Dell Won’t Turn On? Let’s Fix That, "Dude!"

 

When your Dell won’t turn on, that’s a problem, “dude!” Whether you need to connect with your family or get work for the day, it’s a hurdle you need to move past - quickly. Still, it’s important to understand the cause of the problem.

As a Dell starts up, it goes through a series of checks. This starts when you boot it on and lasts until the operating system starts up. When your Dell won’t turn on or boot the operating system, there are a few causes to consider.

• Power failure

• Power-on self test (POST) process

• On-screen errors such as “No Bootable Device”

How you troubleshoot these issues varies. Ultimately, it depends on the type of symptoms you notice on your device.

Not sure where to start? We understand! If you need immediate assistance with your computer, try the HAILaGEEK app!

Our trusted technicians help you with tech repair when and where you need it. Simply put in a request on the app, and a Geek will head your way.

 

 

Identify the Cause to Find a Solution

 

Let’s take a look at a few of the symptoms to help narrow down why your Dell computer won’t turn on.

 

No Power

As you press the power button, your computer usually turns on. Now, does it show no indication of turning on?

• No signs of power

• Power LED is off and unresponsive

• Display is blank or black

• The fan remains silent

First, check the power cables. At times, these cables fray or sustain damage. From pets gnawing on them to general wear and tear, wires become exposed. If you notice this, it’s a good idea to replace the power cables.

Additionally, look at the pins inside the head of the cables. If you notice one is bent or broken, it causes connection issues.

 

Check the Power Supply

Today, many Dell desktops computers have power supplies equipped with BIST (self-test) features. This helps you diagnose the health of your PSU. Additionally, the LED indicator on your PSU helps you identify whether the power issue is due to the power supply unit. To test it, simply turn off your desktop. Then, press the button on the PSU.

 

Hard Restart

Often, restarting the computer resolves many technical issues. For example, some residual power in your computer may mean your Dell won’t turn on. To drain this power, follow these steps.

1.  Turn the computer off: Press and hold the power button for about 10-15 seconds.

2.  Disconnect the power cables.

3.  Disconnect any peripherals and devices, such as printers, media cards, and USB drives.

4.  Hold the power button down for 15-20 seconds to drain any residual power.

5.  Reconnect the power cable.

6.  Try to turn on your Dell computer.

 

No POST

You might notice this issue when you press the power button. LED lights on your keyboard and tower start to blink in a pattern. Additionally, your computer might emit beeping sounds. This points to errors on some hardware components. Think about any recent changes you made to your hardware. That might help you identify your cause.

Here are some other signs and symptoms.

• You hear beep codes - either continuous or in a pattern.

• The fan makes noise, but you hear that beeping or see blinking lights.

• LEDs blink in a pattern and/or amber color.

• The display stays black with the blinking LED lights and beeping codes.

• Your Dell won’t turn on past the Dell logo.

• The keys blinking are unresponsive when you press them.

 

Troubleshooting Without an Error Code

If you see the above issues with no diagnostics or error code, you have to identify the issue yourself. Oftentimes, this means trying things at random to see whether your computer turns on. For instance, if you remove certain hardware, you might notice that one or a combination of removals resolves the issue. This includes anything from Memory and Hard Drive to a WiFi card or any removable media.

If the computer starts up, try adding the parts back one by one. When you notice the issue again, that points to the last installed part as the cause. If you still see the same issue, it’s a good idea to call for some help.

When your Dell won’t turn on, hail a HAIL^(of)aGEEK! At HAILaGEEK, we strive to help our clients resolve their issues quickly and efficiently. While Dell’s own tech support lines are helpful, if your Dell won’t start up, they can’t actually see what’s going on.

HAILaGEEK techs meet you wherever your problem is and see it in person! Get the help you need when and where you need it.

 

 

System Won’t Boot

When your Dell starts up properly but displays an error message, it means the operating system won’t boot up. Here are a few signs this is the cause.

• You hear the fan noise but don’t see anything.

• The computer displays an error message, such as “Boot Device Not Found” or “No Bootable Device.”

• You see the Blue Screen of Death…

• The screen stays blank or black and has a blinking cursor at the top-left corner.

• The computer becomes unresponsive or stops at the Windows logo.

For a full breakdown of this issue with solutions, check out our guide: Windows Won’t Start.

 

No Video

When your display or video doesn’t work, it’s usually pretty obvious. However, to isolate the cause, consider the following.

You press the power button, and the LEDs function as normal. Unfortunately, the screen stays blank. Coupled with the following indicators, this points to a display or video issue.

• You hear the fan noise, but the display is black.

• Images appear but are distorted, fuzzy, or blurry.

• You see horizontal or vertical lines across the screen.

• There are issues with light leak, brightness, color fade, contrast, etc.

This type of display or video issue often points to outdated drivers for BIOS, chipset, and video cards. Moreover, there may be a problem with the settings for your video, monitor driver, or graphics. Alternatively, the system might be outdated or a video cable may be faulty.

First, check for physical damage to any cables or hardware. Next, if it appears the computer is on, check the buttons on the monitor to adjust the brightness, contrast, etc.

Then, connect a different monitor to your computer in order to test the issue. If your Dell won’t turn on, that points to another issue.

Still not sure why your Dell won’t turn on? Get the assistance you need from HAILaGEEK!

 

 

Dell Won’t Turn On: How to Fix a Dell Laptop

 

When your Dell laptop won’t turn on, try these steps to troubleshoot. We start with some more straightforward fixes and move toward more advanced solutions.

 

Check the Power Supply/Battery

If none of the lights on your laptop turn on with the power button - even when plugged in - you might need to replace your power supply. Additionally, even when the charging light comes on, damage to cables can cause issues.

If your Dell has a removable battery, you might be able to replace this yourself. Remove the battery to check for swelling. If you see damage, look for a replacement.

 

Remove USB Drives (!)

If you have an external drive plugged into your laptop, that might be why your Dell won’t turn on. At times, this causes a computer to try to boot from the wrong drive. If removing the drive dices the issue, go into your settings to ensure the hard drive is at the top of the boot order.

 

Power Cycle Your Laptop

Turn off and unplug your laptop. Remove any external devices connected to your computer, including USB drives, printers, and other devices. Then, hold the power button down for 15-20 seconds.

This drains the residual power. Next, reconnect your charger and see whether your laptop turns on.

 

Run the Dell Diagnostic Tool

When your Dell won’t turn on, remember that it has a built-in tool to identify problems. If the PC powers up but won’t boot, it should automatically run this process. In some cases, it cannot fix the issue.

However, it should give you an error code to help you identify the problem.

 

Start in Safe Mode

If your laptop turns on but cannot boot Windows, try to start it in Safe Mode. From there, you have the ability to scan for malware and viruses. Moreover, you can delete programs that cause any issues.

 

Factory Reset Your Laptop

When the laptop powers on but can’t boot up properly, this is your nuclear option. With a factory reset, you install a clean version of Windows on the laptop. This returns your laptop to the state it was in when you first bought it.

 

Dell Won’t Turn On Still? Get Help from a HAIL^(of)aGEEK!

 

While support pages and tech support lines are helpful, sometimes it’s better to have a guide there with you. There are plenty of resources for tech support out there. However, HAILaGEEK technicians meet you where you are - right away - to provide assistance. Call on a trusted technician to guide you through your tech repair! Use the HAILaGEEK app today.

 

 

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