Inspiron, no boot, black screen

Start with a screen diagnostic -- hold the D key through powerup.  A series of self-test screens should appear.  Do these run, or is the display completely black?

It would help greatly to know what model system you have as well -- Inspiron N5110, 5593, 3501, etc.  

Experiencing a no-boot issue with a black screen on your Dell Inspiron laptop can be caused by various factors, including hardware and software problems. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Power Cycle: Start by performing a power cycle. Disconnect the laptop from the power source, remove the battery (if applicable), and hold down the power button for about 15-20 seconds. Reconnect the battery and power adapter, and then try turning on the laptop.

2. Check Power Indicator Lights: When you try to turn on the laptop, observe any power indicator lights. They might provide clues about the status of your laptop's components.

3. External Display: Connect the laptop to an external monitor or TV using the appropriate cable. If the external display shows an image, the issue could be related to the laptop's internal display or its connections.

4. Remove External Devices: Disconnect all external devices like USB drives, printers, and external monitors. Sometimes, a malfunctioning external device can prevent the laptop from booting.

5. RAM Reseating: If the RAM modules are not seated properly, it can cause boot issues. Open the laptop's access panel, remove the RAM modules, and then reinsert them firmly.

6. Hard Drive/SSD Issues: A faulty or corrupted hard drive or SSD can prevent the laptop from booting. Listen for any unusual sounds coming from the laptop's storage area. If you suspect a storage issue, you might need to replace the drive and reinstall the operating system.

7. BIOS/UEFI Reset: Reset the BIOS or UEFI settings to default. Sometimes, incorrect settings can lead to boot problems.

8. Battery Check: If the laptop's battery is faulty or not holding a charge, it could affect the boot process. Try booting the laptop with just the power adapter connected, bypassing the battery.

9. External Bootable Media: Create a bootable USB drive with a recovery or diagnostic tool. Boot your laptop from the USB drive to perform tests and troubleshoot issues.

10. Professional Help: If you've tried the above steps and the issue persists, it might be best to seek help from a professional technician. They can diagnose hardware issues more accurately and perform repairs if needed.

11. Factory Reset/Operating System Reinstall: If all else fails and you're comfortable with it, you could consider performing a factory reset or reinstalling the operating system. This should be a last resort, as it will erase all data on the laptop.

Remember that troubleshooting hardware issues can be complex and potentially risky. If your laptop is under warranty, consider reaching out to Dell support for assistance. If not, and you're not comfortable with the steps, it's advisable to consult a professional technician.

@ejn63​ the model is an inspiron 15 3515

@AdrianG001​ I've tried 2 - its just white, 3 No signal, 4 - has also been done, 5 - Ive swapped the memory slots and nothing, 6 - The ssd works fine in my computer, 7 - How?, 8 - Nothing, 9 - Not tried

Try a system reset.  Remove the base cover after unplugging the adapter and disconnect the battery from the system board.  Hold the power button for 30 seconds.  Reconnect the battery, replace the base cover and try powering up the system.

A completely white screen without any sign of diagnostic LEDs flashing likely means a bad system board if you still get no image.

@ejn63​ apolgies for the delayed response, upon closer inspection of the motherboard it seems that the BL connector is missing, is this a prblem?

Unless it was present and was somehow torn off, it has nothing to do with the  screen backlight -- it would be for a keyboard backlight.

If the connector was there and is damaged, it could be an issue.  Otherwise, it's probably just a blank space for an option your particular system never had.

@ejn63​ it displayed a series of colors .. what next?

Same issue here. 

mine shows white red green blue screens 

and then it heats up (black screen then) and turns off and then Heats up (fans running extremely) and just goes off again. When I press down my power key and turn it on again I get the colour sequence and then the heat up with blackout 

@dennis-199​ did you ever manage to fix this and if so how ? I’m having the same issue and desperately need to fix it - Thankyou