Dell XPS laptop problem

slinga

My Dell XPS is 14 months old and out of warranty.
I turned it off and it was working properly but when turned back on all I got was a black screen and the cursor pointer which I could move around.
The keyboard lights up but nothing else happens.
Searching through threads on here it looks like Dell won't help and perhaps re connecting the battery might be the only 'cheap' solution which might work.
Before I try that, as I'm no techie, does anyone else have any suggestions for repair.

bsod

keep your finger on the off button until it fully powers off

slinga

Tried that.
Didn't work.

bsod

for how long

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN153569?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-10/windows-10-recovery-options

slinga

bsod, thanks, I'm still usingWin 8.1.
Tried the shift + F8 method a few times.
Got to the dell screen with the revolving dots for a few seconds once but then the screen went black only with the cursor showing.

Just to add I see from another site that if you press Fn and the power switch then you get to the ePSA Pre Boot System Assessment which I'm running now. And that ePSA took 50 minutes to run.
Well the ePSA states all systems running properly but it still won't boot.

tim_n

I've had this a few times when "waking up". Generally speaking, tapping the off button, waiting, then pressing it again wakes it up in the desktop. Has only done it since win10 upgrade.

Holding down the power button does a hard reset - I've never known this to not work.

Dell has a responsibility for 2 years after manufacture to provide a solution regardless of your warranty under statutory rights (may even be 6). You've bought a high end model. If the software restore route does not work (ie you successfully restore but the fault remains) then I would give them a right and explain that this a faulty item. I assume it's had mild use? If heavy (worn cosmetic marks, obvious dents/scratches) you may struggle.

grumpycrab

As per above post; if this is a hardware error don't let Dell off.

Take battery out and power lead; press and hold the power button for 30seconds. Reconnect power lead only. Does it start?

Next, can you get in safe mode? "Immediately, start pressing the F8 key once a second until the Advanced Boot Menu appears."

unforeseen

grumpycrab wrote: »

As per above post; if this is a hardware error don't let Dell off.

Take battery out and power lead; press and hold the power button for 30seconds. Reconnect power lead only. Does it start?

Next, can you get in safe mode? "Immediately, start pressing the F8 key once a second until the Advanced Boot Menu appears."

From the info given it sounds more like a corrupt OS ATM

danthemoneysavingman

I suspect a hard drive failure, I have an XPS 15 with win10pro. Have suffered similar. If you can try booting off the hard drive in another laptop, might help diagnosis. It may be corrupt MBR/UEFI which could possibly be sorted through Hirens BootCD.

slinga

Well looked everywhere on the internet and finally tried F12 with the power on button and eventually got to a factory reset.
Of course saving my stuff etc has taken time but at least it appears I'm going to get back to where I was by the end of today.
Dunno what caused the problem or how long this will last but hopefully it is solved.

Thanks for all the advice.