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June 7th, 2025 02:15
Inspiron 5477 AIO Power Button LED Sequence
Hello,
I recently received an Inspion 5477 AIO which is not booting. When power is supplied, the power button LED blinks orange 6 times and then goes dark. No further blinking occurs until I press the power button at which point the LED blinks orange twice pauses 1-2 seconds then repeats the blinking twice sequence.
Per https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/inspiron-24-5477-aio/Inspiron-5477-ServiceManual/diagnostics?guid=guid-ade3ba02-18fe-41c1-84cd-a2fd012a7df5&lang=en-us 6 blinks would indicate a GPU failure and 2 blinks indicates memory not found. However, I am not sure if this is accurate as I have replaced both the CPU & RAM.
Does anyone have insight into the blinking codes for the 5477? Is the above manual correct? If so, does the initial 6 blinks when power is supplied really indicate an error? Or is it just the 2 blinks after pressing the power button that represent an error?
Thanks in advance,
Jason
anne_droid
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June 7th, 2025 09:04
Hi
While I don't actually know....
My search says this........
6 Amber Blinks:
Indicates a graphics subsystem failure. Try reseating or replacing the RAM and, if possible, the CPU (since graphics may be integrated). If the issue persists, the motherboard may be at fault.
2 Amber Blinks:
Indicates that no memory is detected. Re-seat the RAM modules, try different slots, or replace the RAM sticks.
Because you have done the CPU and RAM methinks BIOS or Main Board.
HeyYo1996
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June 7th, 2025 17:59
@anne_droid yeah that’s the same thing I find in my research. What I don’t find is any indication of whether the initial 6 blinks are part of a power on sequence or an actual error code.
I did forget to mention I have swapped the MB as well, so essentially it feels like it’s a whole new machine. But I am clearly missing something.
anne_droid
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June 7th, 2025 18:22
Hi
So 2 MB's one or both is likely to be 'good' and assuming they POST, they then pass to the BIOS.
So if the BIOS is common to both, either the BIOS is corrupt for both (unlikely) then it is the next common factor, which is GPU? Is the CPU the same in both boards??? AND the GPU???
Because the BIOS hands over to the BOOT MANAGER part which is firmware and then to the storage bootable area. I guess it doesn't get to the boot part?
HeyYo1996
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June 7th, 2025 18:26
The MBs are the same but the CPUs are different. The original is a I7-8700T the replacement is a I5-7500T. Both have on board GPUs.
anne_droid
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June 7th, 2025 18:33
Hi
Well it beats me.
It must be something external and common to both MB's.
Power Supply fault, wiring to the case for PWR / Reset ?
A short circuit in the cabling to the storage device (I would remove the storage cabling and boot a live linux USB).
Then I would go and sit in a dark room for a few hours.
Sadly I accept this has me beaten.
HeyYo1996
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June 7th, 2025 18:42
Yeah I am stumped too. I might try a different RAM stick to see what happens.
About booting, if the issue was with the storage shouldn’t I get the unit to POST? Or have things changed that much over the years that a storage device with an O/S is needed just to POST?
anne_droid
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June 7th, 2025 18:51
NOT the storage itself, but all the internal cabling, even a short on the main board to the case.
But I am clutching at straws here.
daashmor
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June 11th, 2025 02:37
I have been chasing a similar issue. I get 15 amber blinks, then a double amber every second. After 1.5 minutes, the fan turns on but no indication of booting, no beeps and a blank powered off screen. Fan just continues to run at an elevated RPM. The screen will turn on when pressing the input button and displays the correct input as you cycle through.
I have a "brand new" MB, 2 CPUs (pretty sure one is fried, scared to try the old one in the new board), 3 sticks of RAM (only the new donor RAM allows the fan to turn on after the 1.5 minutes).
I am trying to fix this for a friend, without creating a money pit and continuing to throw parts at it.
bradthetechnut
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June 11th, 2025 02:44
@HeyYo1996 Try replacing the size 2032 battery with a new one. Replacement MB's don't automatically come with a new battery. Bad batteries affect BIOS and therefore PC operation. Just one happening is throwing errorneous error codes. Try that and we can go from there.
daashmor
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June 11th, 2025 03:00
Getting the same pattern, Though it appears to be 2 blinks, 1 second pause, 2 blinks, 1.5 seconds pause...
Removed the M.2 SSD for kicks, still the same result. Blinking and fan comes on at 1.5 minutes.
bradthetechnut
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June 11th, 2025 03:20
As anne_droid indicated, it thinks there's no RAM. A-Tech is a good brand to try with lifetime warranty and they guarantee it to work. The same for Crucial, but they're more expensive. It's not said yet in this thread what CPU's and RAM were tried.
daashmor
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June 11th, 2025 23:57
I've tried 5 sticks of memory Samsung and Sk Hynix. 3 sticks came out of working PCs. I get the same error code with no memory in. Leading me to believe the board is DOA.
I have another PC I am going to put this memory collection in and test. Unless there is a compelling reason to try something else in this one?
HeyYo1996
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June 12th, 2025 00:51
@bradthetechnut
The CMOS battery is brand new and outputting 3V so that should be good. CPUs I have used are the original i7-8700T and a replacement i5-7500T. The first stick of RAM I used was an 8 GB from Crucial. I just replaced it with a 16 GB stick from A-Tech. Pictures of both sticks are below.
Do you happen to know if the 6 blinks from the power LED when the unit is provided power is a normal part of its own internal processes or is still a potential error code? Thanks!
HeyYo1996
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June 12th, 2025 00:51
pic of the crucial ram
bradthetechnut
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June 12th, 2025 03:09
The 5477 AIO is compatible with 8th gen CPU's, not 7th gen. I7-8700T is the correct CPU. It's rarer a CPU goes out, but not impossible.
Either RAM stick should work. Thanks for the photos.
It might be what you said, the MB is DOA.
Upon powering on, 6 led blinks would mean bad GPU. Since it's happening when you first introduce power, then I don't know.