Dead Dell C600

[Mambo]

So yesterday I got home to find my laptop had died. When its powered on the Power Num/Caps/Scroll Lock lights just flash and nothing comes up on the screen. I changed the battery, tried a different hard disk and took it apart to find out if it was anything obvious..... but nothing seemed wrong. Anyone got any bright ideas? Seen a motherboard on Ebay for £50 squid which I am tempted to buy and try......
I know these laptops are not worth much (£250 on Ebay) but I am used to it and would rather get it fixed that get a new one.....

AND, my phone line has been down since last night. It's amazing how much you become reliant on Broadband, was sat at home wondering what to do with myself last night!

 

[sparkyspost]

I have a toshiba Tecra S1, the first ones to use the Centrino chipset, and it has been back to Tosh 3 times already and needs to go back a forth time, because of the same problem.
It powers up but no display. All caused by the main system board with the graphics card failing.
It sounds like the same problem.
Might be a long shot but you could try contacting Dell and seeing if they could give you an idea (without spending time and money), and checking compatibility of the possible replacement mobo.

Good Luck

Cheers

Sparky

 

[Mambo]

Cool thanks, will give that a shot....

 

[andy_k]

can you plug an external monitor in to help with the diagnosis or to isolate the screen ?

is the hard drive powering up when you start the machine?

can you start it with a floppy and get any screen display?

 

[Sp!ke]

Does anything come up on an external monitor?

If not, have you tried re-seating the memory or swapping out the SIMS? (take all the memory out if you want as a test, you should still be able to get into the BIOS)

Also on the C series lattitude, if you hold the power button for 7 secs or so, you'll hear a little click as if flashes the Bios cache - sometimes fixing problems.

 

[bradspau]

This should be an easy fix....

Hi. This is a known fault with most of the Dell Latitude range and is probably down to the processor working loose. Dell have now produced a small clip that can be retrofitted to hold the processor in place. For a quick fix, press down firmly with the palm of your hand around the right side of the keyboard near the top (around the i,o,p,j,k,l key area). The processor sits directly underneath this area and sometimes that will click it back into place. Make sure the laptop is switched off before doing this. If that doesn't work, remove the keyboard (6 screws underneath i think), you will see the processor and a large metal heatsink. Remove the screws from the heatsink, withdraw to reveal the processor. Remove and reseat. Put it all back together and it should work.

Good Luck

 

[Mambo]

Hi. This is a known fault with most of the Dell Latitude range and is probably down to the processor working loose. Dell have now produced a small clip that can be retrofitted to hold the processor in place. For a quick fix, press down firmly with the palm of your hand around the right side of the keyboard near the top (around the i,o,p,j,k,l key area). The processor sits directly underneath this area and sometimes that will click it back into place. Make sure the laptop is switched off before doing this. If that doesn't work, remove the keyboard (6 screws underneath i think), you will see the processor and a large metal heatsink. Remove the screws from the heatsink, withdraw to reveal the processor. Remove and reseat. Put it all back together and it should work.

Good Luck

Thanks guys for all your suggestions, will give it a shot when I get home today! Just FYI, the hard disc isnt spinning up and nothing is appearing onthe screen, I am beginning to think it is a processor/MB problem will report back tomorrow....

 

[mercmanuk]

dell laptop repair cd

hi
if anyone needs it ive a dell workshop repair cd that the dell engineers use when they come to your house to repair a laptop.if you pay the postage ill do them for free.it covers all laptops dell make .covers everything how to strip to component level

smile all it'll soon be light nights

 

[Mambo]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions, will give it a shot when I get home today! Just FYI, the hard disc isnt spinning up and nothing is appearing onthe screen, I am beginning to think it is a processor/MB problem will report back tomorrow....

It worked! It was a loose processor, thanks for all your help people!