Laptop help

[Beetnik]

Dell Vostro laptop won't boot.
Switch on.
Fan starts.
Fan stops.
Num lock key flashes on and off rapidly and repeatedly.
Nothing else.

Have:
Cleaned keyboard.
Removed/reinstalled RAM
Removed/reinstalled HD

No change.

What next (get credit card out!!)

 

[A210AMG]

Silly question but are you plugged into mains.

It could be the battery is shot so will need mains power.

If its not beeping then the memory should be ok. The flashing could be worth googling as that could mean something on a Dell

 

[A210AMG]

The flashing light is code for whats wrong...

Don't know if I would trust this down load but try googling it.

Dell Vostro 1720 Flashing Num Lock Diagnosis

Has Anything changed since the laptop last worked?

 

[tpwuk]

I suspect it's a motherboard failure.....

 

[A210AMG]

Looking at this it could be the RAM, how much has it got and how many slots?

If it has say 512mb * 2 slots take one out and try it. Then the other and put the first one back in the slot.

Other than that it could be as above a mianboard issue and on a laptop unless you want to get busy with tiny screws and cables almost new laptop time

 

[LTD]

Surely you didn't manage to spill something on it ?

Your house insurance won't be chuffed ................

<joke mode OFF>

 

[A210AMG]

^ neither will we when our premiums go up....

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

Try booting from Mains with memory and hdd removed. Count number of num lock flashes and report back with your service tag number from the bottom of the machine. I'll see if I can help you.

 

[Beetnik]

Have tried booting from mains with memory and hdd removed, both with and without battery inserted. Same old same old - Num lock flashes constantly and doesn't stop. I'm guessing the motherboard has gone.

Service tag isn't readable any more but Express service Code is: 380662385. It's a Vostro 1320, 32 bit running Win 7 Ultimate (or not running at all!!).

I bought a few of these and have another defunct one in the office - missing keyboard keys - so may try and swap components out to recover hdd contents.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

Sounds like it is then. You could try reseating the cpu if you haven't already done this.

Perhaps this might help swapping out the bits if you haven't got it...........

Documentation

Best of luck.