Member Avatar for pk.

Hi,

I have bought this dell vostro 1015 laptop one and half year ago. Day before yesterday my windows xp hanged and I was unable to shut down. So I pressed power on button for few seconds to switch off my laptop. Now my laptop is not starting. I see complete blank screen. I tried booting with CD, but no luck. The LED for power is on. The LED for harddisk keeps blinking. But I can not see anything on screen. Not even Dell logo. Nothing happening. The LED at harddisk keeps blinking. Keyboard do not respond. I tried taking out battery and starting with power adapter. But no luck. Please help.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by balatoro

Dani AI

Generated

Brief expert note for the Dell Vostro 1015 thread (builds on ’s RAM advice and the follow-ups by and ):

Common causes for a laptop that shows power/HDD LEDs but no Dell logo are (in rough order): a failed POST (memory/CPU/motherboard), a corrupted BIOS/embedded controller state, or a display/backlight/inverter/LCD-cable fault. If the machine shows no LEDs at all, the fault usually lies with the AC adapter, DC jack, battery circuit or a dead motherboard.

Recommended troubleshooting sequence (safe, low-risk steps first):

  • Perform a hard power-reset: remove battery and AC, press-and-hold power for 15–30 seconds, then connect AC only and attempt boot.
  • Verify the AC adapter: check its LED (if present) and try a known-good adapter or test voltage with a multimeter.
  • Attempt a display check: attach an external monitor (VGA). If the external shows output but the internal screen is blank (or faint), suspect inverter/LCD/cable/backlight. Shine a bright flashlight at an angle on the screen to look for a faint image.
  • Memory/motherboard basics: boot with a single RAM module, try the other slot, or test with a known-good stick. Listen for beep codes or note keyboard LED blink patterns and record them.
  • Perform a CMOS/EC reset if comfortable: disconnect main and CMOS batteries for a few minutes, then reassemble.
  • Minimal boot: remove HDD/optical and any nonessential cards and try to POST with only CPU, one RAM stick, and AC.

Safety/cautions: work on a nonconductive surface, ground via wrist strap or touch a metal object before handling components, and avoid further disassembly if under warranty.

When to seek professional service: if no changes after the above or if DC jack/motherboard work is needed. Report to the technician the observed LED/blink pattern, that RAM was reseated, the hard shutdown event before failure, and whether an external monitor shows output — these accelerate diagnosis (power-rail checks, DC jack test, and POST-failure tracing).

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All 9 Replies

Member Avatar for Rik_

Try removing the ram to see if it will beep. If it does, refit the ram and try it again. If you have 2 ram sticks then try them 1 at a time.

Member Avatar for pk.

Thanks for reply. But I do not know how to do that. I am new with laptops.

Member Avatar for pk.

Thanks, I will try and let you know.

Member Avatar for pk.

I tried it.

When I removed RAM and started laptop, the left most light on the keyboard became on. The middle light and right light started blinking together. But no beep.
Then I inserted RAM. Then middle light on keyboard started blinking. I think I did not place RAM properly. Then again I reseated RAM. Now laptop has come to previous stage. Power LED is on and LED at hard disk keep blinking. Nothing on screen.

Member Avatar for Rik_

Sounds like you need to take it to a professional repair shop then unfortunately!

Member Avatar for pk.

Thanks Rik. At least I learned how to remove and place RAM in laptop which I never had done.

Member Avatar for Rik_

No problem, you can't really do any further diagnosis unless you feel up to taking the laptop apart!

Member Avatar for balatoro

I was working with the laptop before going to bed and when done I shot it down, but the next morning when press the switch button nothing is showing even a single led light does not show.

Based on this I disassemble the laptop and reassemble it back again by making sure everything is connected well but still not starting when I press the start button.

Pls is there any that can help?

Toro.

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