Laptop Not booting or Posting
Dell Latitude C540/640, freezing up, then will not boot. If I get it to boot, it will usually freeze with 10 - 30 minutes and will then require a hard reboot, but will not boot or post, screen stays blank, the cap locks light will blink about 10 times and it powers off. It does the same thing regardless of if the battery is in or if only the power is in. I ran the dell diagnostics and all test passed, even the fans. I thought it could be a heat and fan thing. I did reseat the memory and seems like it will then boot up with no problem 1 or 2 times after the memory is reseated. sometimes it will freeze on the windows loading screen.
i took all things out, network cable, wireless card, then it would boot instead of just going to a black screen.
the system would not boot/post if those items were plugged into it.
please help...do you think this is a motherboard problem?
i took all things out, network cable, wireless card, then it would boot instead of just going to a black screen.
the system would not boot/post if those items were plugged into it.
please help...do you think this is a motherboard problem?
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If it starts ih Safe Mode and keep running after it starts, you have a software problem
ASKER
so, basically i should just try to boot it and let it run for a while in safe mode and see if it freezes?
yep
ASKER
so, if it was a software problem, why would it work some times and not others based on the things plugged into it and also based on the amount of time it is running?
ASKER
the system froze in safe mode, does this mean it is a motherboard problem?
check the cpu temps, it can be overheating.
if so, you may have to open the laptop, and clean out all fans and vents, or even reapply heat paste
if so, you may have to open the laptop, and clean out all fans and vents, or even reapply heat paste
"the system froze in safe mode, does this mean it is a motherboard problem?"
It's a pretty good indicator that it is a hardware problem . . follow nobus' suggestion . .
It's a pretty good indicator that it is a hardware problem . . follow nobus' suggestion . .
Does it switch on ok everytime(always shows the logo screen)?
Does it make strange clunky sounds when it freezes or before?
If so it could be a bad Hard Drive
Does it make strange clunky sounds when it freezes or before?
If so it could be a bad Hard Drive
ASKER
how do i check the cpu temps?..do i open the laptop to do this or do I do this externally and only open it if it is overheating?
ASKER
it does not switch on everytime...most of the time it will turn on and the CAPS LOCK light will blink about 10 times and then shut off...the screen will remain black and no logo or anything. it does not make a clunking noise either.
This happens with only the battery and only mains plugged in?
try with only ram stick if you have two of them and vice versa.
ASKER
i only have 1 memory in it...
tried with battery in and also w/ battery out./
tried with battery in and also w/ battery out./
cpu temps : use speedfan, or whenyou power down, look in the bios
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
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