DELL Latitude c840 power on problems...

monkeystu · 04-13-2008, 09:57 AM

I recently bought 1Gb (2 x 512Mb) of Crucial memory to upgrade my Dell Latitude c840. Once the new memory was installed I went to restart it and it wouldn't.
The power light and the HDD light come on and stay on while the Caps-lock light flashes. This lasts for about 5 seconds or so then it powers down.
I have tried putting the old memory back in but I get the same result.
There is obviously something wrong and I believe that the sequence of lights is important and refers to an error code.
Has anyone got any ideas??
Cheers in advance,
Stu.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-13-2008, 10:25 AM

hi Stu,

whenever this happens to me, i usually strip it down to RAM only (HDD removed, PCMCIA, USB, etc...) then power ON again. if this does not get me anywhere, i do the following:

1. remove battery and AC adapter from laptop
2. press power ON button for at least 30secs. (more is good)
3. release power ON button and let it rest for 1min.
4. attach battery and AC adapter
5. power ON as normal

so i leave you that at the moment... do post back what you tried and whatever the result...

monkeystu · 04-13-2008, 05:05 PM

Thanks for the advice Shan,
I tried both ideas and unfortunately no change.
There was a change however, in that when the HDD wasn't in and I powered on, the HDD LED didn't light up, but I guess that is to be expected.
I am beginning to wonder if I have fried or damaged something while putting the new memory in.
The thing is though, is that it's still clever enough (the laptop) to power down after 5-10 seconds or so, as if it is waiting for a response, and if it doesn't get one then it just powers down.
To be a bit more precise with the lights.
When powered up the main power LED and the HDD LED (if the HDD is present) light up and stay on continuously, and the capslock LED flashes 10 times over a period of about 7 seconds, then it powers down.
I'm convinced it's an error code.
Stu.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-13-2008, 05:13 PM

Hi Stu,

thank you for posting back.

the symptoms you wrote are the very same symptoms that i get if i put in an incompatible or a defective RAM. on the other hand, you said you tried putting in the old RAM stick but as you said the symptoms are the same.

i am thinking that probably somehow the RAM sticks both old and new got fried. these components are electrostatic sensitive devices and extra care is given when installing them. one way to test them (both old and new) is to use them on another computer. or if you have a spare, use that instead in your laptop.

just for reference check this out... http://www.memorystock.com/how_to_in...top_memory.htm

monkeystu · 04-13-2008, 05:21 PM

Hi Shan,
I was pretty careful when installing the new memory and have done it before, but your right about trying other memory and I was going to try that next, and see if I can find an old stick of memory to try.
What we really need to know are what the error codes are. That would save a whole lot of hassle, and probably money.
I'll let you know what happens.
Stu.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-13-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeystu

Hi Shan,
I was pretty careful when installing the new memory and have done it before, but your right about trying other memory and I was going to try that next, and see if I can find an old stick of memory to try.
What we really need to know are what the error codes are. That would save a whole lot of hassle, and probably money.
I'll let you know what happens.
Stu.

i did a quick search on the CAPS LOCK blinking 10 times and guess what

? yup, it could be the RAM and worse it could be the motherboard ( i am praying for the RAM

)

EDIT:
If your laptop has diagnostics built in, try these:

press Power + Mute Button
or F12 upon boot up.

EDIT 2:
Do you hear any beeps during boot up (aside from the LED that blink)?

04-13-2008, 09:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
monkeystu Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp sp2	DELL Latitude c840 power on problems... I recently bought 1Gb (2 x 512Mb) of Crucial memory to upgrade my Dell Latitude c840. Once the new memory was installed I went to restart it and it wouldn't. The power light and the HDD light come on and stay on while the Caps-lock light flashes. This lasts for about 5 seconds or so then it powers down. I have tried putting the old memory back in but I get the same result. There is obviously something wrong and I believe that the sequence of lights is important and refers to an error code. Has anyone got any ideas?? Cheers in advance, Stu.

04-13-2008, 10:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,847 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: DELL Latitude c840 power on problems... hi Stu, whenever this happens to me, i usually strip it down to RAM only (HDD removed, PCMCIA, USB, etc...) then power ON again. if this does not get me anywhere, i do the following: 1. remove battery and AC adapter from laptop 2. press power ON button for at least 30secs. (more is good) 3. release power ON button and let it rest for 1min. 4. attach battery and AC adapter 5. power ON as normal so i leave you that at the moment... do post back what you tried and whatever the result... __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-13-2008, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
monkeystu Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp sp2	Re: DELL Latitude c840 power on problems... Thanks for the advice Shan, I tried both ideas and unfortunately no change. There was a change however, in that when the HDD wasn't in and I powered on, the HDD LED didn't light up, but I guess that is to be expected. I am beginning to wonder if I have fried or damaged something while putting the new memory in. The thing is though, is that it's still clever enough (the laptop) to power down after 5-10 seconds or so, as if it is waiting for a response, and if it doesn't get one then it just powers down. To be a bit more precise with the lights. When powered up the main power LED and the HDD LED (if the HDD is present) light up and stay on continuously, and the capslock LED flashes 10 times over a period of about 7 seconds, then it powers down. I'm convinced it's an error code. Stu.

04-13-2008, 05:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,847 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: DELL Latitude c840 power on problems... Hi Stu, thank you for posting back. the symptoms you wrote are the very same symptoms that i get if i put in an incompatible or a defective RAM. on the other hand, you said you tried putting in the old RAM stick but as you said the symptoms are the same. i am thinking that probably somehow the RAM sticks both old and new got fried. these components are electrostatic sensitive devices and extra care is given when installing them. one way to test them (both old and new) is to use them on another computer. or if you have a spare, use that instead in your laptop. just for reference check this out... http://www.memorystock.com/how_to_in...top_memory.htm __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE Last edited by TriggerFinger; 04-13-2008 at 05:17 PM.

04-13-2008, 05:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
monkeystu Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp sp2	Re: DELL Latitude c840 power on problems... Hi Shan, I was pretty careful when installing the new memory and have done it before, but your right about trying other memory and I was going to try that next, and see if I can find an old stick of memory to try. What we really need to know are what the error codes are. That would save a whole lot of hassle, and probably money. I'll let you know what happens. Stu.