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June 30th, 2025 18:13
Unknown Error Code on Precision 5490
Howdy! I'm struggling with my one year old 5490. I have an issue where if I leave the laptop plugged in and asleep for a period of time (10 mins to 10 hours) the laptop will enter an error state where the status light will blink 8 white followed by 1 orange lights. The laptop will be unresponsive to normal input until I perform a hard restart, upon which the fans kick on for several minutes at 100% power.
I have had the system checked by the Advanced Resolution Center where they replaced the motherboard and heat sink, however the issue has returned with increasing frequency. Support has denied my request for a system exchange, but I can't afford to continue to send this laptop to the ARC for repair. Note this is the 4th motherboard that this laptop has had, the first two had wireless card issues, and the third had this power issue.
Any advice on what this error is or how to fix it would be greatly appreciated.
anne_droid
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July 1st, 2025 09:25
Hi
While not wishing to contradict you or DELL tech's, it may actually be a KNOWN error.
Error Code: 1 Amber + 8 White LED Blinks
Meaning: This is a BIOS issue that can cause the system to stop responding or show a black screen, especially when not connected to AC power.
Recommended Actions:
Connect the AC adapter to the system and power it on again. This often allows the system to boot normally.
Update the BIOS to version 1.1.0 or later, which contains a fix for this issue.
Additional Notes:
This error is related to a known BIOS bug affecting certain Dell Plus systems, including the Precision 5490.
If the problem persists after BIOS update, further hardware diagnostics may be necessary.
For detailed troubleshooting, check the display cable connection as improper seating or damage can cause related issues (see Dell Precision 5490 Owner's Manual).
Summary:
References:
Dell Knowledge Base article on 1 amber and 8 white LED error: Dell KB 000285283
Dell Precision 5490 Owner’s Manual diagnostic lights section
Dell Precision Mobile Diagnostic Indicator Reference Guide
If you have not yet updated your BIOS, start there. Make sure the system is connected to AC power during the update and reboot. If the error continues after BIOS update, contact Dell Support for further diagnostics or repair options.
Davidhb45
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July 1st, 2025 17:53
@anne_droid Thank you for finding this! While this is definitely helpful, I just checked my system and I am running BIOS version 1.13 and continuing to throw this error, which now makes it more of a mystery!
anne_droid
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649 Posts
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July 2nd, 2025 09:21
Prego.