located at the left side of the computer Figure 1. See Table 2 for the description of the LED.
Figure 1: Battery Charge and Status LED Location
|
LED Behavior
|
Description
|
|---|---|
| Alternately blinking amber light and white light | An unauthenticated or unsupported non-Dell AC adapter or battery is attached to your laptop |
| Constantly blinking amber light | Battery below specified Low Battery level |
| Light off | Battery in full charge mode with AC adapter present |
| White light on | Battery in charge mode with AC adapter present |
For additional information about and help with resolving Battery issues, see the Battery Support site.
This section covers the software that may be installed on your computer; select the tabs below to find out more information.
The Dell Windows Backup Media and Recovery Options page provides information about backing up your Windows Operating System. It also covers recovery options for when Windows does and does not start correctly.
The Dell Download Center provides information about software that you may have bought and software that is already installed on your computer. (For example: Such as Dell Backup Solutions and Dell SupportAssist for PCs and tablets.)
Some of the software sold at the time of purchase has to be downloaded once you receive your computer. You can download and install those programs by using Dell Digital Delivery, for more information see the following links:
A free PDF reader (Acrobat Reader DC) is available for free from Adobe 
This article provides help with Microsoft Office programs, A Guide to the various Microsoft Office programs available on your Dell PC
- The Skype software can be downloaded from the Skype
- To uninstall Skype, perform the following steps:
- Close Skype and ensure that it is not running in the background.
- In the Search bar, type appwiz.cpl
- Touch or click appwiz.cpl (Control panel item) to open the Programs and Features window.
- Touch and hold or right-click Skype from the list and select either Remove or Uninstall.
- Reboot your computer and check to ensure that the application has been uninstalled.
To access the Dell Security and Virus Support Page click the following link:
Your computer comes pre-installed with an anti-virus program. For more information, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: How to Get Support for McAfee Products Sold at Dell
More information about Viruses, Spyware, and Malware can be found at the following links:
Affected Products
Dell G3 15 3500Article Properties
Article Number: 000124882
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 25 Jun 2025
Version: 7
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