Dell laptop

[linux00]

I have a Dell C640 and it powers down just two or three minutes after I turn it on. I took it apart and I changed the fan and made no difference. Any ideas???

 

[noobtechie]

Sounds like the PSU has reached its limit, do you have another identical box that you can swap the PSU? that would point you to the right direction, if it fails on the box that your swapped it, then you know it's the Power Supply.

=========================================
“You can actually become a role model for women.” - Jenna Jameson

 

[mainegeek]

linux00,
Does this happen while on battery power only or does it happen with the ac adapter connected as well?

 

[linux00]

both ac adapter and battery

 

[mainegeek]

You may have dust built up around the fan(s) and heatsink which will cause the cpu to over heat activating the thermal protection causing it to shutdown. If this is the case then use some canned air to the fans on the bottom and to the heatsink on the back or side edge to air clean them.
Do it with the laptop turned off and unplugged and let it cool down first.

 

[cdogg]

What happens if you pull the battery, leave it out, and then run it on AC power?

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[mainegeek]

"I took it apart and I changed the fan and made no difference."

I just noticed this part of your post....


Does it power off instantly or does it go through the windows shutdown sequence?

 

[linux00]

it just powers down intantly after logging in to windows. sometimes I can even work with it for 5 minutes and then it shuts down instantly.

 

[cdogg]

1) Again, have you tried running the laptop without the battery?

2) Does the "power" light (which indicates AC power is connected) stay lit when the laptop shuts down?

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[mainegeek]

I would suspect RAM as a possible culprit at this point.

 

[linux00]

I will try running the laptop without the battery today when I get home. I have not tried that.

Thanks for all your comments, I will post a reply once I test the laptop running only on AC Adapter

 

[linux00]

Ok it does the same thing without the battery and only the ac adapter plugged in. also, it seems now that it does not turn on at all. Any ideas??

 

[DellCA]

Linux00:

I’m at Dell Headquarters in Austin, Texas and I just came across this thread. If it has not yet been tried I would tighten all of the screws in it and strip it down to the least amount of components necessary for it to post. If the motherboard or proc is gone it won't help but it may post once one or the "field replaceable" items is removed.


Neil
Dell, Inc.
neil@dell.com