Weird laptop behaviour
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Pete O`Hanlon wrote:
What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button?
Those are the only two buttons Vista has drivers for.
Brad Australian I assume Microsoft would not use doors, because using Windows is faster.
:laugh::laugh::laugh:
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before. -
Well, my trusty old Dell D600 has started to behave in a really odd manner. Sometimes, when I attempt to start it, the power lights light up for a brief period of time and then go off - and the machine doesn't start up. Other times, it starts up first time with no bother. Now, on the occasions that the system didn't boot up, no amount of pressing the power button would do it - but (and this is the weird bit), pressing the Windows key and the power button together sent power through the system. The DVD whirrs into life, all the lights come on, but Windows doesn't boot up (don't even get to the Dell BIOS screen). Leave the machine for a couple of minutes and then remove and reinsert the battery - then press the power button again and the whole thing kicks back into life. Weird huh? What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button? Oh well, it looks like I need to be considering a new laptop.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before. -
No. I thought it might be the battery, but it doesn't look like it. I might get a new battery just in case though.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before. -
Well, my trusty old Dell D600 has started to behave in a really odd manner. Sometimes, when I attempt to start it, the power lights light up for a brief period of time and then go off - and the machine doesn't start up. Other times, it starts up first time with no bother. Now, on the occasions that the system didn't boot up, no amount of pressing the power button would do it - but (and this is the weird bit), pressing the Windows key and the power button together sent power through the system. The DVD whirrs into life, all the lights come on, but Windows doesn't boot up (don't even get to the Dell BIOS screen). Leave the machine for a couple of minutes and then remove and reinsert the battery - then press the power button again and the whole thing kicks back into life. Weird huh? What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button? Oh well, it looks like I need to be considering a new laptop.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.Pete O`Hanlon wrote:
What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button?
Nothing. It's a fluke. My wife's D600 (work) did the exact same thing. It got worse over time, to the point where it wouldn't power up or only very briefly. I'm sorry to say you've got a bad motherboard. If the puppy is still under warranty, go for it while you still can. If not, ...
Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP - Visual Basic
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Well, my trusty old Dell D600 has started to behave in a really odd manner. Sometimes, when I attempt to start it, the power lights light up for a brief period of time and then go off - and the machine doesn't start up. Other times, it starts up first time with no bother. Now, on the occasions that the system didn't boot up, no amount of pressing the power button would do it - but (and this is the weird bit), pressing the Windows key and the power button together sent power through the system. The DVD whirrs into life, all the lights come on, but Windows doesn't boot up (don't even get to the Dell BIOS screen). Leave the machine for a couple of minutes and then remove and reinsert the battery - then press the power button again and the whole thing kicks back into life. Weird huh? What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button? Oh well, it looks like I need to be considering a new laptop.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.My son's HP laptop has done the same kind of thing on two different occasions. In both instances the motherboard needed to be replaced. The first time HP's maintenance says that a liquid was spilled into the keyboard. That was totally bogus but it was covered by HP's 3 year accidental insurance so it wasn't as painful as it could have been. Also, in both cases, the hard drive was not affected so when he got it back, it still had everything on it.
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Pete O`Hanlon wrote:
What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button?
Nothing. It's a fluke. My wife's D600 (work) did the exact same thing. It got worse over time, to the point where it wouldn't power up or only very briefly. I'm sorry to say you've got a bad motherboard. If the puppy is still under warranty, go for it while you still can. If not, ...
Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP - Visual Basic
Ahhhh.... so, I'm right to look for a new laptop. I'll steer clear of the D600 next time then.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before. -
Well, my trusty old Dell D600 has started to behave in a really odd manner. Sometimes, when I attempt to start it, the power lights light up for a brief period of time and then go off - and the machine doesn't start up. Other times, it starts up first time with no bother. Now, on the occasions that the system didn't boot up, no amount of pressing the power button would do it - but (and this is the weird bit), pressing the Windows key and the power button together sent power through the system. The DVD whirrs into life, all the lights come on, but Windows doesn't boot up (don't even get to the Dell BIOS screen). Leave the machine for a couple of minutes and then remove and reinsert the battery - then press the power button again and the whole thing kicks back into life. Weird huh? What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button? Oh well, it looks like I need to be considering a new laptop.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.This happened several times to my Toshiba when it was new, but I haven't had the problem since. After a while it just stopped doing it. With mine the DVD would come on and the screen would blink... then the whole system would just blink off and restart. It would do that repeatedly until it started up correctly. Toshiba told me to start the machine with the battery removed, then put the battery back in after it started up. I have no idea what that should do with anything, but it seems to help.
"Quality Software since 1983!"
http://www.smoothjazzy.com/ - see the "Programming" section for (freeware) JazzySiteMaps, a simple application to generate .Net and Google-style sitemaps! -
This happened several times to my Toshiba when it was new, but I haven't had the problem since. After a while it just stopped doing it. With mine the DVD would come on and the screen would blink... then the whole system would just blink off and restart. It would do that repeatedly until it started up correctly. Toshiba told me to start the machine with the battery removed, then put the battery back in after it started up. I have no idea what that should do with anything, but it seems to help.
"Quality Software since 1983!"
http://www.smoothjazzy.com/ - see the "Programming" section for (freeware) JazzySiteMaps, a simple application to generate .Net and Google-style sitemaps!Oh well, here's hoping that it goes away. BTW - just had a look at your bio. Coding full time for 20 years? You don't look old enough. How do you do it? I, unfortunately, look every inch my years.:laugh:
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before. -
Oh well, here's hoping that it goes away. BTW - just had a look at your bio. Coding full time for 20 years? You don't look old enough. How do you do it? I, unfortunately, look every inch my years.:laugh:
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.Well I'm 35 and I wrote my first 'for-money' application when I was 16, but had been programming for 5 or so years before then. So 20 years is a ballpark figure, but yeah I'm still young :)
"Quality Software since 1983!"
http://www.smoothjazzy.com/ - see the "Programming" section for (freeware) JazzySiteMaps, a simple application to generate .Net and Google-style sitemaps! -
Well I'm 35 and I wrote my first 'for-money' application when I was 16, but had been programming for 5 or so years before then. So 20 years is a ballpark figure, but yeah I'm still young :)
"Quality Software since 1983!"
http://www.smoothjazzy.com/ - see the "Programming" section for (freeware) JazzySiteMaps, a simple application to generate .Net and Google-style sitemaps!Oh - I wasn't going for the age. I never ask a lady her age. 35 is definitely young though. So, what was your first commercial app?
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before. -
Oh - I wasn't going for the age. I never ask a lady her age. 35 is definitely young though. So, what was your first commercial app?
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.I'm lucky enough to look younger than I am, so I usually don't care too much, ask me again when I'm 39.9 and holding :) I made an application to manage a mailing list for the church newsletter. It basically stored everyone on tape and could print labels from that. I got 100 bucks for that, which was cool for a teenager in 1987. Of course, I also got to type in the names and addresses of all the members. They used it for a few years, by which time there were much better things available.
"Quality Software since 1983!"
http://www.smoothjazzy.com/ - see the "Programming" section for (freeware) JazzySiteMaps, a simple application to generate .Net and Google-style sitemaps! -
Well, my trusty old Dell D600 has started to behave in a really odd manner. Sometimes, when I attempt to start it, the power lights light up for a brief period of time and then go off - and the machine doesn't start up. Other times, it starts up first time with no bother. Now, on the occasions that the system didn't boot up, no amount of pressing the power button would do it - but (and this is the weird bit), pressing the Windows key and the power button together sent power through the system. The DVD whirrs into life, all the lights come on, but Windows doesn't boot up (don't even get to the Dell BIOS screen). Leave the machine for a couple of minutes and then remove and reinsert the battery - then press the power button again and the whole thing kicks back into life. Weird huh? What on earth does the Windows key have to do with the power button? Oh well, it looks like I need to be considering a new laptop.
the last thing I want to see is some pasty-faced geek with skin so pale that it's almost translucent trying to bump parts with a partner - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.If you try to start the computer, but it fails to even get to the Dell splash screen, the lock lights (caps-lock, num-lock, scroll-lock) should be lighting up with an error code. If you can provide me with which specific lights turn on when you try to start the computer I will be able to tell you for sure where the computer thinks the problem is located. It might be the motherboard (since just about everything is integrated on it), but it could also be a problem with the CPU or memory. If one of those two, then it might be a (relatively) easy thing to fix. If you haven't already contacted Dell tech support (or even if you have) feel free to email me and I will do what I can to help you out.
Larry Customer_Advocate@Dell.com