Dell Latitude E5440 Puzzle

[River Valley Computer]

OK here goes. We have a Dell Latitude E5440 i5 in that powers on for 4 or 5 seconds - CPU fan spins, LEDs lite up and then shuts down. Changed memory, power adapter, CMOS battery, removed DVD, removed battery, removed keyboard, removed USB sports, unplugged LCD. Purchased a 'reconditioned MOBO - same exact problem. The only ray of hope of diagnosing is there are four LEDs on the right side of the base - the 1st and 3rd LEDs flash together. Can not find anything in the Dell docs to define that code.When we contacted the MOBO supplier they said 'you have to do Dell MOBOs 3 times'. What ever that means. Three of us have each tried our hand on it with not change.

Any ideas anyone? PLEASEEEEEEEEEE.

 

[Porthos]

Can not find anything in the Dell docs to define that code.

https://www.dell.com/support/articl...2015-2016-notebook-and-tablet-systems?lang=en

 

[mikeroq]

https://www.dell.com/support/articl...2015-2016-notebook-and-tablet-systems?lang=en

View attachment 11226

That is actually for newer systems. OP reported a E5440.

Which would be covered here under E series diagnostics, legacy tab.
https://www.dell.com/support/articl...r-dell-latitude-notebooks-and-tablets?lang=en

Maybe this will help.
https://www.dell.com/support/articl...-or-boot-failure-on-dell-latitude-pcs?lang=en

Could be the replacement board is bad too. Try running as stripped down as possible. Board, battery, power button.

 

[River Valley Computer]

That is actually for newer systems. OP reported a E5440.

Which would be covered here under E series diagnostics, legacy tab.
https://www.dell.com/support/articl...r-dell-latitude-notebooks-and-tablets?lang=en

Reviewed that also but no help.

Maybe this will help.
https://www.dell.com/support/articl...-or-boot-failure-on-dell-latitude-pcs?lang=en


Could be the replacement board is bad too. Try running as stripped down as possible. Board, battery, power button.

We had the MOBO totally out of the base laying a the bench with just power switch and charger - no go. That ps what we are thinking too but it seems really consequencial that both boards are doing the same thing.

Thanks for your help.

 

[River Valley Computer]

https://www.dell.com/support/articl...2015-2016-notebook-and-tablet-systems?lang=en

View attachment 11226

Thanks for the info but it is a 2014.

 

[sapphirescales]

I deal with a LOT of refurbished business class computers (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) and I've seen this with Dell's quite a few times. Unfortunately when one has these symptoms, the only thing you can do is sh*tcan it. Don't keep ANYTHING from that computer, not even the RAM or hard drive. If you transplant stuff from this computer into another one you can kill that one too. My best guess is it's some sort of electrical problem. I've killed another computer by using a transplanted screen from one of the Dell's that had this problem. It's like it fries every component in the computer, and any of its components will in turn fry any computer you try to put them in. If you used other RAM to test it then that RAM might be bad too now. I recommend either testing that RAM with a computer you don't care about or throwing it away.

It's literally the kiss of death when this happens to a Dell. Just throw it in the garbage and count your blessings that it didn't screw up anything else.

EDIT: I deal in high volume these days so I wouldn't be surprised if no one else on here has even seen this problem. It's only a very small percentage of Dells that have this problem (less than .01%), but if this is indeed the problem you have then dump it. The symptoms are just like you describe. You turn it on and the sucker turns on for a few seconds then shuts off. It doesn't matter what you replace - RAM, motherboard, etc., nothing fixes it. Sometimes swapping the RAM will "fix" it for a period of time (a few hours or days), but it doesn't last. Usually swapping the RAM won't make it turn on, but sometimes it does so it's very deceiving

 

[frase]

Feking Hell, sorry mean Dell

 

[Big Jim]

is the power supply putting out the correct voltage ?

We had the MOBO totally out of the base laying a the bench with just power switch and charger - no go. That ps what we are thinking too but it seems really consequencial that both boards are doing the same thing.

Thanks for your help.

did you try the new mobo in this state as well ?

Did you try the new mobo on the bench with a different PSU, RAM and PSU ?
Are you using the same power board ?

 

[NJW]

Thermal trip? Have you swapped out the heat pipe?

 

[River Valley Computer]

Thanks for all of you helpful suggestions. We found the problem yesterday - MEMORY. We tried 3 different modules and none worked so figured it was something else. Well yesterday before closing, I thought I would for giggles try another memory module. 4GB PC3L-12800 - bingo - it worked. I plugged the other 3 modules in - no workie. I tried it in the other motherboard and it worked with the new memory module but not the other 3. Beats the sh$t out of me. I stayed and loaded Win 10 on with no problem. Duhhhhhhhhh

Thanks again everyone - this community is great for pitching in to help each other.

 

[River Valley Computer]

Yep - they we all low power. Different manufacturer is the only difference. Good question though.