Why is my DELL laptop not turning on?
The main reason why a DELL laptop is not turning on is because of a faulty power source, a battery issue or overheating CPU.
- Faulty power source or power cord
- Problem with the battery
- Overheating
- Physical damage
- Flea power
- Liquid spillage
- Virus or malware attack
As mentioned earlier, flea power, liquid spillage, or a virus or malware attack can also prevent the laptop from turning ON.
Table of Contents
Faulty power source or power cord
If the DELL laptop isn’t connected to a properly working power source, it may not turn ON. Also, the laptop won’t turn ON e if the power cord to which the adapter is connected is damaged or loose.
Problem with the battery
The laptop isn’t likely to turn ON if its battery has a problem. The battery may either be defective or not seated properly.
Overheating
If the laptop is used for an extensive period, it tends to get overheated, resulting in the computer shutting down and not turning ON again. The overheating may also be due to poor ventilation or dust accumulation.
Physical damage
There are chances that the DELL laptop has been dropped unintentionally one or more times. Depending on the intensity of the fall, the laptop has a chance of getting physically damaged, resulting in it not getting turned ON.
Flea power
The laptop may have flea power that prevents it from turning ON. This electric current remains in the laptop circuitry even after it has been turned off or if it isn’t connected to the power supply.
Liquid spillage
The laptop functionality tends to get affected due to liquid penetration as it isn’t waterproof. This will prevent the laptop from turning ON.
Malware or virus attack
A malware or virus attack is common for the laptop not turning ON. This attack can happen if the computer doesn’t have an antivirus program or the existing antivirus software is outdated.
How do I fix a DELL laptop that’s not turning on?
You can fix a DELL laptop that’s not turning ON by checking the power cord and AC adapter, inspecting the battery, doing a clean boot, or draining the residual or flea power. You can also ensure that the laptop isn’t getting overheated.
The time required for most of these fixes is often not very long, and you don’t need any specific tools to resolve the issue.
Check the power cord and AC adapter
1. Remove the power cord from the AC adapter and connect to a new one.
2. Connect the AC adapter to the wall outlet and the laptop.
3. Turn ON the power supply.
4. Press the Power button on the laptop. If it powers ON, the original cord was the problem and has to be changed.
5. Use a different AC adapter and do Steps 2, 3, and 4 again. If the laptop turns ON, you have to replace the original AC adapter.
Check the battery
1. Disconnect the laptop from the power source.
2. Remove the battery from the laptop.
3. Connect the laptop directly to the AC adapter. If the laptop turns ON, the battery has a problem and needs to be changed.
Do a clean boot
1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type system configuration in the Search bar.
3. Press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
4. Click the Services tab.
5. Select the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
6. Click the Disable all button.
7. Click the Startup tab followed by the Open Task Manager link to open the Task Manager window.
8. Select the program that you think might be preventing the startup of the laptop.
9. Click the Disable button.
10. Do Steps 8 and 9 for each interfering program.
11. Restart the laptop.
Drain the residual or flea power
1. Disconnect the power cord or AC adapter from the laptop.
2. Take OFF the battery from the laptop.
3. Press the Power button for 15 to 20 seconds to drain the residual power.
4. Fit the battery in place once again.
5. Connect the AC adapter or power cord once more.
6. Turn ON your laptop.
Prevent overheating of laptop
1. Place the laptop in an area where there is sufficient ventilation.
2. Make sure that the air vents in the laptop aren’t blocked.
3. Blow some compressed air into the vents. The air blown will help eliminate the dust accumulated on the laptop fan.
If none of these methods work, a hard reset or a forced ePSA will solve the problem. As a last resort, you can seek the assistance of the DELL support team to fix issues due to physical damage or liquid spillage. When the laptop gets turned ON, you must ensure that you have the latest version of antivirus installed. Make sure you run the antivirus periodically or schedule it to run automatically.
DELL laptop not turning on and no power light
A DELL laptop isn’t turning ON, and there is no power light because of a faulty power supply, a damaged battery, or a defective system board. A loose connection can also be the reason for this problem. The following steps help to resolve these issues in a DELL Latitude 3310 laptop.
1. Connect the laptop with a power supply that you know is in working condition. If the laptop turns ON and the power light is also illuminated, the original power supply is faulty and has to be replaced.
2. Remove the battery and check for signs of swelling. If swelling is present, replace the battery immediately.
3. Replace the laptop’s system board (also known as a motherboard) with an identical working board. If the problem is resolved, you must change the initial system board.
4. Check for a loose connection between the motherboard and the circuit board with the AC jack. Tighten the connection if you find it to be loose.
DELL laptop is not turning on but is charging
A DELL laptop isn’t turning ON but is charging due to a faulty battery or a damaged power cord. The steps here will help you look for these problems and solve them in a DELL Vostro 5480 laptop.
1. Look out for signs of a bulging battery. If not, you can also check if the laptop turns ON when it has a direct connection to the AC adapter. These are two key giveaway signs that the battery is faulty and has to be changed to address the problem.
2. Check for signs of defects in the power cord, such as too many bends or cracks in one or more places. If the problem gets fixed with a different power cord, consider changing the power cord.
DELL laptop not turning on but the power light is flashing
A DELL laptop isn’t turning ON, but the power light is flashing because of a problematic AC adapter or a bad battery. A pending hard reset can also trigger the issue. The steps below guide you on fixing these problems in a DELL Latitude 7480 laptop.
1. Connect the AC adapter to a properly functioning power supply and check if the LED on the adapter is illuminated. If it doesn’t, this is an indication that you have to change the AC adapter.
2. Take the battery out of the laptop. Connect the laptop directly to the AC adapter and turn ON the system. If it works, your battery has either failed or is damaged. The solution is a battery replacement.
3. Try a hard reset, as this can almost always address the issue. Disconnect any device that has been externally connected to the laptop. Remove the battery and the charger. You will have to take OFF the base cover to access the battery. Keep the Power button pressed for a minimum of 20 seconds. This will drain the residual power left in the laptop. Reconnect the battery as well as the charger. Pu and turn ON the laptop.
DELL laptop not turning on but showing orange light
A DELL laptop isn’t turning ON but is showing orange light due to a faulty motherboard or a failing or already failed battery. A low battery, a problematic RAM, or a defective power supply can also pave the way for the problem. You can walk through the steps mentioned here to fix these issues in a DELL XPS 13 laptop.
1. Remove the motherboard from the laptop and fit an identical motherboard you know is in good condition. If this helps to turn ON the laptop, a motherboard replacement should help.
2. Plug the laptop into an AC adapter and let it charge for a while. The charged laptop will turn ON if the problem is because of a low battery. If not, the battery may fail or already fail and must be changed. This is likely if the battery is more than five years old.
3. Check for dusty or damaged RAM sticks and their ports. If the RAM sticks are dusty, cleaning them will address the issue.
If the sticks are damaged, you will need new RAM sticks. If the port is defective, you will have to use another port.
4. Connect the laptop to a different power supply and see if the laptop turns ON. If it does, a simple power supply change will do the trick.
DELL laptop not turning on but showing blue light
A DELL laptop isn’t turning ON but is showing blue light because of defective capacitors in the motherboard or incorrectly seated RAM sticks. The problem may also be due to an incorrectly connected power cable. The steps highlighted here guide you on resolving the issue with a DELL Latitude E6420 laptop.
1. Check the motherboard for swollen or bulged capacitors and replace them with new ones of the same specifications. If too many such capacitors exist, it’s better to opt for a complete board replacement.
2. Check if the RAM sticks have been inserted properly in their slots. It’s recommended that you remove the sticks from their slots, dust both the sticks and the slots, and reseat the RAM sticks once again. You will hear a click sound that offers assurance that the seating has been done properly.
3. Check if the power cord has been properly connected to the AC adapter and the wall outlet and do a reconnection if needed. A flashing blue light generally indicates a poor or loose connection and goes away when the connection has been securely established.
DELL laptop not turning on but flashing red battery light
A DELL laptop isn’t turning ON but is flashing a red battery light due to a very low battery or an overheated battery. The below steps can fix these problems in a DELL Studio 1558 laptop.
1. Connect the laptop to the AC adapter and the adapter to the wall outlet. Charge the laptop for some time. The red light will go off when the battery gets charged sufficiently.
2. Remove the laptop from the charger and the battery from the laptop. Let the battery cool outside the laptop for about 10 minutes. Reseat the battery properly in its slot and charge it.
DELL laptop not turning on non-removable battery
A DELL laptop with a non-removable battery isn’t turning ON because of accumulated residual or flea power. You can get rid of this power in a DELL Inspiron 14 laptop by following the below steps.
1. Disconnect all devices connected to the laptop.
2. Remove the laptop from its AC adapter.
3. Look out for a small pinhole-sized button on the laptop’s rear. This is usually referred to as the Reset button.
4. Push the button downwards and hold it for 10 seconds with a paper clip.
5. Connect the AC adapter once again.
6. Turn ON the laptop.
DELL laptop not turning on after sleep
A DELL laptop will not turn ON after sleep due to a pending hard reset or a power management issue. Other hardware issues like a broken monitor can also trigger the problem. You can fix the above issues in a DELL Inspiron 3510 laptop by trying out the steps given below.
1. Do a hard reset of your laptop. Disconnect the laptop from the AC adapter. Press and hold the Power button for five to ten seconds. Release this button and wait for half a minute. Press the same Power button once again and turn ON the laptop.
2. Connect the laptop to a different power supply and try turning ON the laptop. If it turns ON, the power management issue was because of a faulty power supply. Doing the required change will resolve the issue.
3. Look out for hardware issues like a broken monitor, a damaged cable, and so on. Replacing the faulty hardware components with working counterparts should fix the problem.
DELL laptop not turning on unless plugged in
A DELL laptop will not turn ON unless plugged in because the battery isn’t getting charged properly, a faulty AC adapter, or a completely failed battery. The steps presented here can help to resolve these issues in a DELL Latitude 7390 laptop.
1. Disconnect the laptop from the AC adapter and leave it that way until you’re sure that the battery has drained fully. Reconnect the AC adapter and charge the laptop again.
2. Connect the AC adapter to the laptop and turn it OFF. Remove all other peripherals connected to the laptop. Turn ON the laptop and press F2 continuously until you access the BIOS settings. Check the AC adapter details in the battery information related section. If the adapter type isn’t listed and says Unknown or None, the adapter is faulty. Do an adapter replacement to solve the issue.
3. Remove the laptop battery and replace the battery with a new one.