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Dell Inspirion 1721 Laptop won't turn on

Last answer on Nov 20, 2009 9:50:46 am GMT Kitty, on Jun 23, 2009 3:46:43 pm BST 
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Hello,

Last night I went to turn on my laptop and it won't turn on.

It starts to turn on, the power light/HD light goes on, then makes a CHINK sound and shuts off and the battery light flashes. I have it always plugged into the wall.

I tried to take the back off to clean, but cannot get to the fan area to check that.

I have in the past used it on my bed a lot and it has gotten really hot, did I fry it? I really don't want to spend $150 on a new battery just to test it. Any other suggestions I can try? I did just recently move all my photos to my external HD but didn't get to my doc's yet, IF it IS dead, can I get to that info anymore or am I SOL?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Configuration: Windows Vista

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1

Gage, on Jun 23, 2009 4:04:49 pm BST

Hi Kitty, take your battery out, plug in your ac adapter, and then try and turn it on. You dont need the battery if you are plugged in with the charger.

Also, Does the charge light come on when you plug the ac adapter in?

   
Reply to Gage

2

Kitty, on Jun 23, 2009 5:02:38 pm BST
  • +1

I tried that last night, taking the battery out and just plugging it in, it did the same thing.

The charge light goes on for a second, then off. And the light is on on the power source, which leads me to believe that it's working.... think the power source is dead??

   
Reply to Kitty

3

Gage, on Jun 23, 2009 5:18:28 pm BST
  • +1

It seems either your charger is bad, or the motherboard (charging port attached to motherboard). First I would try another charger, maybe a friend has a dell charger? They are fairly cheap as well, 20 to 30 bucks.. But Im thinking the port on the mother board you stick the charger into may be damaged. For this you would need to buy another motherboard, or see if it is repairable by sodering the charging port back to the motherboard. Your hard drive should still be fine, you can get the files off of it by repairing the laptop, or you could even get a 2.5" hard drive usb enclosure, then plug it into another computer.

   
Reply to Gage

4

Kitty, on Jun 25, 2009 8:22:40 pm BST

Well just got the new power cord and ZIP/ZERO nothing happening, the same exact thing. :(

SO, this pretty much means I'm screwed eh?

I wouldn't know how to fix the motherboard on it, how do you get to it? I've done it on PC's where they've come slightly unplugged or something but never a laptop.

Any suggestions or just get a new one?

Thanks in advance!

   
Reply to Kitty

5

Gage, on Jun 26, 2009 7:09:50 pm BST

Sorry to hear that. Here is a link on how to take that laptop apart. http://www.insidemylaptop.com/...

Now if the charging port has come loose from the motherboard you or someone can try and resoder it back. If you havent done anything like this before I would see how much it would be for a tech. to do it. If you simply need a whole new motherboard they can be pricey. (around 300 dollars). Hell you can get a good new laptop from dell for 500. Any chance it is still under warranty?

   
Reply to Gage

6

Kitty, on Jul 1, 2009 4:00:57 am BST

Thank you for that link Gage, that will come in handy!!

The new plug didn't work so I'm going to assume it's the motherboard. Right now I'm concerned with getting my info off the hard drive.. someone I think here said you can buy a casing/usb to put it in and use it on another computer, is that correct? Would I get this at Fry's or something? Does anyone have a link so I can see what I'll be working with?

What are the chances of the MB being separated from the power source? I did order a new desktop and got a free mini laptop in the process but would like to salvage the pink one if possible.. it's great for portable games etc.

It's worth asking, hey! OH and lesson learned I got the 2 year support on the new one.. I was a bit leery to go full out and get another laptop after losing 2 already.. But I have an account with them and it's interest free so why not?

Any help is appreciated and thanks so much for all that has been said already!!

MEOW!

   
Reply to Kitty

7

Gage, on Jul 2, 2009 2:50:54 pm BST

Yes you can save your data with a 2.5 inch usb hard drive enclosure. Here is a link from Frys.

http://www.frys.com/...

   
Reply to Gage

8

Kitty, on Jul 3, 2009 4:24:24 pm BST

Thanks Gage!

I just got a case and took everything apart but they don't match, the teeth are different. The case I got has 2 rows of teeth holes and the HD has 1 row of thicker prongs (sorry don't know term)....

Would you know the correct description to look for? I got this one off Ebay...

Thank you!!!

   
Reply to Kitty

9

Kitty, on Jul 5, 2009 7:32:19 pm BST

This is my harddrive, if that helps...

Hard Drive, 160G, Serial Ata 9.5, 5.4, SE080

Thanks :)

   
Reply to Kitty

10

Scott Davidson, on Jul 11, 2009 5:23:40 am BST

Hello Kitty,

I was researching the problem with Dell batteries and laptops because I am a computer tech and a customer of mine brought me a dell e1505 with the same problem you described. After doing alot reading (including your posts) I concluded that the DC power jack connector on the motherboard is bad. I'm charging this customer $100 to resolder a brand new connector on to it. My website is www.frontrangecomputing.com. I'm located in Northern Colorado you can view testimonials about me on my website as well. If you need this fixed i would be glad to do it for $100 if you paid for the shipping.

Thanks.

   
Reply to Scott Davidson

20

 kaz, on Nov 20, 2009 9:50:46 am GMT

Hi Gage i have i think the same problem on my laptop and suspect it needs a new motherboard as there's no power getting through. How does this portable hard drive device work with your laptop in order to get the info off the hard drive inside the laptop? do you have to take the hard drive out of the laptop?
any help would be appreciated.
many thanks

   
Reply to kaz

11

cindy, on Aug 12, 2009 8:29:11 am BST

I think your laptop Motherboard is bad.Maybe you need a new dell inspiron 1721 battery come from http://laptopsbattery.us/dell-inspiron-1721-battery.htm .

   
Reply to cindy

12

Dave, on Aug 27, 2009 10:20:18 pm BST

If it has a nividia video card, you need a new motherboard period. Sme thing has happened to me twice! The nividia video cards are bad. Has happened to Mac users as well. Search on dells blog site.

   
Reply to Dave

13

vicmac19, on Aug 28, 2009 3:23:25 pm BST

Ok, I had/have the same problem with an Inspiron 9100. I first bought a new battery and a power supply. It didn't help. I bought a new power jack and then apparently couldn't desolder the old jack because my soldering iron wasn't getting hot enough. I ordered a new motherboard and got it yesterday. I replaced it and reassambled the computer. It's doing the exact same thing. Now I'm in for about $400 in replacement parts and it's not working. I'm worried I wasted my time and money and don't want you to do the same thing.

   
Reply to vicmac19

14

same prob in NC, on Sep 11, 2009 10:08:06 pm BST

I've got the same problem with the inspirion 9100. I've been able to get it to reboot by holding the fn key and then pressing the power button. This will start working less and less, I've been up and down for about 3 weeks. Also removing the hd and ram and then resetting by holding the power key for 30 sec. Then reinstall hd and try fn and power, even if it doesn't work, next put in one ram and then fn and power, then the last ram. I've had success trying crazy combinations. I've also taken it apart and cleaned out all the fans. Have a thumb drive ready as some times you can get an hour, other times a few minutes. good luck. I'll let you know when I get this fixed.

   
Reply to same prob in NC

16

vicmac19, on Oct 4, 2009 8:12:41 pm BST
  • +1

I replaced everything but the processor. I have that now but haven't put it in yet. May do it in the next day or so. Mine did exactly what you're describing. I'll post when I've installed it. At that point everything but the fans and video card will be new.

   
Reply to vicmac19

15

freak troubleshooter, on Oct 4, 2009 6:54:56 pm BST

Same problem go to a book store and find books on trouble shooting i found mine to be the fans chip had gotten messed up. but now i cant get teh screen on any ideas?

   
Reply to freak troubleshooter

17

yokio, on Oct 15, 2009 6:38:56 am BST

Hi,guy
that's a cheap laptop battery online ship http://www.goodlaptopbattery.co.uk
maybe you can track http://www.goodlaptopbattery.co.uk/dell/inspiron-1720.htm

   
Reply to yokio

18

Seall Technical Compuers, on Nov 12, 2009 6:37:51 am GMT

Alright guys and girls here is the deal. I had a customer that had a Inspirion 1721 and i replaced almost everything on the computer including the mother board. Here was the problem...... THE PROCESSOR. Even with the new board in place I still got the boot for one second chink and battery blink. Swapped the processor with a used one laying around the shop and it booted right up. Go online and get a new one there relatively cheap used.

   
Reply to Seall Technical Compuers

19

Nicon, on Nov 17, 2009 12:41:03 am GMT

Maybe your dell 1721 battery charger is dead or youe motherboard dead

Buy a new in : http://www.battery4.us/laptop-battery/dell-inspiron-1721.htm­

   
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