How to Troubleshoot a No POST or System Startup Issue on a Dell Laptop

In a well-lit environment, the computer might be on, but the screen could appear blank because the display brightness is set to its lowest level, making it seem like it is not turned on.
To adjust the display settings, perform the following steps:

1. Repeatedly press the Increase Brightness () key.
   NOTE: When nothing happens, try pressing and holding the Function ( ) key, and then repeatedly press the Increase Brightness ( ) key.

Connecting an external monitor bypasses your computer’s LCD and can help identify if there is an issue with the screen, which might be why the computer appears to be off.

For more information, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Connect a Monitor to a Dell Computer.

Ensure all the air vents are unobstructed. Laptops have safety circuits that cut power if components, such as the CPU, overheat. Overheating often occurs when using the laptop on surfaces like pillows or sofas that block the vents. To prevent overheating, keep the computer on a hard or sturdy surface, and provide adequate clearance around the air vents.

See the video and the instructions below on how to ensure that the air vents are clean.

1. Disconnect the AC adapter.
2. Check the air vents on the computer for dust or debris.
   Vents may be located in various places depending on the computer model. See the User Manual for your Dell computer.
3. Use a can of compressed air to remove dust or debris from the air vents.
   CAUTION: Follow the instructions on the side of the compressed air can, as using compressed air incorrectly can damage your computer.
   CAUTION: Do not try to blow the dust off with your mouth, as the moisture can permanently damage electronic or electrical components.
   CAUTION: Do not use vacuum cleaners or blowers. Vacuum cleaners and blowers cause static and may damage electronic or electrical components inside your computer.

For more information, see Dell Knowledge Base article Troubleshoot Dell Laptop Overheating Issues.

No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen. Has the laptop been dropped, something heavy dropped on the laptop, or liquid spilled on it?

 
Figures 1 and 2: Example of Broken Plastics

Internal damage caused by these sorts of situations could prevent the computer from posting.

Unless you have an active accidental damage policy, you have to cover the cost of repair yourself. For out of warranty repair service, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Arrange an Out of Warranty Repair on Your Dell Computer.

Has any new RAM, a hard drive, or other components been replaced or updated recently? If your laptop stopped working immediately after the hardware change, there is a chance the new hardware is faulty or was installed incorrectly.

When you installed the component yourself, you may want to try to reinstall the component. See the User Manual for your Dell computer for detailed information about disassembly and reassembly.

Dell offers videos for some computers to help guide you through the replacement of parts such as the battery, Hard Drive (SSD), or keyboard. See our Support Video Library, once there, search the videos by the model number of your computer.

For out of warranty repair service, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Arrange an Out of Warranty Repair on Your Dell Computer.

Laptops are naturally portable, and although the mechanism securing the RAM is designed to hold it in place, excessive jostling can occasionally cause the RAM to become loose, potentially preventing the laptop from posting.

If you are comfortable opening your laptop, you can try reseating the RAM modules to see if that is causing the issue. See the User Manual for your Dell computer for detailed information about disassembly and reassembly.

Dell offers videos for some computers to help guide you through the replacement of parts such as the battery, Hard Drive (SSD), or keyboard. See our Support Video Library, once there, search the videos by the model number of your computer.

For assistance with repair options', Contact Dell Technical Support.

Dell laptops use lithium-ion batteries, which can swell due to the battery's age, the number of charge cycles, or exposure to high heat.

A swollen battery has the potential to physically damage the product enclosure, potentially preventing the laptop from posting.

Have you noticed any of the following issues?

1. Touchpad or Keyboard lifting.
2. System rocking when placed on an even surface (not related to broken or missing feet).
3. Uneven seams where the case or cover parts meet (enclosure splitting).

Any damaged system components or swollen battery should be repaired or replaced before resuming use of the computer.

For assistance with repair or replacement options', Contact Dell Technical Support.

For more information, see Dell Knowledge Base article Swollen Battery Information and Guidance.

The laptop motherboard includes a small circular battery that powers the CMOS chip, which stores settings like the date and time, fan speed, and boot sequence. This is essential for the BIOS to load the operating system and manage all input and output components during bootup.

If this battery is dead, it can potentially prevent the laptop from posting.

If you are comfortable opening your laptop, you can try replacing the CMOS battery to see if that is causing the issue. However, most people opt to have it replaced by a technician.

See the User Manual for your Dell computer for detailed information about disassembly and reassembly.

Dell offers videos for some computers to help guide you through the replacement of parts such as the CMOS battery. See our Support Video Library, once there, search the videos by the model number of your computer.

For assistance with repair or replacement options', Contact Dell Technical Support.