Studio 1535 won't start, please help!

Right now I'm posting this from a friend's netbook, for the record.

So, this is something of an emergency. My Studio 1535, as the title says, is not starting. When I first plug in the power cord, the small white light turns on for just a second and then turns off again. Normally it stays on while plugged in.

When I press the power button, the white ring of light around the button turns on like normal, and the media buttons flash in sequence, just like a normal boot.

Unfortunately, this is where it stops going as usual.

Once the media buttons flash, that's it. Nothing happens. The screen stays completely off, no other sounds or anything. The power light stays on and the media buttons light up when pressed, but it does not boot and the screen never turns on.

I'm completely stumped. The most recent thing I did was remove the media panel to add some shielding to the cable that connects the media panel to the motherboard. That actually went pretty well, and it booted fine.

Now, for whatever reason, it just won't start. Apart from the power light and the media buttons, nothing works any more. I'm having a panic attack because I need this computer tomorrow for my CS&E programming final exam, and I really can't afford to fail this. This is the only computer I have, and I need it to work. I will be eternally grateful for any help you're able to give.

Please, I'm getting pretty desperate here.

 

Is the HD activity light flickering at all?

 

It comes on and stays on for the first second or so, while the media lights are flashing, and then stays off.

 

Have you tried discharging the system static buildup?

To do so unplug the notebook remove the battery, then press and hold the power button down for 10secs or so. Then put the battery back in and plug in does it come on?

 

Just tried that, didn't make any difference. For the record, the fan doesn't seem to be moving either.

 

I am sceptical as to whether ESD is the problem as most electronics are designed to be properly grounded; however, my experience with Toshiba's Satellite A70 did prove to be an exception. It's certainly a possibility.

It is strange that the screen doesn't turn on; have you tried plugging in an external monitor and booting?

 

I don't have access to an external monitor here at my dorm...we all only have laptops, so unless there's a way to use another laptop as an external monitor...and even then, none of us have a VGA cable.

I think this goes deeper than just the display though...I've left this thing on as long as 10 minutes, with my external speakers still plugged in and turned up, and I never heard the Vista starting sound, so I'm pretty sure it's not actually getting to Windows.

 

looks like your hard drive is dead!!! just the hard drive.

 

Fantastic, just what I needed. Can anyone else confirm it's just the hard drive?

 

Try pulling it out first and booting to see if the BIOS post screen is displayed. If it isn't the hard drive, then the next likely culprit is the motherboard.

 

Just unplugged the hard drive and tried to start again. Same thing...

Display stays off, lights flash once and power light stays on, and that's it.

 

It sounds like you'll have to send the unit in for repair; can you borrow a friend's laptop for the upcoming exam?

 

Highly doubtful.

Ah well. Pen-and-paper Java programming is better than no programming, I guess. Ink doesn't really notify you of syntax errors quite as well as a real programming tool. >_<

 

I dont see where people are saying it is your harddrive

Does your system boot to the BIOS?
If the BIOS does not appear under startup their is a hardware problem. The problem sounds to me like either a memory issue or a connectivity issue.
I know that the 1535 has the power port external from the motherboard.
Please open the bezel above the keyboard and make sure the approximate 8 wire wide power cable connection to the motherboard is installed properly.
Please note this cable connects to the motherboard right next to where the optical drive is connected.

Try powering up with one memory card at a time. If the system starts than you can figure out by process of elimination which memory card is dead

The 1535 has about 15 different ribbon cable connections inside of it, make sure all of them are connected properly. Since you probably don't have all of the time in the world to do this, check the ones just under the keyboard.
Just pop the plastic bezel up by the keyboard, and remove the two screws. When the keyboard comes off you will see a bunch of connectors. Their is a small line on each ribbon cable which must align with the connector. This line can visually tell you if its connected properly or not.
Make sure everything is connected here and on the underside of the system. The whole bottom panel comes off so you can check their pretty easily

One thing I noticed on the 1535 is that the antennas can be problematic. Their are like 6 or 8 antennas which cone through the motherboard to the underside of the laptop. If any of the antennas are not being used, wrap the end in electrical tape.
When I was operating on my friends 1535, their was a loose antenna, which could have shorted his system out.

Good luck,

K-TRON

 

Very informative post, K-TRON. Thanks!

As it turns out, my memory modules somehow managed to unseat themselves in the course of sitting completely still on my desk. >_<

I popped them out and put them back in the slots, and everything's working fine now. Hell of a false alarm if there ever was one...time to go catch up on some sleep before finals!

Plus rep to everyone in this thread, even though you were all wrong.

 

Wow, thats great to hear. I am glad everything is still in working order

K-TRON

 

Dell stuido 1537:

I had the same problem with the eject light not turning off and none of the lit button working properly...

I reset the bios by turning off and unplugging power chord and taking out the battery and then holding the power button for about 30 sec.

It fixed the problem.

 

Not that it really applies to this thread, but...

That is pretty much the only known workaround for the eject button issue. You'll definitely have to do this multiple times, though. I make a habit of doing it every time I shut down.