This video is a great starting point to help identify which of the following sections you should use to troubleshoot further:
Duration: 01:21
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Computers have a power light LED that glows when it is receiving power.
On Desktops, the front panel of the computer case has LED near the power button.
Try these quick steps to recover your Dell computer from a power issue.
Try the following steps to resolve a desktop not-powering situation (There are more detailed instructions in the troubleshooting link below.):
Problem Description | Suggested Resolution |
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The computer is either turned off or not receiving power. |
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If you have identified a No Power issue? You can find out more information and troubleshooting help on this issue by using the article that is linked below:
Here is a quick video that covers all the reasons why your desktop is not starting up.
Duration: 01:15
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On laptops, the indicator that power is reaching the computer can be a lit LED power button. Alternatively, it may be an LED located in the upper part of the keyboard or along the front edge of the computer itself.
Try these quick steps to recover your Dell computer from a power issue.
Try the following steps to resolve a laptop no power situation:
Ensure that the battery is fully charged.
Remove the battery and disconnect the AC Adapter; Hold the power button down for 15 - 20 seconds to discharge the Static Electricity.
Reseat the battery on the Notebook and power it on.
Remove the Battery from the Notebook and power it on using only the AC Adapter.
Here is a quick video that covers the reasons why your laptop is not starting up.
Duration: 01:46
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
Once you have identified a No Power issue, you can find out more information and troubleshooting help by checking out the articles that are linked below:
M-BIST - Integrated Motherboard Self-Test tool |
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Evaluates the health of the motherboard |
M-BIST is designed to operate even if there is no video, no fan, or no hard drive spin-up (new mainboard diagnostic). These symptoms are typically described as No Power, No Video, or Dead System. |
Press and hold the M key and the Power button down simultaneously:
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The term POST references Power-On Self-Test, which is a series of checks the computer goes through whenever it starts. If the computer fails any of these tests, it stops the start-up process and report a fault. Troubleshooting across Desktops, All-in-One PCs and Notebooks use the same procedures, but different reference material.
Try these quick steps to recover your computer from a POST or startup issue.
Indications of a failed POST include:
For information about running and using the ePSA Diagnostics, check out our:
Indications of a failed POST include:
For information about running and using the ePSA Diagnostics, check out our:
If you are looking for more information and troubleshooting help to continue resolving this issue, you can use the article that is linked below:
After the computer completes the Power-On Self-Test, it will attempt to boot the operating system.
If the computer advances past the Dell logo screen and then stops responding attempting to load the operating system? It is most likely a No Boot issue. Troubleshooting this issue uses the same procedures across Desktops, All-in-One PCs, and Notebooks.
Try these quick steps to recover your computer from a boot problem.
Follow the Video Guide Below.
Duration: 01:46
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To rule out any hardware problems, you should run the integrated ePSA diagnostics.
Most No Boot issues come down to operating system issues. Choose the article appropriate to your Operating System and troubleshoot this further:
If the computer is reporting a specific fault on-screen about the Hard Disk Drive, then you can Troubleshoot further on one of the links below:
If the power indications are normal, but there is never any video that is seen on the computer's display during the startup process? This probably indicates a No Video issue.
Try these quick steps to resolve video issues on a Dell computer.
Troubleshooting a No Video issue:
Problem Description | Suggested Resolution |
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The desktop computer is in a normal on condition. The diagnostic lights are not lit after the computer successfully boots to the operating system but there is no display showing. |
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Duration: 01:46
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
If they look fine, but you want to test more? You can respond to the video test by pressing the letter <N>, and ePSA then launches the LCD BIST test. If you have a no video issue? You can either run the <Fn+Power> keyboard shortcut to enter the ePSAs or <D+Power> keyboard shortcut to run the LCD BIST from POST.
Duration: 00:24
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
M-BIST - Integrated Motherboard Self-Test tool | L-BIST - Integrated LCD Power Rail Self-Test tool |
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Evaluates the health of the motherboard | Checks if the motherboard supplies power to the LCD. |
M-BIST is designed to operate even if there is no video, no fan, or no hard drive spin-up (new mainboard diagnostic). These symptoms are typically described as No Power, No Video, or Dead System. | L-BIST is designed to test when seeing the symptom of No Video. |
Press and hold the M key and the Power button down simultaneously:
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Press and hold the Power button down:
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The RTCRST jumper allows you to clear NVRAM. The NVRAM is cleared when the jumper is closed. (You can use the jumper from the password bridge.) Remember that it is always best practice to remove the power cable from the personal computer before opening the lid or access panel and going inside. AC power must be applied to the computer for about 10 seconds while the jumper is closed, to clear the CMOS. (This does not necessarily mean turning the computer on, putting power across the motherboard is enough.) Browse to Clearing CMOS via removing and reseating the CMOS battery for visual guides to this process.
Pins 1-2 shorted clears NVRAM
Disconnect the external power from the personal computer.
Remove the computer cover.
Locate the 2-pin password connector (PSWD) on the system board.
Remove the 2-pin jumper plug.
Locate the 2-pin CMOS jumper (RTCRST) on the system board.
Move the 2-pin jumper plug from the PSWD pins onto the RTCRST pins for approximately 5 secs.
Return the 2-pin jumper plug to the PSWD pins.
Replace the computer cover.
Connect your computer to main power again, and turn it on.
These 4 (four) issues are the most common reasons why you would be troubleshooting a problem outside of your Operating System.
They break down into 3 (three) outcomes:
You identify a hardware issue that reseating does not resolve and contact us to arrange a repair.
You identify a software issue and either resolve the issue or contact us for a resolution.
You can find out how to identify your warranty status from Dell Knowledge Base article How to Find Warranty Status and Information.
You can contact us online through our various Twitter channels:
Duration: 01:36
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
You can find out about the latest contact information for us from the following link: Contact Support.
Duration: 02:22
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You can find out more about BIOS recovery options from the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Recover the BIOS on a Dell Computer or Tablet.
There are diagnostic and logging tools available on the Dell Support Site or Contact Support.
Going through the troubleshooting results in fixing the fault, without a clear reason why.
Once you are back into your operating system and online. You can take advantage of the Diagnostics Engine on our Support Site to do a thorough check of your personal computer.
How to use the Dell Online Diagnostic Tool to troubleshoot your Dell PC.
What Dell diagnostic tools can I use to fix hardware problems?
Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.
Out of warranty? No problem. Browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag and view our offers.