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April 8th, 2025 11:54
XPS 15 9500 Takes an hour to boot after being shut down
Hi everyone,
My Dell XPS 15 9500 began experiencing boot issues about two weeks ago.
The issue is described perfectly, word-for-word, in this Microsoft Community Post. I'm getting the same symptoms exactly, and on the same model of laptop.
To summarise:
- The laptop won't boot to the lock screen when I raise the lid or press the power button.
- Keyboard lights and fans will turn on, but the Dell logo doesn't appear (or if it does, it takes much longer than usual).
- Fans and lights turn on and off periodically in a black screen 'boot loop' - This happens after the laptop is transported - shut down and unplugged - for around 5 or 10 minutes
- The laptop will boot again with user intervention - I will plug in the power cable (I have a genuine Dell charger), hold the power button for 35 seconds, and wait an hour or so (during which the 'boot loop' continues) before the lock screen appears.
- The screen flashes red, green, blue, and white, right before I am able to log in.
I rely on this laptop for university, and I can't afford a brand new laptop, so I've been trying to fix it since the issues started.
Here's what I've tried so far:
- Took the laptop to my local shop - They ran tests and dismantled everything, and I was told it was a battery issue. It was cheaper to change the battery myself, so I did. With the new battery installed, the same issues occur. The diagnostic test confirmed the battery was fine (see no. 6)
- I unplugged the battery and did a hard reset (holding down the power button with the battery and charger disconnected). This didn't do anything.
- Once I had access to the system, I backed up all my data and began investigating software issues.
- I updated the BIOS and updated to the latest (stable) version of Windows 11.
- I reset my BIOS settings.
- I updated all my drivers.
- I ran a Quick Diagnostic test, then switched to an Advanced Diagnostic test in Thorough Mode. I noticed a warning '[!] CPU Flash On-On', and when the test finished, the screen displayed 'User gave no input for video test'. All hardware tests passed successfully.
- I changed my sleep and power settings according to the Microsoft Community post linked above.
I think I've tried everything other than factory resetting the laptop, which will be very annoying!
Open to suggestions. Thanks all.
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ejn63
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April 8th, 2025 13:02
A clean install of Windows is the next step. Unless the system is hanging at the hardware level (before Windows begins loading), it's one of two things: A faulty storage drive (presumably the shop ran a diagnostic, but if you don't know they did, that's F12 at powerup) or a corrupt windows installation.
Mercury_556
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April 9th, 2025 09:14
@ejn63 Thanks, unfortunately it looks like that's the only way forward. I ran the diagnostic myself after I got it back from the shop (the shop already ran one) and no issues with either of my drives.
Hopefully that will fix things
Mercury_556
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April 14th, 2025 05:23
I just finished factory resetting the laptop. It initially fixed the problem but now the problem has returned. The only thing I haven't tried is smashing it with a hammer, might give that a go tonight 😂
Irvingrhingo
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May 26th, 2025 15:24
Hi Mercury. Been having that exact same problem for the past month or so. Did you ever figure anything out ?
Jakob_Help
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June 9th, 2025 02:09
Hi Mercury. Just commenting to say I have been having the same problem for the past few weeks. I purchased the device in late 2020. Curious to hear if you made any progress.
Mercury_556
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June 9th, 2025 02:38
Hi Jakob, I took the laptop to a shop and they did a thorough diagnostic and established that the motherboard is causing the issue. Only solution is to order in a replacement for around AUD $500. I won't be getting it fixed for a few months but will reply again once it has been repaired.