Dell Inspiron 531S Support Question
Dell Inspiron 531S Support Question
Find answers below for this question about Dell Inspiron 531S.Need a Dell Inspiron 531S manual? We have 2 online manuals for this item!
Question posted by Tahasla on August 25th, 2014
Led On Back Of Inspiron 531 Is On But Pc Won't Start
The person who posted this question about this Dell product did not include a detailed explanation. Please use the "Request More Information" button to the right if more details would help you to answer this question.
Current Answers
Answer #1: Posted by freginold on November 21st, 2014 9:51 AM
freginold
Member since:
December 20th, 2011 Points: 23,253,885
Member since:
December 20th, 2011 Points: 23,253,885
Often when a computer won't turn on, it's because one of two components has failed: either the power supply unit or the motherboard (assuming you've ruled out the power coming in from the wall or surge protector as the problem).
Power supplies are generally not terribly expensive, compared to other components. If you're not getting any power at all, the power supply is a likely culprit. It's a much cheaper option to try than the motherboard. If you have a voltmeter or a power supply tester, you can check the power supply to verify that it's not supplying any power.
The motherboard is expensive to replace, so if you think the motherboard is the problem (if you've tried the power supply or ruled it out as the problem) it might be cheaper to get a new computer than have the motherboard repaired or replaced.
Power supplies are generally not terribly expensive, compared to other components. If you're not getting any power at all, the power supply is a likely culprit. It's a much cheaper option to try than the motherboard. If you have a voltmeter or a power supply tester, you can check the power supply to verify that it's not supplying any power.
The motherboard is expensive to replace, so if you think the motherboard is the problem (if you've tried the power supply or ruled it out as the problem) it might be cheaper to get a new computer than have the motherboard repaired or replaced.
Related Dell Inspiron 531S Manual Pages
Owner's Manual - Page 2
...page 189. Nvidia is strictly forbidden. A00
Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, and Windows Vista start button are registered trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc;
If you purchased a Dell™...names may be used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, YOURS IS HERE, Inspiron, Dell TravelLite, and Strike Zone, are trademarks of Intel Corporation; Information in this document...
Owner's Manual - Page 5
... Hard drive problems 58
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 58
Error Messages 60
Keyboard Problems 62
Lockups and Software Problems 62 The computer does not start up 62 The computer stops responding 63 A program stops responding 63 A program crashes repeatedly 63 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows®...
Owner's Manual - Page 6
... Tools 79
Power Lights 79
Beep Codes 80
System Messages 82
Dell Diagnostics 84 When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 84 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive 84 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 85 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 85
Drivers 87 What Is a Driver 87...
Owner's Manual - Page 7
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities 91
Restoring Your Operating System 92 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore . . . . 93 Using Dell PC Restore 95 Using the Operating System CD 98
4 Removing and Installing Parts 101
Before You Begin 101 Recommended Tools 101 Turning Off Your Computer 102 ...
Owner's Manual - Page 14
... to use Windows Vista • How to work with programs and
files • How to personalize my desktop
Find it Here
Windows Help and Support Center
1 To access Windows Help and Support: • In Windows XP, click Start and click Help and Support. • In Windows Vista®, click the Windows Vista...
Owner's Manual - Page 18
... or may not be available on page 19 for more information).
2 card slots
Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.
3 power supply LED
Indicates power availability for attaching a commercially available theft-deterrent device. To use the padlock rings, insert a commercially available padlock through the rings, and then lock...
Owner's Manual - Page 30
... Yes Yes No
Helpful Tips
• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project.
• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you plan to permanently store large amounts of the disc...
Owner's Manual - Page 36
...Hibernate Mode
Hibernate mode conserves power by . When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is installed in the PCI Express x16 slot. The computer may take a short time to ... a special file on the Power Schemes Tab and Advanced Tab.
To activate hibernate mode:
1 Click Start→ Control Panel→ Pick a category→ Performance and Maintenance.
2 Under or pick a ...
Owner's Manual - Page 39
...Recommended - Windows Vista sets Standby as the default off " state for the majority of inactivity:
1 Click Start and click Control Panel.
2 Under Pick a category, click System and Maintenance.
3 Under System and ....
When the computer exits from a power conservation mode (Standby or Hibernate), the Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered the mode. When the ...
Owner's Manual - Page 40
...), and other power settings in hibernate mode. To access the Power Plan Properties window:
1 Click Start and click Control Panel.
2 Under Pick a category, click System and Maintenance.
40
Setting Up and...from hibernate mode.
The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode, the desktop is enabled. If you left it to the hard drive. Windows Vista may lose data. ...
Owner's Manual - Page 52
...not have an ISP and want to select one .
If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP, perform the steps in the ...
5 Click Next. Windows XP:
1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs. 2 Click Start and click Control Panel
52
Setting Up and Using Your Computer If you do you have a CD, click Use the ...
Owner's Manual - Page 84
...The Dell Diagnostics is recommended that you contact Dell for technical assistance.
Start the Dell Diagnostics from your computer and try again.
NOTICE: The Dell...safety instructions in Lockups and Software Problems (see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop; When to start the Dell Diagnostics from the boot menu and press .
Dell Diagnostics
CAUTION: Before you experience a ...
Owner's Manual - Page 85
...Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want .
Troubleshooting Tools
85 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media
1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities media... appears:
NOTE: It is recommended that you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop;
When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. If multiple versions are listed, select the...
Owner's Manual - Page 89
...Restoring Your Operating System" on the computer, click Continue;
If you see the Windows desktop, reinsert the Drivers and Utilities media.
Troubleshooting Tools
89
If Device Driver Rollback does not... Utilities media, go to step 5.
2 When the Drivers and Utilities media installation program starts, follow the prompts on page 92) does not resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver...
Owner's Manual - Page 92
... the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files.
• Dell PC Restore by Symantec (available in Windows XP) and Dell Factory Image Restore (available in ...Restore returns your computer to restore your operating system. Windows Vista®:
To start the Help and Support:
1 Click Start and click Help and Support.
2 Under Find an answer, click Troubleshooting....
Owner's Manual - Page 95
... Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data before using System Restore. NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec and Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in when you received your operating system problem. Windows Vista:
1 Click Start , point to the operating state it was in certain countries or on the...
Owner's Manual - Page 96
Windows XP: Dell PC Restore 1 Turn on the computer. If you do not press in the following step. 3 On the next screen...Dell logo appears, press several times to reboot the computer. During the boot process, a blue bar with PC Restore, click Reboot in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the computer again. NOTICE: If you do not want to its original operating state, ...
Owner's Manual - Page 99
... will overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your computer, or whether you see the Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again. NOTE: It is a complex task.
1...6 Follow the instructions on the region from where you ordered your hard drive.
On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program.
4 When the...
Owner's Manual - Page 182
... the following measures:
• Reorient the receiving antenna.
• Relocate the system with the FCC regulations:
Product name: Model number: Company name:
Dell™ Inspiron™ 531s
DCSLA
Dell Inc. However, there is no guarantee that changes or modifications not expressly approved by turning the equipment off and on different branch circuits...
Owner's Manual - Page 197
... temporarily stored in memory is not permanent, it is functionally equivalent to physical locations at start-up. Mini PCI - A small card designed for integrated peripheral devices with other computers over... MB equals 1024 KB. Your computer can contain several different forms of modems include: external, PC Card, and internal.
You typically use your computer. A Mini PCI card is a small ...
