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Dell Computer Does Not Turn On or Boot Into Windows With Errors Such as No Bootable Device

Summary: Is your Dell computer not turning on? Getting errors such as no bootable device? Learn how to identify the symptoms of power, POST, video, or boot-related problem on your Dell desktop, all-in-one, or laptop. Find links to common troubleshooting guides to help recover your Dell computer. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Every computer goes through a series of checks from the time that it is turned on until it boots into the operating system.

You may notice issues such as.

  • Power issue if your Dell desktop or laptop does not turn on
  • POST (power-on self-test) process issue if your Dell computer turns on but it is stuck at the Dell logo screen or stuck at a black or blank screen
  • Video issue if your Dell computer does not display anything on the monitor or screen
  • On-screen error message such as No Boot Device, No Bootable Device, Boot Device Not Found, No bootable devices were found.

 

When a computer does not turn on or boot into the operating system, it could be a failure with:

  • A loosely connected power cable, or faulty power supply, ac adapter, power cable, power strip (surge protector) can cause power issues.
  • System memory (RAM) that is installed improperly, a faulty motherboard, or a faulty device attached to the computer can stop the computer from completing the power on self-test (POST).
  • Your computer can stop booting to the operating system because of corrupt operating system files or drivers, bad sectors on the hard drive, faulty hard drive, and so on.
  • Display-related issues are often caused because of outdated or corrupt video drivers, incorrect display settings on the monitor or display, incorrect video settings in the operating system, or even a faulty display or video card.

Start with the top section and if that does not resolve your issue go to the next section.

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  1. Turn off the computer.
  2. Disconnect the AC adapter or power cable from the computer, and remove the battery (for Dell laptops with removable battery).
    NOTE: For Dell laptops that have a nonremovable battery, see the Dell knowledge base article How to reset Real Time Clock (RTC).
    For Dell laptops with removable batteries, see the documentation of your Dell laptop for step-by-step instructions to safely remove the battery.
    NOTE: On select Dell Latitude laptops, try to recover the laptop using the forced ePSA method from a POST or boot failure. To learn more, see the Dell knowledge base article How to Use Forced ePSA to Recover from POST or Boot Failure.
  3. Disconnect all devices such as USB drives, printers, webcams, and media cards (SD/xD).
  4. Press and hold the power button for 15 to 20 seconds to drain residual power.
  5. Connect the AC adapter or power cable and the battery (for Dell laptops).
  6. If your Dell computer can turn on but is unable to boot into Windows, identify the symptoms and follow the appropriate troubleshooting guide.
  7. If your Dell computer is not able to turn on, follow the troubleshooting guide for no power symptom in the table below.

Running a hardware diagnostic test helps you identify potential hardware failure. Dell laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, and Windows-based tablets have an integrated diagnostic test. It is called the SupportAssist Pre Boot System Assessment or Enhanced Pre-Boot System Assessment (ePSA).

NOTE: If the diagnostic test fails, make a note of the error code and validation code that the diagnostic test provides. This helps Dell Technical Support to identify which hardware component is causing the issue and provide repair options.

The causes of these sorts of issues be assigned into four major groups as listed in the table below.

Click the link that matches the symptoms you are seeing, and then follow the troubleshooting steps.

No Power Issues:
When you press the power button and there is no signs of power to the computer. The power button, or any other indicator lights do not come on. There is no noise like from the fans coming from the computer.		 Power On Self-Test (POST) Issues:
When you press the power button, the diagnostics lights on the computer and or the power button flashes Amber and White in a pattern to indicate an issue.
No Video Issues:
When you press the power button, the power button light comes on and stays on, the other indicator lights come on for a short time, you hear the computer making noises, but the screen is blank.		 No Boot Issues:
When you press the power button, you see the Dell splash screen appear and disappear, but the Windows desktop does not appear. All you may see is a flashing curser in the upper left corner, an error message may even appear.

No Power Issues

  • Dell computer shows no signs of power.
  • The power LED is off and does not respond when you try to turn on the computer.
  • The display is blank or black, the computer does not start, and there is no indication of turn on the computer.
  • No fan noise is heard.

Try these quick steps to recover your Dell computer from a power issue.

No POST Issues

  • LEDs blinking (usually in a pattern and/or amber in color).
  • Beep codes are heard on the computer (continuous or pattern).
  • The display is blank (black) with blinking LEDs or beep codes.
  • Fan noise is heard, but LEDs are blinking, or beep codes are heard.
  • The computer stops responding or is stuck at the Dell logo.
  • The LEDs do not respond when you press the Caps lock, Scroll lock, or Num lock keys.

Try these quick steps to recover your computer from a POST or startup issue.

No Video Issues

  • The status of LEDs (power LED, hard drive activity LED, and so on.), are normal.
  • Fan noise is heard, but the display is blank (black).
  • The display is blank or black.
  • Blurry, distorted, fuzzy images.
  • Horizontal or vertical lines.
  • Color fade, light leak, brightness, contrast issues, and so on.

Try these quick steps to resolve video issues on a Dell computer.

No Boot Issues

  • The status of LEDs (power LED, hard drive activity LED, and so on) is normal.
  • Fan noise is heard.
  • A blank or black screen with a blinking cursor on the top-left corner of the screen.
  • Hard drive-related error messages such as 'No Boot Device,' 'No Bootable Device,' or 'Boot Device Not Found,' or 'No bootable devices were found.'
  • Windows blue screen or STOP (Crash Screen) error messages.
  • The computer stops responding or stops at the Windows logo screen while booting into the operating system.

Try these quick steps to recover your computer from a boot problem.

Additional Information

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Affected Products

Chromebox, Alienware, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, Chromebook, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations, Dell Pro Rugged 13 RA13250 , Dell Pro Rugged 14 RB14250 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000130881
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 16 Oct 2024
Version:  37
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