Lindir The Gree

Ok, I was at school and my laptop worked perfectly, on battery. I put it to sleep and went home, and tried to turn it on. The power light went on for about 3 seconds, and then went off.

3 hours later, after completely disassembling all non-essentials (right now it's a MoBo, CPU, RAM, and video card connected directly to an adaptor) that's still what happens. I've tried removing and then re-adding the CPU, RAM, and video card.

If I connect the keyboard and do a POST, the three lock lights go on, and then all of the lights go off after three seconds, unless I hold the power button and the function key, in which case the lights blink on and off instead of going off.

There are never any diagnostic beeps.

So, does this mean I need a new motherboard? They're like $270 without shipping, because the Warranty expired. What could cause such a thing to a laptop sleeping in a padded backpack?

TriggerFinger

Try with a good/working RAM just for testing purposes. Also if you have removed the heatsink from CPU, be sure you reapply thermal paste

Lindir The Gree

Thanks for the reply!

I don't have any more laptop RAM available, but there are two sticks in there and removing either of them (switching the other one to the proper location if necessary) doesn't change anything. It's very unlikely that both sticks would suddenly fail at the same time.

I plan to reapply AS5 once I can get it to the Dell boot screen, but if I can't ever get that I don't want to waste it. It's not like imperfect thermal paste could cause cause failure that quickly. Right now I am just seeking the magical dell logo on my screen.

TriggerFinger

So you did not put thermal paste? I suggest even for testing, apply the thermal compound to prevent damage to your cpu. Thermal paste is only $10 a tube at RadioShack but a CPU costs more.

If you are sure about the RAM, then may be it's the video or the mobo. A more expensive fix than just replacing the RAM.

Have you tried to reset the system? If not, remove the battery and unplug AC. Press and hold power ON button for 30 secs atleast. Plug back battery and ac adapter. Power ON as normal.

Lindir The Gree

OK, I reapplied thermal paste, and reset it. Was it supposed to beep or anything? I held the power button for ~60 seconds.

Well, it's exactly the same. Turns off after 4 seconds, and doesn't make any noise. If I hold the fn key, all 3 lock lights also turn on for the 4 seconds, and then everything still turns off.

Does this completely narrow it down to a motherboard issue?

pwdiver

Your problem sound's almost the same as mine a tosiba Satillite, my prob started after the cpu locked up. havent been able to start it since then have tried removing the ram, like you did. Wish you luck

TriggerFinger

Try powering ON using AC adapter only. Remove the battery. Press and HOLD Fn key while you press Power ON button. Release both buttons. Observe the 3 lock LEDs.

Lindir The Gree

They go on and then turn off when everything else turns off, same as usual.

TriggerFinger

So the LOCK LEDs turn ON (after releasing both power ON button and Fn key).. then turn OFF. Does the power LED turn off when lock leds turn off?

Lindir The Gree

Yup, all the lights turn off at the same time.

Or did turn off. But now they don't, because I fixed it!

Thanks for your help; I have discovered that the issue was a CPU that for some reason wasn't quite seated right. I didn't need to buy anything after all.

TriggerFinger

Well, that's good news. I am happy to know you got it sorted.