Laptop won't power on, white LED comes on for a second

The reset procedure actually is to disconnect the battery and the adapter. Then press and hold down the power button for 30 seconds. Then reconnect everything and try to reboot. Run a diagnostic procedure by tapping F12 immediately at boot. If it runs properly watch for any errors. That flashing amber light means a low battery charge. It is possible that the battery needs to be replaced or that the adapter is not charging the battery properly. If the adapter light stays on then a short is not likely. If possible try another Dell adapter. It is also possible that the DC jack is having problems and needs to be replaced. Least likely cause, the MB charging circuit is not working.

@JOcean​ Forgot to mention I did have them disconnected when trying that but didn't work also. Just tried the F12 key while powering on but nothing appeared unfortunately, only the D key seems to work but that just leads to a white screen. It should have still managed to turn on without the battery as long as the adapter is connected right? So that leaves either the adapter or DC jack being the culprits seeing as it at least manages to power on for a few seconds with a white screen?

Sometimes it tends to install Windows updates automatically and there was this one time where it froze and had to force shut down by just holding the power key for a few seconds, then it started normally and just continued on with the updates. Is an automatic BIOS update from Windows possible or no? If it managed to freeze again during one of those maybe it got corrupted or then I would be getting different LED signals when trying to power it on? I never managed to find any info on what kind of signs its supposed to give if that was the case.

If your Dell laptop won't power on and you observe the white LED coming on for a second and then turning off, it suggests a potential power-related issue. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and address this problem:

1. Perform a Hard Reset:

• Disconnect the laptop from the power adapter and remove the laptop's battery (if it's removable).
• Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to drain any residual power.
• Reconnect the battery (if removable) and the power adapter.

2. Check the Power Adapter:

• Ensure that the power adapter is functioning correctly. Check for any visible damage to the power cord or adapter.
• Test the power adapter by using it on another compatible laptop if possible.

3. Inspect the Charging Port:

• Make sure the charging port on the laptop is clean and free from debris or obstructions. A blocked or damaged port can prevent proper power delivery.

4. Reset BIOS/UEFI Settings:

• Access the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key (typically F2, F12, or Del) during startup.
• Once in the BIOS/UEFI settings, find an option to "Load Default Settings" or "Reset BIOS Settings to Defaults." Confirm and save the changes if necessary.
• Exit the BIOS/UEFI and restart the laptop.

5. Check RAM and Other Hardware:

• Faulty RAM or other internal hardware components can prevent the laptop from starting. Try reseating or replacing the RAM modules one at a time to see if that resolves the issue.

6. Disconnect External Devices:

• Disconnect all external devices, including USB drives, external monitors, and peripherals. Sometimes, a faulty external device can cause startup issues.

7. Attempt to Power On:

• After performing the above steps, attempt to power on the laptop and observe if the issue persists. If the white LED still comes on briefly and then turns off, proceed to the next step.

8. Professional Diagnosis:

• If the laptop still won't power on or if you suspect a deeper hardware issue, it's advisable to contact Dell's customer support or take the laptop to an authorized Dell service center.
• The brief LED flash and subsequent power-off may indicate a hardware failure, such as a faulty motherboard, power supply, or other internal components. These issues typically require professional diagnosis and repair.

9. Check Warranty:

• If your laptop is still under warranty, Dell's customer support should assist you with the necessary repairs or replacement. Be sure to provide them with all relevant information about your laptop and the issue.

It's important to exercise caution when working with internal laptop components, especially if you're not experienced with hardware troubleshooting. If you're unsure about any steps or if your laptop is under warranty, it's best to seek professional assistance from Dell or an authorized service provider to diagnose and resolve the issue.

@JOcean​ I hold the power button but the light beside sa charging port only turns orange as long as I hold the power button. Nothing changes. I am trying to charge my laptop but the white color or any color aren't showing.

I was just using the laptop just last night and when I try to open it today, it wasn't showing any response. Hope you'll be able to help me.

@Trisha Misericordia​ If you unplug the adapter from the wall then plug it back in does the light on the adapter come back on (before you plug it into the laptop)? And if so does the light on the adapter go out when you plug it into the laptop? Also what is the exact model number of your laptop?

@JOcean​ I have similar problem, my laptop not turning on while charging light just blinking when clicking on power button. I change my battery and check adapter and charging port but nothing work out. It just frustrating me 😑

@Gaganpatel47​ Hello, have you found a solution to this problem, I have the same problem

@reDam1​ Hello brother,

I have same issues, please help me, how to fix it.

I have Dell Inspiron 5320. 

Issue: Keyboard backlight is almost zero.

Troubleshooting done: 

• Drivers and BIOS is updated to the latest version.
• Keyboard has been replaced by Dell.
• Going to BIOS, changes have been made to Timeout on AC to 1 minute.
• Windows re-installed.

Still getting the same issue. Is this a motherboard issue ???? 

Hey ive got the same problem on my hp laptop , share if you got any solutions for this

how i solved it :

TLDR :

my solution :

do a TRUE bios reset (BIOS recovery) :

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/fr-fr/000132453/procedure-de-restauration-du-bios-sur-un-ordinateur-ou-une-tablette-dell#Recovery_Start

my laptop is a Vostro 15 3568 (BIOS Recovery 2 (BR2))

my case :

- hardware is working perfectly (did a lot of hardware diagnostics without any problem)

- can start laptop and boot on windows but need to reset CMOS battery every time or never shut down and never unplug

- sometimes, BIOS warnings for time-of-day not set and invalid configuration informations, run setup

my problems were :

- battery appears in good health on windows and on BIOS but if i unplug the charger, laptop turns down (like battery has no power)

- BIOS was not saving any parameter (date/time and configuration)

- CMOS battery seems dead, i replaced to be safe (strangely, CR2016 worked better than CR2032 in my laptop 🤔)

- when booting up after resetting CMOS (either by removing and replacing the CMOS battery or holding 25seconds the power button with battery and charger disconnected (see : https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/fr-fr/000124377/comment-effectuer-une-r%C3%A9initialisation-du-bios-ou-du-cmos-et-ou-effacer-la-m%C3%A9moire-nvram-sur-des-syst%C3%A8mes-dell#Reseat)), i had slow blinking white led light + fans at full speed and it would restart 2-3 times like that before booting to windows

- cannot turn on the laptop after shut down. CMOS reset needed

before starting

important : i have a laptop, so i don't know for all in ones, desktop, tablets, etc

but you can try

if your pc can't start :

if you have amber (orange) or white color blinking on your laptop led light, check on this page what does that indicate : https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/fr-fr/xps-8940-desktop/xps-8940-service-manual/system-diagnostic-lights?guid=guid-85db873b-6a6d-4609-b8b6-31ea6899c4b5&lang=en-us

white blinking is not a problem : it indicates s3 low-power state

if your PC can't start, try to remove and replace the CMOS battery

if your pc led light shows white light blinking + fans at full speed, let the pc reboot automatically 2 or 3 times then it will boot up

BIOS true reset

official video guide : https://youtu.be/WC24Np6H95I?si=1xrw86hQK_7ft_k_

official web guide :

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/fr-fr/000132453/procedure-de-restauration-du-bios-sur-un-ordinateur-ou-une-tablette-dell#Recovery_Start

its better to be on the last BIOS version that your pc supports

here are the steps :

- Turn off your laptop

- Unplug it

- hold CTRL (control) and ESC keys

- plug your laptop

- keep holding the keys until the BIOS Recovery Menu appears (my laptop don't have back-light keyboard and the caps lock didn't lighted up)

on the BIOS Recovery Menu :

- choose reset bios settings to default

- and confirm

- bios will reset

- then when its finish, let laptop boot in windows

- restart your laptop and boot into BIOS (by spaming F2 when dell logo appears)

- configure your laptop's BIOS : date and time, secure boot, verify its UEFI, etc

then you can exit, it boots to windows and if you shut down, now you can restart your laptop like a normal laptop

all my problems got solved, including the battery one

hope it works for you aswell

Thank you!

This got me temporarily access to my computer. Even after this reset my computer does not power on. 

At least I'm able to power it on a retrieve my data then send it off to Dell for repair.