Dell hardrive/power issue?

frmfinch · 07-08-2009, 03:18 PM

I have a dell inspiron 1501 and i'm sorry i don't have the specs. The issue i have with it though is that it was left in a car during a summer day and when it was turned on the next day it showed a real dark windows xp boot screen then it just goes blank and for all intensive purposes shuts off. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with it, and if so is there a way i can fix this problem.

**TriggerFinger** · 07-08-2009, 06:27 PM

Does the screen just dim or totally blank out at boot up (dim = you can still see faint images)? Does the laptop turn off after you power ON?

frmfinch · 07-09-2009, 09:31 AM

The only thing i can see is the windows xp logo and barely see that. then it just goes blank makes a beep and shuts off

Dunvi · 07-09-2009, 11:53 AM

Is this happening plugged into AC power? I had a very (incredibly) similar experience (Dell, too, even) except it was during a black-out from an ice-storm, it was really, really cold, and we had no heat.

Dunvi · 07-09-2009, 12:14 PM

stupid dell service wizard thing

You could also try this. I'm trying to find the actual information instead of the "let's hold your hand stuff!" but basically start the computer up with the Fn key held down and look at the lock lights. They'll mean something...

Also, what's the beep like? I'm failing quite miserably at finding the beep codes...

**TriggerFinger** · 07-09-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frmfinch

The only thing i can see is the windows xp logo and barely see that. then it just goes blank makes a beep and shuts off

Can you boot from CD/DVD drive? If you can, then I suggest you get Hitach DFT or SeaTools (CD based diagnostic tools) and test your HDD. Observe if system shuts off during the test. If system shuts off, replace the RAM and try the test again.

Post back what you find out.

frmfinch · 07-10-2009, 09:52 AM

Ok i tried holding down the F/N key and wasn't getting anything from that. Then I used that dell website help thing and i couldn't get anything out of that. So something dawned on me to try, and i hooked my desktop monitor up to the laptop to see if maybe it is just a screen problem. So i booted it up and sure enough it started up but then after the windows xp loading screen it went black then flickered blue made a slight beep and shut down. Any thoughts now?

**TriggerFinger** · 07-10-2009, 01:02 PM

Please read my last post on what to try.

07-08-2009, 03:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
frmfinch Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Dell hardrive/power issue? I have a dell inspiron 1501 and i'm sorry i don't have the specs. The issue i have with it though is that it was left in a car during a summer day and when it was turned on the next day it showed a real dark windows xp boot screen then it just goes blank and for all intensive purposes shuts off. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with it, and if so is there a way i can fix this problem.

07-08-2009, 06:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,846 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Dell hardrive/power issue? Does the screen just dim or totally blank out at boot up (dim = you can still see faint images)? Does the laptop turn off after you power ON? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-09-2009, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
frmfinch Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: Dell hardrive/power issue? The only thing i can see is the windows xp logo and barely see that. then it just goes blank makes a beep and shuts off

07-09-2009, 11:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dunvi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New York Posts: 60 OS: Win XP SP3	Re: Dell hardrive/power issue? Is this happening plugged into AC power? I had a very (incredibly) similar experience (Dell, too, even) except it was during a black-out from an ice-storm, it was really, really cold, and we had no heat.

07-09-2009, 12:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dunvi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New York Posts: 60 OS: Win XP SP3	Re: Dell hardrive/power issue? stupid dell service wizard thing You could also try this. I'm trying to find the actual information instead of the "let's hold your hand stuff!" but basically start the computer up with the Fn key held down and look at the lock lights. They'll mean something... Also, what's the beep like? I'm failing quite miserably at finding the beep codes... Last edited by Dunvi; 07-09-2009 at 12:19 PM. Reason: stupid bb code

07-10-2009, 09:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
frmfinch Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: Dell hardrive/power issue? Ok i tried holding down the F/N key and wasn't getting anything from that. Then I used that dell website help thing and i couldn't get anything out of that. So something dawned on me to try, and i hooked my desktop monitor up to the laptop to see if maybe it is just a screen problem. So i booted it up and sure enough it started up but then after the windows xp loading screen it went black then flickered blue made a slight beep and shut down. Any thoughts now?

07-10-2009, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,846 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Dell hardrive/power issue? Please read my last post on what to try. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE