NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Notebook Forums › Dell Notebooks - General › Can't boot my Inspiron 3800
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Can't boot my Inspiron 3800

post #1 of 5
4/30/04 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 
Hi everyone.

Little mistake this morning -- my Inspiron 3800 laptop fell from a very short height (less than two feet). It will no longer boot up. When I press the power button, the screen turns white and I cannot hear the hard drive making any noise.

My 3 year warranty just ran out. The amount of repairs needed in the first three years was incredible, and I expect to get a new computer when this one needs new, uncovered repairs. However, I realized how many files I would hate to lose on this computer. What could the problem be?

I would greatly appreciate any help.

Cal
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 5
4/30/04 at 10:29pm
Many things could be wrong at the momment try removing the harddrive and reinserting it to see if it isnt just a loose connection. If possible connect to an external monitor and see if the white display is just a loose connection from the lcd to the video board.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 5
5/8/04 at 2:06pm
Thread Starter 

New info -- Bios battery broke off

Thanks for the advice so far. I extracted a small loose part from the unit, and a repairman told me that it was the battery to the Bios unit. Now, I'm quite ignorant about computer innards. I am wondering how I can repair this: do I need to replace the motherboard, or is the bios a separate unit and I can buy it by itself? I don't even know how to locate where it is in the computer.

Any advice on how I can fix this would be most appreciated, especially wrt what parts I would need.

Thanks all

Cal
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 5
5/8/04 at 10:21pm
unfortunetly im very unfamilair with that particular model since i first began familiarizing myself back when the 8000 was hot but the hardrive sounds salvagable when you do get a new system
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 5
7/17/05 at 9:06pm

Inspiron 3800 Boot Problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Namtilal
Thanks for the advice so far. I extracted a small loose part from the unit, and a repairman told me that it was the battery to the Bios unit. Now, I'm quite ignorant about computer innards. I am wondering how I can repair this: do I need to replace the motherboard, or is the bios a separate unit and I can buy it by itself? I don't even know how to locate where it is in the computer.

Any advice on how I can fix this would be most appreciated, especially wrt what parts I would need.

Thanks all

Cal
The Bios is part of a chip on the mother board. Just find where the battery plugs into the mother board and see if you can plug it back in or excange it for another battery.

Also could you describe what happens exactly when you boot your computer.

You have 3 led lights just above the F6, F7, F8 keys. How do the look when you boot the laptop? Also right above these LED's are 3 other LED's which indicates from left to right, power switch-hard drive-electricity, how does this look when you boot your laptop.

More to follow based on how you answer
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dell Notebooks - General
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Notebook Forums › Dell Notebooks - General › Can't boot my Inspiron 3800