Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account. When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. You can like posts to share the love. 
Join 
I am checking out an old Dell Latitude CPi A Series laptop (Windows 98) for a friend. Ironically, I have a similar model/vintage myself that is working just fine. Anyway, I suspect that the mobo on the non-working laptop is the problem and I am suggesting to my friend that it is time to buy a new laptop.
Here's the situation:
When pressing the Latitude CPi power button, power button light briefly comes on, battery light flickers once. Fan does not come on, HD does not spin. I have tried this with and without the AC power adapter, with and without the battery installed. When using the AC power adapter, I do get a green LED light on the AC power adapter.
As Dell suggested on one of their diagnostic web pages, I tried pressing and holding the Fn key at the same time as I pressed and held down the power button. I looked at Dell's chart for Diagnostic LEDs for no post/no boot situations.
http://support.dell....o...lang=en&cs=
What I get by holding both the Fn key and the power button is all three lights, solid green for 4 seconds, 1 flash, and solid green on all three lights for 4 seconds and so forth. If I stop holding down the power button and the Fn key, all lights go off. If I am understanding the chart correctly, the light codes indicate a mobo problem. What do you think?
I hooked up the laptop to a known good CRT and got nothing, which I expected.
I removed the HD from the laptop that won't power on and installed it on my similar working laptop. Fortunately the HD of the nonworking laptop works properly and I was able to copy all my friends files.
I have now carefully taken apart the bad laptop per Dell's online service manual. From a quick look the insides look free of dust. I do not want to get into soldering if that is what's needed. I am a raw beginner at soldering and do not want to practice on someone else's equipment. What I am going to do is check the connections, look for burn marks, indications of overheating, anything obviously damaged.
Any suggestions of what else I can safely do while I have the covers off?
I still think a new laptop is the answer, but my friend insists that I should chase the problem and he's paying me ( a little). I figure it's a good learning experience, if nothing else.
Thank you.
Chris
Edited by crt, 24 February 2009 - 03:05 PM.
