Dell Inspiron 5150 - Does not boot - Need help

dreamdiesel · 20th December 2009, 22:05

Laluks, try to find the LED code sequence using the link below. Might point you to the direction of the failure in the 5150..

Dell - Technical Support

s0uljah · 20th December 2009, 23:17

5100 / 5150 series were the ones with the heating issues. Possibly not connected to this incident of yours but just saying.

My 5100 is still working.

Had to replace keyboard and get it cleaned out. Now use it was a USB fan underneath.

challa · 20th December 2009, 23:30

Hi Laluks

The symptoms of yours looks similar to one of my friends laptop which had motherboard problem and replaced, i guess you need to take it to service centre and just try replacing with alternate motherboard for testing if it works then you know where is the problem.

laluks · 20th December 2009, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

I think your motherborad has gone kaput... Something seems to be fried inside, you even had a power surge warning couple of days back.

I unfortunately am tending to believe this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamdiesel

Laluks, try to find the LED code sequence using the link below. Might point you to the direction of the failure in the 5150..

Dell - Technical Support

Dreamdiesel, thank you. that's a lot of information. I'll try to do a check tomorrow and see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s0uljah

5100 / 5150 series were the ones with the heating issues. Possibly not connected to this incident of yours but just saying.

My 5100 is still working.

Had to replace keyboard and get it cleaned out. Now use it was a USB fan underneath.

Heating issues i am aware, I normally clean it every 6 months. Dell had agreed it to be a design problem and notified me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by challa

Hi Laluks

The symptoms of yours looks similar to one of my friends laptop which had motherboard problem and replaced, i guess you need to take it to service centre and just try replacing with alternate motherboard for testing if it works then you know where is the problem.

The unfortunate part is Dell does not have spares for this model now, and they are not willing to service it. hence I am left to fend for myself :(

abhibh · 21st December 2009, 00:17

laluks i was just having a chat with one of my friend regarding my problem. He pointed out that if laptop is turning and nothing is coming on display then it can be LCD cable problem too.

According to him his Dell had the same problem and it was the LCD cable which was preventing the laptop from booting.

laluks · 21st December 2009, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhibh

laluks i was just having a chat with one of my friend regarding my problem. He pointed out that if laptop is turning and nothing is coming on display then it can be LCD cable problem too.

According to him his Dell had the same problem and it was the LCD cable which was preventing the laptop from booting.

I disconnected the LCD cable and tried with monitor. No hopes.

By now i have disconnected everything and now it is just the motherboard, with the processor. Same symptoms. So I guess the issue seems to be in the motherboard somewhere.

I tried Driemdiesel provided Dell LED diagnosis. None of my Lock LEDs are lighting.

laluks · 29th January 2010, 15:31

Guys Happy news. My baby is working again.

I have a lot of sentiments with this 6 year old laptop and that is the primary reason why I was hell bent on getting him work.

Following all the hints you guys gave me, reading frantically all details on the web, and eliminationg one by one, I identified it to be an issue with the mother board. Searching through further, it was due to an electrical surge on the audio output. i had connected my onkyo to the laptop and that fateful day some surge on the groundline did me in.

I was talking to some laptop repair shops and was told that service charges are around 750ish, and the components could cost upto 1500. So I was prepared to spend 2.5K on the repairs.

It was then that I saw a new Dell motherboard for sale on ebay.com. On some discussions and negotiations finally I got the same for 119$. It reached me yesterday, and by today morning I completed the assembly.

Guys I cannot tell the happiness I felt when it switched on! my baby is working! Cheers.

Thanks guys for all the inputs.

navan49 · 1st February 2010, 08:53

Hi,

I went through your experiences and learnt some thing. My Optiplex 280 got off. Seems MB problem. I too will try in Ebay or some where for that and recover that lovely Opti. I called dell people but of no use till date after a month.

Punzabi · 1st February 2010, 09:54

@Shakensoul: Getting mobo static discharge is an old school and very effective practice which hold its relevance even today (esply abroad where houses and offices have carpets). If a computer user wearing synthetic cloths or shoes they sometime tend to pass static to the computer.

@Laluks: good to hear your ordeal is over and you are back in action.

@Navan49: Can you elaborate what's wrong with your 280? Don't just assume its the Mobo and spend money on it. May be we can help you.

20th December 2009, 22:05	#16
dreamdiesel BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 420 Thanked: 63 Times	Laluks, try to find the LED code sequence using the link below. Might point you to the direction of the failure in the 5150.. Dell - Technical Support
	() Thanks

20th December 2009, 23:17	#17
s0uljah Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 2,222 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	5100 / 5150 series were the ones with the heating issues. Possibly not connected to this incident of yours but just saying. My 5100 is still working. Had to replace keyboard and get it cleaned out. Now use it was a USB fan underneath.
	() Thanks

20th December 2009, 23:30	#18
challa BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 81 Thanked: Once	Hi Laluks The symptoms of yours looks similar to one of my friends laptop which had motherboard problem and replaced, i guess you need to take it to service centre and just try replacing with alternate motherboard for testing if it works then you know where is the problem.
	() Thanks

21st December 2009, 00:17	#20
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	laluks i was just having a chat with one of my friend regarding my problem. He pointed out that if laptop is turning and nothing is coming on display then it can be LCD cable problem too. According to him his Dell had the same problem and it was the LCD cable which was preventing the laptop from booting.
	() Thanks

29th January 2010, 15:31	#22
laluks Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,551 Thanked: 16,485 Times	Guys Happy news. My baby is working again. I have a lot of sentiments with this 6 year old laptop and that is the primary reason why I was hell bent on getting him work. Following all the hints you guys gave me, reading frantically all details on the web, and eliminationg one by one, I identified it to be an issue with the mother board. Searching through further, it was due to an electrical surge on the audio output. i had connected my onkyo to the laptop and that fateful day some surge on the groundline did me in. I was talking to some laptop repair shops and was told that service charges are around 750ish, and the components could cost upto 1500. So I was prepared to spend 2.5K on the repairs. It was then that I saw a new Dell motherboard for sale on ebay.com. On some discussions and negotiations finally I got the same for 119$. It reached me yesterday, and by today morning I completed the assembly. Guys I cannot tell the happiness I felt when it switched on! my baby is working! Cheers. Thanks guys for all the inputs. Last edited by laluks : 29th January 2010 at 15:38.
	() Thanks

1st February 2010, 08:53	#23
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi, I went through your experiences and learnt some thing. My Optiplex 280 got off. Seems MB problem. I too will try in Ebay or some where for that and recover that lovely Opti. I called dell people but of no use till date after a month.
	() Thanks

1st February 2010, 09:54	#24
Punzabi BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: PB-08/Adelaide Posts: 143 Thanked: 44 Times	@Shakensoul: Getting mobo static discharge is an old school and very effective practice which hold its relevance even today (esply abroad where houses and offices have carpets). If a computer user wearing synthetic cloths or shoes they sometime tend to pass static to the computer. @Laluks: good to hear your ordeal is over and you are back in action. @Navan49: Can you elaborate what's wrong with your 280? Don't just assume its the Mobo and spend money on it. May be we can help you.
	() Thanks