Dell XPS 15 9550 Dead

So the dreaded thing happened. After a few weeks of using it, my XPS 15 died. It is charging - the light at the front lights up, but when I press the power button, it just lights up(the button) for a sec, then turns off. Nothing happens to the rest of the laptop.

I have raised a ticket with Dell support, but with the experiences of the guys on here, I'm not holding my breath on them acting on this soon. Any idea what is wrong with it? Can you suggest any diagnostic check I can do? D+Power and Fn+Power does not work.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

Could be a dead motherboard.

Something to try is to remove bottom panel, and run without the battery. If that dorsnt work, try reseating all of the components you can easily reach through the bottom panel. It is possible that your laptop isn't booting because one of the critical components it looks for is failing a check. For example, if your RAM isn't properly seated, it will refuse to boot the system I'd it doesn't detect any RAM installed.

So try those things, until you hear back from Dell. If you need a new motherboard, then you'll need a dell technician to do it

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

Would a component failure stop me from booting into BIOS? I've tried booting without the Ram and the 950 pro I've put in - did not work. I think the laptop died while I was typing and pressed a little bit on the right side of the keyboard, so I'm thinking it might be a faulty contact somewhere.

Sent from my OPT

 

Yes, a component failure may stop you from booting into BIOS... especially if that component is one of the "critical" components that the BIOS checks during boot.

I don't know exactly what your laptop looks for. But a laptop will commonly look to make sure that you have a CPU, RAM, storage device, and display all properly installed and connected, or else it wont boot. It is completely predictable that your laptop would not boot if you intentionally removed RAM and storage device.

Try booting off of your old SSD, and leave the 950 Pro out of the system for now. See if that works.

 

I have the model with the Hdd, so it should have booted fine without the 950 pro. The last time it booted, I got an error "No memory module detected". Any idea how to test for and isolate a faulty ram?

Sent from my OPT

 

One of your two RAM modules may be bad or not seated properly (although it could also be some other general problem related to the motherboard).

I think memory will operate in single channel mode (just less efficiently, of course), although I'm not sure. Assuming it does, you could try to boot with just one stick (taking the other one out) and then just the other one may help identify if the memory is faulty and which stick has the problem.

 

I would disconnect the battery and like Techgee said, reseat the memory (try booting one module at a time). Also I would take the 950pro out and see if that is causing an issue some how. It'll post without a hard drive.

 

Removed the 950 pro, Hdd, ram and battery. I then put them back in one by one, trying to boot. No joy. I'm starting to lose hope.

Sent from my OPT

 

Dell do make some mighty fine premium paper weights.

Sent from my OPT

 

Got any extra RAM lying around to test?

If your computer can boot into BIOS, go into BIOS and see how much RAM is detected.

Also, make sure that you are seating the RAM properly. You need to push DDR SODIMMs in further than you might think... To the point where the traces / pins on the SODIMMs aren't showing at all.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

try 1 stick of ram in both slots then the other?

 

Sounds more like you've shorted something on the motherboard, which is easy enough to do. Unless you used an antistatic wrist strap or it was grounded while you were working on it, I'd send it in for a replacement.

 

I've only opened it up once before it died, to put in a 950 pro. It was fine for a few weeks of heavy use after that, then it just died. And when I opened it up, I was grounded and had my leg on the case of my PC.

Sent from my OPT

 

There indeed traces of pins of the sodimms showing. I've pushed it in as far at it can I think.

Sent from my OPT

 

When I changed out my RAM with the Crucial 32GB kit the computer wouldn't reboot/start at all - I took both out and reseated and then worked fine - perhaps some pins are now bent?

 

Thanks. The pins look fine. We're you able to boot into BIOS when your pc was not booting? Did Power+D or Power+Fn work?

Sent from my OPT

 

As I remember, the light came on but I wasn't able to boot into BIOS - my first reaction was that I have really ****** up this computer. Then I tried putting in the previous 16GB - worked fine and then got enough courage to reinstall the 32GB and it has worked fine since that time.

 

The only thing that happened when you pressed the power was the button lit up a few seconds then died again? That is exactly what's happening with mine. Hopefully it's just bad Ram. I'll try and talk to Dell and see if they come up with the same diagnosis and maybe send me new ram sticks. Thanks for the help.

Sent from my OPT

 

Talked with Dell and they diagnosed it as a dead motherboard. A technician is coming in sometime in the 2 weeks. Any of you guys worked with ODS Gi Production (the company of the technician coming) before?

Sent from my OPT

 

They will be no better than the UK muppets I have had round before, while they have a "general" idea I can see straight through them being a factory trained laptop engineer.
The 1st guy didn't have much of a clue and didn't observe any precautions at all, no anti static mat, no wristband. Basically a complete pleb. they are paid per job so they are not even employed by the company Dell are employing to fix the equipment. Basically a 3rd party contractor to a 3rd party company.

2nd guy had a little more knowledge and at least pretended to have a clue but didn't have a anti static wrist band on even though he did use a mat, but he didn't plug the feking thing into the wall so what use is it?

He managed to forget to do up the screws under the flap when i went in after him to check his work.

I refused to let dell come and fix the screen on my new 9550 as I know they will not have a clue about the latest system, should it even come to that I will question how they are going to release the 4 clips without breaking them as the front 2 stop the gap some people complain about. I have a new tool on its way made from metal as it should be thin enough to get in without damage unlike the plastic desolder tool most techs carry.

Be afraid, be very afraid

make sure they observe full anti static precautions to start with and watch them, as uncomfortable as you will make them it also makes them do the job the correct way.

Buy some decent thermal paste if you want and ask them to use it.

 

OH CRAP

Sent from my OPT

 

Did they manage to fix your laptop? Or did they break more stuff?

Sent from my OPT

 

The 1st guy came to do the screen so I allowed him to fit it, then take it off and order another as they sent a 2nd hand one that was worst than mine. The 2nd time he was good enough to leave the parts (free money for doing nothing) as he also ordered a new palmrest as the rubber was lifting, he returned the next day to collect them but I had rejected all the parts again. IF you want a laugh check my post here > WTF?<
Needless to say that invoked laptop replacement #3 that was in good shape until the left fan wore out so I called it in for a NBD tech call, he arrived with both fans. The left fan resonated at the low setting so I called it in again a month later, simple job, same bloke, just a static mat and nothing else but I am ok with that as it is low on the invasive scale! That fan started to go again (bad batch?) so I rang it in and they wanted to swap the board as well. I raised my concerns due to the coil whine and got offered a 9550 as I had gone into the "wse can't fix it"

3 laptop swaps, 3 engineer visits, now a new 9550 that I have rejected due to a flaw on the panel thats in the form of a 5 to 6" mark on the screen.

 

That sounds bad. At least they gave you a 9550 for your troubles. Here's hoping that I have a better experience.

Sent from my OPT

 

same problem with my laptop OP cant get it too work

Tried to boot in turn with ram but no response

Guess its a dead motherboard as well

 

The 3rd 9550 is being ordered, 1st has glass defect, 2nd has 2 bits of crap under the glass. 3rd time lucky?

 

Probably. They replaced my motherboard and my laptop is up and running. And the new MB has TPM!

 

At what point do they just stop replacing them for you and give you credit to spend on something else?

 

Depends. I had 3 or 4 9530's at the start and recently 3 fan issues, it seems the 3rd call about failing fans invoked a replace it option that I didn't ask for but happily agreed to have. now waiting for the 3rd 9550 as I won't accept defective or poor build quality on a £1800 laptop.

 

My Dell XPS 15 9550 is dead too. Enjoyed fiddling with drivers for three weeks and coping with a bad LHS USB, then it died. Three weeks have gone by, appointments for repair were made and missed, replacement offered of a lesser spec, still waiting ..... Have enjoyed talking to charming Dell employees, somehow it feels like Dell is a big mess. Thank goodness I have a Mac

 

Is this common, I'm about to buy a 9550, 4k screen, i7

 

Whilst I am sure that there are lots functioning XPX 15 9550's around, I wouldn't recommend buying one. After a delayed delivery, it took a lot of fiddling to get the thing working well, there are very frequent BIOS and driver updates, I had a bad USB problem from day one, there is lots of talk on the Net and forums of problems, parts are unavailable and now I am waiting for a replacement. So I would wait for a new Macbook Pro or perhaps the Lenovo P50S (which will have USB C and other goodies).

 

just FYI, my laptop had the same symptoms.. dell MOBO just died, power button flashes when pressed but nothing happens.

Dell sent out a tech to repair mine, which effed it up even more.. Im awaiting a new 9550 replacement from warehouse.

 

I have an i7 with 1Tb HDD, 32G SSD, 4K screen and I am onto my third M/B. The first failed at the end of November, the second about 10 days ago, that one failed within a day, the new one is being fitted in Poland as Dell wanted the machine back in the labs. However as it was only there for half a day I cannot see that any real testing was undertaken. I did ask what was replaced and was informed the M/B so I pointed out that as its the third replacement the fault must be elsewhere, needless to say they disagreed with me. BTW I was a support engineer for over 15 years, and a specialist installation engineer for the 10 years before that so I do have a reasonable idea what I am talking about.

My fault on all of the M/B's is that the power light comes on for about 10 seconds, then goes out, no POST, no fans........nothing.

I will be demanding a replacement if this fails again.

Dwain

 

Also, USB would only connect to devices like my Garmin VIRB, BMW Navigator or JABRA Pro headset if I used a USB hub.

 

Dude what are the chances all 3 motherboards failed. There is obviously something else gong on perhaps power related. Yes I would ask either for a replacement unit or your money back.

 

One more thing......my XPS 15 (9550) i7 was also fitted with an aftermarket M2 SSD, a Samsung 950 Pro. I wonder if we have a compatibility issue?

 

Dwaind - Sounds like a potential power issue to me also.

Could be a bad power brick. But more likely dirty power coming in from your mains.

Is your laptop plugged into a good quality power surge protector or power conditioner? Those are a good investment as power grids are increasingly dirty and electronics are increasingly delicate. They can increase the lives of your electronics by a significant amount by smoothing power and protecting from spikes.

Dell released some dogs early in the 9550 cycle so that is clearly a factor. And your replacement boards are likely recycled older boards so keep that in mind...

 

Hi,

thanks for the replies, i also have a work 7240 that has no problems. So i have ruled out dirty mains. I think recycled motherboards may be the issue. Its going back if it happens again, with all the associated hassle.