Dell Studio 1555 Power Issue
Okay, here's a tricky one for everyone. I have a Dell Studio 1555 with a power issue. Originally when we bought it, the lcd back cover was broken, which is where the power button is located (if you look at it open, it's on the right hand side as part of the hinge). So, we ordered a new back cover with power button and installed it. Everything seemed to be working fine but now we have a problem.
If the laptop SITS for a while, not plugged in, it will not turn on when you press the power button. If you plug it in, it does not turn on. However, if you take the battery out, hold down the power button for 10 seconds, then plug in the AC Adapter, it turns on! You can turn it right back off, put the battery in, unplug the AC Adapter, and it will still turn on just fine.
Tried this several times. Once it is 'working', you can turn it off and back on running just off the battery. I've checked the CMOS battery to see if it was undervoltaged, which it was not. I'm frankly out of ideas. It seems like the power isn't dissipating from the motherboard properly. As you can imagine, I feel like pulling my hair out. I wouldn't mind it except I'm a computer shop and I wish to sell this. I can't tell the customer to go through all this just to turn it on. Any ideas?
If the laptop SITS for a while, not plugged in, it will not turn on when you press the power button. If you plug it in, it does not turn on. However, if you take the battery out, hold down the power button for 10 seconds, then plug in the AC Adapter, it turns on! You can turn it right back off, put the battery in, unplug the AC Adapter, and it will still turn on just fine.
Tried this several times. Once it is 'working', you can turn it off and back on running just off the battery. I've checked the CMOS battery to see if it was undervoltaged, which it was not. I'm frankly out of ideas. It seems like the power isn't dissipating from the motherboard properly. As you can imagine, I feel like pulling my hair out. I wouldn't mind it except I'm a computer shop and I wish to sell this. I can't tell the customer to go through all this just to turn it on. Any ideas?
edbedb
Only thing I can think of is to try removing the wireless card and test. If it works that way, replace the adapter.
Try the following (from methods to start a Thinkpad):
Remove the hard drive and any media drives, battery and unplug the AC adapter.
Press the "power" button ten times in a row, holding it down for ten seconds each time, and thirty seconds the last time around.
This is to reset the start mechanism and might assist here. .... Thinkpads_User
Remove the hard drive and any media drives, battery and unplug the AC adapter.
Press the "power" button ten times in a row, holding it down for ten seconds each time, and thirty seconds the last time around.
This is to reset the start mechanism and might assist here. .... Thinkpads_User
since you say it restarts after a 10 sec bleeding pause, i would try a bios update
ASKER
Okay, here's what I have done.
I have already tried a BIOS Update, but thank you for the suggestion anyways, nobus.
edbedb, I tried removing the wireless card and had no luck.
thinkpads_user, I did your COMPLETE drain to hopefully reset the mechanism. It did turn on, however, after letting it sit, it did not again.
I do have to change my problem a little bit. If I power drain it for 30 seconds with the battery out, and then put the battery back in (NO AC ADAPTER), it does turn on.
Any other suggestions? (Yes, this is a new battery, but I have the old one too)
I have already tried a BIOS Update, but thank you for the suggestion anyways, nobus.
edbedb, I tried removing the wireless card and had no luck.
thinkpads_user, I did your COMPLETE drain to hopefully reset the mechanism. It did turn on, however, after letting it sit, it did not again.
I do have to change my problem a little bit. If I power drain it for 30 seconds with the battery out, and then put the battery back in (NO AC ADAPTER), it does turn on.
Any other suggestions? (Yes, this is a new battery, but I have the old one too)
There is (likely) a BIOS battery (small coin battery). They are usually pretty reliable, but yours may have gone. That could cause this issue.
Beyond that, you may have a motherboard problem. .... Thinkpads_User
Beyond that, you may have a motherboard problem. .... Thinkpads_User
ASKER
I did check the CMOS battery, it reads 3.02V. There does not appear to be any issue with the wireless, and there is no Bluetooth.
Regarding the CMOS battery. It looks like it might be ok, but remember that you are reading voltage under no load. It may be worth another battery just to see.
Otherwise you could be looking at a motherboard issue. ... Thinkpads_User
Otherwise you could be looking at a motherboard issue. ... Thinkpads_User
ASKER
Well, put a different CMOS battery in (3.10V), and while I was doing that, the holder for the CMOS battery came loose. So, I soldered it back on and put the battery in. THOUGHT that fixed my issue, but alas, it did not.
So, obviously trying to avoid the motherboard, any other ideas?
So, obviously trying to avoid the motherboard, any other ideas?
You could try popping out the RAM modules to see if it will start w/o removing the battery.
Have you tried cleaning around the power button? Maybe there's gunk causing the button to get a stuck. Spray a little WD-40 around the power button and work the button several times, then slide a piece of paper in the space between the power button and the case to clean out any gunk and soak up the WD-40.
>> Once it is 'working', you can turn it off and back on running just off the battery << did you try another AC adapter? that seems here to be the cause imo
ASKER
Actually nobus, we have tried another AC Adapter, but thanks for the idea.
I'm not sure what cleaning the button will do, RootsMan, since it's a new button, but I will try it here in a bit anyways.
I tried the memory thing, but it did not work. Sigh.
I'm not sure what cleaning the button will do, RootsMan, since it's a new button, but I will try it here in a bit anyways.
I tried the memory thing, but it did not work. Sigh.
I think you have a motherboard issue, given all you have tried. .... Thinkpads_User
Although you have a new power button, the whole that is passes through, if dirty enough, may be causing the button to not slide in and out all the way.
ASKER
Sigh, I'm thinking if I can't fix it, that we will just use it around the shop as an extra laptop... and I still haven't tried to clean the button yet, but I'm open to suggestions.
Buying a motherboard for it would not be cost effective unfortunately.
Buying a motherboard for it would not be cost effective unfortunately.
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My posts (ID:37058794, ID:37063527, and ID:37066828) along with others address this issue. The machine has a motherboard issue and is probably best off replaced. .... Thinkpads_User
ASKER
I will try to find the problem with the motherboard, but will most likely replace it. Thank you for your time!
Thank you, and I was pleased to help. .... Thinkpads_User
Sorry to here you did not find the problem.
Thanks for posting the question.
Thanks for posting the question.