Ok I went through this with another laptop... gave up and sold it... this one I want to fix.. I just put in new hardrive battery etc. Won't boot... lite comes on goes right off... if I hold power button and function esc.. it tries to power up but doesn't,. any ideas? Maybe remove the cmos battery?/ I have reseated ram.. I am at a lost here . Ty

Are you using a Dell approed power supply? Have you tried a different one? Dell power supplies have a small pin in the center and it is actually connected to a cpmponent inside the charger. If it is not there or the component is bad it won't charge and may be the cause of not powering up at all.

Check the charger first.

Yes it is a good charger... I have tried 2 and they both charge the battery... and they have the pin

Thanks for the suggestion

It is a power problem for sure. It's the finding it that is difficult. Have you checked the switch on the battery compartment? Sometimes that can deactivate a laptop. You should be able to see it when you remove the battery. See if it "clicks" at all.

OK I will try that thanks... will let you know if it works

Have you tried booting it without having the battery installed, so simply on AC power and vis versa.
Would help to rule out these things.

Any POST messages or beeps and can you access the BIOS/CMOS settings

No beeps just power light comes on then goes off... doesnt boot to anything... I am going to try and reset the cmos battery... now if hold in the power button and fn and f2 all at same time.. the top 3 lites come but soon as I let go everything goes off...
I got this with out hard drive battery etc. I have put new hard drive battery etc.

Did you see this unit work at all before? Also does it have a lock feature on it? (tiny slot in the side)

OK I bought this as is... so no I have not seen it on... and yes there is a small slot on side... I looked in with light.. realy don't see anything.. should I try to push it with paper clip or something?
I did not pay much for this and parts were cheap... but I would love to get it running..

ok I bought this as is...so no i have not seen it on... and yes there is a small slot on side...I looked in with light..realy dont see anything..should i try to push it with paper clip or something?
I did not pay much for this and parts were cheap...but i would love to get it running..

If it has a lock feature. Then it is possible that the lock (electronic) is turned on. Without the proper key it will never turn on. It may be possible to reset it by removing the battery from the motherboard. But that could be a long shot. Most lock slots have a padlock icon near it.

Documentation (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1420/en/index.htm)

Hmm I don't see a padlock symbol... I have disconected and reconected just about everything, I will keep trying maybe I will get lucky.

Here is another question for you.. compaq presario 2100 has a bios password can't get past it.. I have tried just about everything... any ideas on that?

I get a lot of good laptops that are easy... but then I get a few like this that just make me want to pull my hair out.. LOL all yalls help is greatly appreciated!

hmm i dont see a padlock symbol...i have disconected and reconected just about everything,,I will keep trying maybe i will get lucky.

Here is another question for yall..compaq presario 2100 has a bios password can't get past it..I have tried just about everything...any ideas on that?

i get alot of good laptops that are easy...but then i get a few like this that just make me want to pull my hair out..LOL all yalls help is greatly appreciated!

How to Clear a Compaq Presario CMOS Password | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_6405774_clear-compaq-presario-cmos-password.html)

Well I have taken it completely apart and see no battery.. only thing I caNn figure is it must be small or sldered to motherboard someplace and I am just not seeing... I have tried backdoor passwords they haven't worked... I think ill just pull out some more hair and move onto another laptop... LOL