Dell laptop won't turn on

The power socket is mounted directly to the motherboard. Forces applied to the connector--bumping into the cord, etc--can loosen the soldered connection over time. Sometimes the plastic connector cracks. This can cause the symptoms you are experiencing. The part is inexpensive and readily available, and if you have basic soldering skills, it's not hard to fix it yourself, or a computer shop can do it for a nominal fee.

Before you do anything else - take out the battery - wait for a few minutes - try starting it again - replace battery and start it. This sometimes works. Even if the power cord is in the battery needs to be OK too. Other than that it might be the plug to the mother board or the motherboard battery.

MKDSK wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Dell laptops are notorious for failed connectors where the brick plugs into the computer. Might check to be sure the battery is actually charged.

I don't use the battery I just use the power cord.

Please reread what I said. The plug in is notorious for failing where it mounts to the mother board. That means, NO POWER.

Stefonius wrote:
Which power light comes on? The one on the laptop, the one on the "brick" in the cord, or the one on the end of the power plug where it goes into the laptop?

It is a dell Studio 1558. The light on the laptop comes on when I plug in the power cord, stays on, but sometimes goes right back off. The power cord is working I know because the light on the power cord brick is on.

Which power light comes on? The one on the laptop, the one on the "brick" in the cord, or the one on the end of the power plug where it goes into the laptop?

I had the same problem with my old HP Laptop. Would not start up.
It was old enough that the battery on the mother board was dead.( Like a big watch battery) When I replaced it everything worked fine again.Here is a link to a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg_wvp1YdSI Just Google how to change a CMOS battery. My battery was under a plug and play component like memory sticks or the modem I don't remember which. Good lick

Chrisatthebeach wrote:
My wife's old Dell laptop was the same, hard to keep the plug in connected and it would either not power up or would shut down if the plug was moved.

I did find a replacement battery online fairly cheap and that took care of it until it finally got so slow and no more support for XP so we quit using it.

The plug stays in and I don't use the battery and the power light comes on it just won't power up when I press the power button.

My wife's old Dell laptop was the same, hard to keep the plug in connected and it would either not power up or would shut down if the plug was moved.

I did find a replacement battery online fairly cheap and that took care of it until it finally got so slow and no more support for XP so we quit using it.

donn0128 wrote:
Dell laptops are notorious for failed connectors where the brick plugs into the computer. Might check to be sure the battery is actually charged.

I don't use the battery I just use the power cord.

Dell laptops are notorious for failed connectors where the brick plugs into the computer. Might check to be sure the battery is actually charged.