Need help with Inspiron 15

Unplug, remove or disconnect the battery and hold the power button for 30 sec.  Verify that the LED on the AC adapter is on before you plug in the notebook end.  If it's not, the adapter is bad.

Remove and reinstall both memory modules and the hard drive.  Leave the battery out or disconnected and plug in the system.  If it'll power up without but not with the battery installed, the battery is bad.

If it still won't power up thereafter, the mainboard is bad.

How do I "Remove and reinstall both memory modules and the hard drive"?

We'll need to know the exact model to advise you --- i.e., Inspiron 5531, 5370, etc.

Where do I get that info if the comp. won't turn on?

Label on the bottom of the system should have it - -alternatively, use the service tag number on the system base to look up the model information at support.dell.com.

Service manual

www.dell.com/.../manuals

If this is the model with a 32 G embedded solid state drive, neither the memory nor the drive are removeable.

If the system doesn't get going after an unplug/hold power button, the mainboard is what's bad -- and out of warranty this model is low end enough it's not going to be worth repairing.

Thanks. Here it is: Inspiron 3542

Are you a Dell tech? How do we know the adapter/power supply isn't simply bad? Though the light is on the power supply.

That's how you know the problem is with the mainboard - the adapter LED is on, meaning it's OK.

That is a slim possibility -- as is a bad DC jack in the system.  First try a new OEM Dell AC adapter (or one from another system that's known to work properly).  If that doesn't solve the problem, replace the DC jack:

www.parts-people.com/index.php

... and if that doesn't get the system going, it's the mainboard (which on a model like this one likely means a replacement system - you'll wind up spending $300 or more on a system that likely didn't cost much more than that brand new).

Could the wire leading from the adapter box to the input on the laptop be broken?

Just an FYI, it was the power adapter (broken wire near jack thing). Thanks for the support though.