Laptop NO POWER, What's wrong???

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4light

I have a Dell Inspiron. It
was processing info,
My foot hooked on the cord,
pulled the laptop off of the shelf,
I caught it mid-air upside down and
the lid closed. Didn't seem like any
damage would be done but wouldn't
turn on.

NO POWER whatsoever. NO led lights,
no fan, everything black.

Tried:
1) another power cord
2) another battery
3) removed battery, dvd, etc. and tried power
4) removed keyboard

FOUND:
tiny plastic hook broken off... don't know where it
came from. Size of two pin heads side by side.
 
I have a Dell Inspiron. It
was processing info,
My foot hooked on the cord,
pulled the laptop off of the shelf,
I caught it mid-air upside down and
the lid closed. Didn't seem like any
damage would be done but wouldn't
turn on.

NO POWER whatsoever. NO led lights,
no fan, everything black.

Tried:
1) another power cord
2) another battery
3) removed battery, dvd, etc. and tried power
4) removed keyboard

FOUND:
tiny plastic hook broken off... don't know where it
came from. Size of two pin heads side by side.
Click to expand...

Perhaps something was jarred. Maybe the Ram (you haven't tried that,
and it would prevent the laptop from booting. I don't think it's the
screen, but i could be wrong. I also don't think the power connector
came unsoldered becaule you would still get battery power. Unless,
perhaps it shorted. If reseating the RAM doesn't do it, suggest sending
it to Dell for repairs. Chances are your hard drive is just fine.
 
If it was Ram then we'd get some indication of Power,
correct? I'm getting not even a flicker or sound from anything...
not even an LED.

I wonder if it could be the automatic shut off (as in, when
the lid closes the power goes off or hybernate kicks in)

I hate to send it into to Dell when these laptops are
so easy to take apart. It can't be that hard to fix.
 
If it was Ram then we'd get some indication of Power,
correct? I'm getting not even a flicker or sound from anything...
not even an LED.

I wonder if it could be the automatic shut off (as in, when
the lid closes the power goes off or hybernate kicks in)

I hate to send it into to Dell when these laptops are
so easy to take apart. It can't be that hard to fix.
Click to expand...

Clearly, SOMETHING has gone loose, or is damaged, Ram is an easy thing
to check. The rest depends on your level of skill and care. If a
circuit board cracked, you're screwed, unless you're handy with a meter
and oscilliscope and soldering equipment. In which case, you probaly
wouldn't be in need of advice.

Could be processor too. Or a short somehere. Laptops are easy to get
apart, but putting them back together is tough.
 
If it was Ram then we'd get some indication of Power,
correct? I'm getting not even a flicker or sound from anything...
not even an LED.

I wonder if it could be the automatic shut off (as in, when
the lid closes the power goes off or hybernate kicks in)

I hate to send it into to Dell when these laptops are
so easy to take apart. It can't be that hard to fix.
Click to expand...

Maybe that little piece of plastic was part of the lid switch.

Paul
 
I can take it apart and put it back together easily
but I don't want to waste time shotgunning it. This
should be easy to analyze step by step.

Doesn't make sense it would be the power button since that
wouldn't have gotten jarred.

The boards most likely wouldn't have gotten cracked since I caught it
midair upside down on the lid which closed and cushioned it's fall.

The lid got jarred and snapped shut but not too hard... fell only maybe
1 foot.

It was also processing information when it fell.

Do you know where I can find some type of schematics that show me
how and where the power flows?

What about fuses? Do you know if there are any
in these laptops? If so, what do they look like?
 
I have a Dell Inspiron. It
was processing info,
My foot hooked on the cord,
pulled the laptop off of the shelf,
I caught it mid-air upside down and
the lid closed. Didn't seem like any
damage would be done but wouldn't
turn on.

NO POWER whatsoever. NO led lights,
no fan, everything black.

Tried:
1) another power cord
2) another battery
3) removed battery, dvd, etc. and tried power
4) removed keyboard

FOUND:
tiny plastic hook broken off... don't know where it
came from. Size of two pin heads side by side.
Click to expand...


Look around where the base of the screen meets the laptop,
if the screen switch plunger has broken off you might be
ablel to stick a toothpick or other non-metallic object in
and get it to come on. You could also disassemble the
laptop enough to find this switch but that is a lot of work
and we don't know if you are adept at disassebly and
reassembly, if it is even this switch at all, or if it is,
if you can replace this yourself or if Dell would sell a new
part to replace it instead of having to ship it to them.

Some kind of self-fabricated switch plunger might be
"possible", but beyond the abilities of most people and
could take quite a bit of time, trial and error to
reproduce. What is your time worth and what is the laptop
worth?
 
I've taken the entire screen and assembly apart before
(previously replaced the bezel and hinges) and didn't
notice a plunger. Does this exist on the Dell inspiron?
The base of the screen is raised and pivots on two 1" posts.

I'll give it a look though
Good logic
 
I've taken the entire screen and assembly apart before
(previously replaced the bezel and hinges) and didn't
notice a plunger. Does this exist on the Dell inspiron?
The base of the screen is raised and pivots on two 1" posts.

I'll give it a look though
Good logic
Click to expand...


There aren't too many choices for where the screen switch
is, either around the hinges or in the latch... but I can't
be certain this switch is your problem.
 
I've checked the manual and other forums and nobody seems
to know where the auto shut off switch is located. I'd like to
be able to definitely rule that out before I run out and buy a
new System board.

Another thought from a guy on another forum.

"Another possible place is the power socket itself... when you plug the
power unit in it may operate a switch so that you don't use the
battery while using the power unit... abit like they do with battery
& mains TV, Radios, etc for example.

To save the battery there's usually a change over contact in the
actual socket, could this not be the actuator that pushes against the
contacts to open or close them.... only a guess"
 
I've checked the manual and other forums and nobody seems
to know where the auto shut off switch is located. I'd like to
be able to definitely rule that out before I run out and buy a
new System board.

Another thought from a guy on another forum.

"Another possible place is the power socket itself... when you plug the
power unit in it may operate a switch so that you don't use the
battery while using the power unit... abit like they do with battery
& mains TV, Radios, etc for example.

To save the battery there's usually a change over contact in the
actual socket, could this not be the actuator that pushes against the
contacts to open or close them.... only a guess"
 
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