Laptop won’t turn on, but keyboard lights up

Question

LAPmargin: 0; '> My laptop stopped working today in that I tried charging it after assuming it ran out of battery, but it wouldn’t turn on. The orange charging light at the front turned on occasionally at the beginning, but it stopped doing so after a little. The screen wont turn on (fan doesn’t start running) so it seems the laptop just won’t power on. My keyboard lights up when I hold the power button for 15-20 seconds, but other than that, there is nothing happening. I’ve had it charging for multiple hours but it still doesn’t do anything. I’ve tried simple troubleshoots and they also haven’t started any processes.

DELL-Daniel V · Answer

Hey All,

The original thread had symptoms of No POST failure with no apparent flash code. It wouldn't be a true No Power scenario as we are receiving some signs of life with the keyboard coming on, even if brief. Please refer to the following troubleshooting if you are running into similar issues with a Dell system. Please be sure to view your system manual on our support site for guidance on accessing the internals of a system.

Perform a hard reset:
1. Disconnect any external devices including the AC adapter and disconnect the battery cable if able.
2. Hold the power button down for 10 seconds (20 seconds for Alienware)
3. Bypass any power strips, surge protectors or battery backups
4. Verify the wall outlet is functional
5. Reseat the battery cable if disconnected
6. Plug only the AC adapter back into the laptop
7. Attempt to power on the system
If unresolved, please attempt a BIOS recovery:
1. Verify that the laptop is powered OFF and disconnect the AC adapter.
2. Press and hold the CTRL key + ESC key on the keyboard.
3. Plug in the AC adapter to the laptop.
4. Release the CTRL key + ESC key on the keyboard once you see the BIOS recovery screen.
5. If the BIOS Recovery screen appears, select Reset NVRAM (if available) and press the Enter key.
6. Select Disabled and press the Enter key to save the current BIOS settings.
7. Select Recover BIOS and press the Enter key to start the recovery process
8. The unit should then boot if successful
If still unresolved, please attempt our Real Time Clock Reset:
1. Turn the system off.
2. Leave the power cable plugged into the system.
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds.
4. RTC reset occurs after you release the power button.
  1. Note: Holding the power button for longer than 40 seconds will abort the RTC reset.
5. The unit should restart a few times and power on to a time of day not set page if resolved.
Should there still be no change, then at this point you will want to remove the RAM, SSD, and WLAN card if accessible for your system.
1. Once these parts are removed, connect the AC adapter and attempt to power on the system
2. Locate the power LED indicator on your system. The unit should get a 2 amber, 3 white flash code error for no memory at the power LED
  1. If the 2,3 code is present, reinstall the components one at a time to see if the particular part or slot is causing a short. If a part is identified to be an issue, then look into replacing it or testing with a known good one if available
  2. If the 2,3 code is not present, then you would need to start looking into a motherboard replacement.

Refer to the following links for additional guidance:

Computer Won't POST

No Post Troubleshooting

If assistance is needed with these steps, then contact Dell GHN (Get Help Now) chat technical support Monday through Friday. Click the blue "Get Help Now" on the right to start a private live chat session. Share the private Service Tag with them so that they can verify the ownership and warranty status. This will also generate a unique Technical Support case for your unique Service Tag. If already out of warranty, click here for the Dell out of warranty offerings.

JOcean · Answer

First of all what is the exact model of your laptop? And do you have a light on the adapter and if so does it go out when plugged into the laptop?

NathanSpas · Answer

@JOcean​  It is the XPS 15 9520. The adaptor has a light, and it stays on when it’s plugged into the laptop.

KevinLaptopDell · Answer

If your laptop won't turn on, and you've tried basic troubleshooting steps without success, there are several potential reasons for this issue. Here are some additional steps you can take:

Check Power Adapter and Charging Port:

Ensure that the power adapter is working correctly. Try using a different power outlet and power adapter if available. Also, check the charging port on your laptop for any damage or debris.
Hard Reset:

Disconnect the laptop from the power source, remove the battery (if removable), and hold down the power button for about 15-20 seconds. Reconnect the power source and try turning on the laptop.
Try Another Power Source:

If you're using a power strip or extension cord, try plugging the laptop directly into a wall outlet to rule out issues with the power source.
Battery Issues:

If your laptop has a removable battery, try removing it and then connecting the laptop to the power source. If it doesn't have a removable battery, skip this step.
External "margin: 0; ;margin: 0;">Connect your laptop to an external monitor to see if the issue is with the laptop's display. If the external monitor works, the problem may be with the laptop's screen.
Memory (RAM) Issues:

Reseat or replace the laptop's memory modules (RAM). Faulty RAM can sometimes cause startup issues.
Check for Physical Damage:

Inspect the laptop for any physical damage, especially around the power button and the hinges. If there is visible damage, it may require professional repair.
Professional Assistance:

If the laptop is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer's support for assistance. If not, consider taking it to a professional technician or a service center for a more in-depth diagnosis.
Motherboard or Power Supply Issues:

The problem could be related to the motherboard or power supply. In such cases, professional diagnosis and repair may be required.
Data Backup:

If the data on your laptop is critical, and you are unable to resolve the issue, consider seeking professional help to recover your data before attempting any further troubleshooting.
If you've gone through these steps and the laptop still won't turn on, it's recommended to contact the manufacturer's support or consult with a professional technician. They can provide more specific guidance based on the model and details of your laptop.

Funzi · Answer

Hello there, I have the same issue, have you resolved your issue?

ralphmouth · Answer

Same issue here. Laptop 14 months old. I starting having problem about 6 months ago so I bought another Dell power supply but same issuses. I did try all pf the above troubleshooting before coming here so I'd guess motherboard bad. Will try resetting RAM.

This is my 6th Dell and the first one with troubles.

Elijah Afere · Answer

I'm assisting a user where he has had the motherboard replaced already and now the laptop won't start up. Tried the above troubleshooting and the Keyboard backlights turn on, but shortly after the laptop shuts off. We've tried getting into BIOS, but it doesn't stay powered on long enough. Any ideas on what can be done?

Bill A2 · Answer

In case it helps anyone else, I experienced similar symptoms on a Dell Latitude 5440 laptop, and here's what got things to work for me...

(First, my precise symptoms were this... every time I tried to turn the machine on, the keyboard backlight (and caps lock indicator) would illuminate, but the laptop's screen wouldn't show anything -- not even the Dell logo. The laptop just seemed to freeze in this state, even if I let it sit for five or ten minutes)

So what, for me, got things working again?: I held the power button down for a good 45 seconds, then booted it one last time. It then booted as it should. For good measure, I then used Dell Command-Update to perform all available updates and ran through all BIOS diagnostics to ensure no issues were detected.

SteveHH · Answer

I have the same problem. Problem started a weeke ago. For me holding the power button for 30secs or more doesn't achieve anything. Be useful to find a local PC repair place to have look at it.

Racerx121 · Answer

@Bill A2​ This worked for me.  Thank you!!

ralphmouth · Answer

@ralphmouth​ Update on my own problem. Within this 14 month I had to replace to 2 battery packs and finally trance it down to a bad power supply. I did start receiving notifications that battery was charging slowly and to check the power source.  But I had same problems as others as no booting or booting than only keyboards lighting up. So did the bad power supply cause 2 batteries to go bad or was this a coincidence. No problems since.

moffattx · Answer

My 14-9440 has the same exact symptom's your has.  Battery critically low when I opened my machine.  Checked the power cable, when I pulled the cable the device powered down. replaced my C to C cable plugged it in let it sit for 30 minutes.  When I powered up the XPS emblem showed on the screen and my keys lit up for about 5-10 seconds, then shut off.  I have premium support and I sent my device in and they tell me I need a new battery.  One of their new batteries and even though I have their expensive premium support plan the battery isn't covered(sorry for the attitude).

user_183f26 · Answer

@Bill A2​ thank you Bill!! I was using my work laptop from home and was having issues and did NOT want to go in but holding it down for longer helped - I appreciate you!!

user_925f30 · Answer

Same problem here, I bought an XPS 15 last year but have barely used it and already it won't start. Very frustrating, I have had many Dells and this is seemingly a total flop and waste of money. I tried holding down the power button for like 90 seconds to make sure I wasn't missing anything. The keyboard lights would come on and go back off every few seconds but no boot. So lame, I am so disappointed

user_083602 · Answer

@user_925f30​ I'm having the same issue. Any luck here?

XPS

Laptop won’t turn on, but keyboard lights up

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