What noooowwwwww......

[Leo G]

While I was on vacation my laptop had an issue. The screen backlight wouldn't operate. It finally came on and I left the computer on for the whole week. I got home after the two hour drive and it took a couple of minutes for the light to come on. After about a week the problem seems to have resolved itself. Don't know what it is or why it started but it seems to be fixed.

Now....My power indicator is flashing yellow 4 times quickly and then green slow, then it repeats forever. After looking around the net, I took out my battery and powered up my lapptop without the battery in and only using the power supply. No more flashing yellow light. I put the battery back in and the flashing starts up again.

So I can assume the battery needs replacing. hhhhhhhh

What's next. HD crash.:surrender:

[Mike(VA)]

Seems like you found the answer. :laugh3::laugh3: I'd replace the battery quickly and then look for more answers. Ain't technology great? How are we supposed to know what a series of blinking lights mean when we lose the instructions? I have a watch that I cannot get set without the booklet.

[Leo G]

I was never given any of the manuals or paperwork. My cousin who set the system up for me did everything and just handed the laptop over top me. I can't even find anything online. What I have found through different forums is doom and gloom. Blown capacitors, scared motherboards, bent pins and the such. All related to the 4 flashes. Not one said just the battery needs replacement. A couple of them had 3 flashes and that was a battery issue. But I got 4 flashes.

Seems pretty clear that it is something in the charging system having to do with the battery. If the battery is the main culprit I won't know until I change it out and the light stops or doesn't stop flashing.

Time will tell.

[Eieio]

Its the battery. Is it a HP or Toshiba unit?

[MelissaBjornson]

While I was on vacation my laptop had an issue. The screen backlight wouldn't operate. It finally came on and I left the computer on for the whole week. I got home after the two hour drive and it took a couple of minutes for the light to come on. After about a week the problem seems to have resolved itself. Don't know what it is or why it started but it seems to be fixed.

Now....My power indicator is flashing yellow 4 times quickly and then green slow, then it repeats forever. After looking around the net, I took out my battery and powered up my lapptop without the battery in and only using the power supply. No more flashing yellow light. I put the battery back in and the flashing starts up again.

So I can assume the battery needs replacing. hhhhhhhh

What's next. HD crash.:surrender:


;) Hey there Leo,

J. Knutson & Associates offers hardware support and services. If you want, give Kayden our Hardware tech a call for any questions - see if he can assist you. I can email him your laptop problem too

Kayden's number is 651-288-1314

Sincerely,

Melissa Bjornson
Marketing Assistant
www.jknutson.com
www.csgsoftware.com
Direct: 651-288-1317
Office: 651-777-7716

[Leo G]

Its the battery. Is it a HP or Toshiba unit?

Dell Inspiron

[Len]

While I was on vacation my laptop had an issue. The screen backlight wouldn't operate. It finally came on and I left the computer on for the whole week. I got home after the two hour drive and it took a couple of minutes for the light to come on. After about a week the problem seems to have resolved itself. Don't know what it is or why it started but it seems to be fixed.

Now....My power indicator is flashing yellow 4 times quickly and then green slow, then it repeats forever. After looking around the net, I took out my battery and powered up my laptop without the battery in and only using the power supply. No more flashing yellow light. I put the battery back in and the flashing starts up again.

So I can assume the battery needs replacing. hhhhhhhh

What's next. HD crash.:surrender:

I'll try to keep this short. I did board level hardware repair for several years. If it's 3yrs old or older, time to buy a new one.

The backlight problem. It's a flourescent light, they can go out. Usually they just go. Intermittent problems are either, a loose or worn out cable (most common). Bad inverter board (drives high voltage needed for florescent).
If it works when its warm, it's a cold solder joint somewhere in the chain.
The cable, you can usually get at by removing the top bezel.


The battery. Laptop batteries have circuitry in them for charging. Usually the flashing light is just a bad battery. But yes it could also be the charging circuit in the laptop. You'll have to spend the money for a new battery, and if it's not the battery you could blow the new one too. Also if your AC adapter has a separate charging line, could be the adapter. I don't think Dell usually has this, ones with extra input for charging have funky plugs, not just the round barrel type.

Check the warranty status (http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/warranty/warranty_information), if it's a high end Dell it may have a 2 year warranty. If it's more that 18 months old consider how much you are willing to put into it versus buy and equivalent new machine.

[Leo G]

Hey Len, glad to meet ya.

I am pretty sure it is the battery. If I take it out of the computer and just use the power supply everything is fine, the power light just glows green like normal. As soon as I insert the battery the yellow light starts flashing again. So my guess is the battery is telling the computer it is time to be replaced. I figure 2 1/2 years out of the battery isn't bad, isn't good, but isn't bad life for something that has as much use and draw on it.

Thanks.

[WarriorWithWood]

Hey Leo,
Check to see if your battery is in this list. You can get a free one if it is.

http://dellbatteryprogram.com/

[Leo G]

Damn it, nope, can't do it.

Thanks

[WarriorWithWood]

Oh well, worth a shot.

[Leo G]

Sure was. That would have been sweet, working battery for 2 1/2 years and a new one for free.

[WarriorWithWood]

http://katalog-notebookov.sk/img/dell-inspiron-5100-1.jpghttp://bp3.blogger.com/_-CZtVxNFsac/RuNc6WiJ50I/AAAAAAAAA_0/ZmaaJWqhfYg/s1600-h/inspiron5100.JPG

I have a Inspiron 5100 for parts if that's what you have Leo. it puked a MB but everything else works good.

[Leo G]

Inspiron 9400

[WarriorWithWood]

zero for 2, I tried.

[Len]

Hey Len, glad to meet ya.

I am pretty sure it is the battery. If I take it out of the computer and just use the power supply everything is fine, the power light just glows green like normal. As soon as I insert the battery the yellow light starts flashing again. So my guess is the battery is telling the computer it is time to be replaced. I figure 2 1/2 years out of the battery isn't bad, isn't good, but isn't bad life for something that has as much use and draw on it.

Thanks.


Thanks.

Yes it's most likely the battery since they are consumables. With that said; it's a 2 way connection, and either side of it could cause an issue.

Good news, the batteries are available and not too expensive. About $40 on Ebay inspiron 9400 battery (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Inspiron+9400+battery&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=)

If it were mine, I would skip the battery and start shopping around. Because of the display issue at 2 1/2 years.

[Leo G]

Haven't had an issue after I was back from the beach with the display. I think it was a corrupt file or something. I reset all my power settings and then put them back to normal and did a hard reboot. But it came back on it's own. I'll take a look for the battery. Thanks for the link.