Dell Inspiron problem

[Blondie]

Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop
Ship Date: 4/28/2003
PROCESSOR- PENTIUM 4 2.2GHZ, 512K
40 gig HD
512 ram

Belongs to my UPS shipper - complaint was lappy froze and also wouldn't turn on unless we unplugged and pulled components out of it (stick of ram). I brought it home & cleaned it out. I decided to reformat 2 weeks ago and found the bios was reset. On trying to set time, it kept freezing. Pulled stick of ram - still froze. Every time I go to reset the time / date it freezes and on't keep the time. My guess is a new cmos battery.

I'll have to find a manual for it - to change the battery. Anyone have any tips of what I should try next to stop the freezing?

[Hitman]

My guess is bad ram.

[Jokerswild]

Here's a link to the manual.
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...8500/index.htm

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by Hitman

My guess is bad ram.

It actually had a ram error - didn't write it down - not sure why. It seemed more of an error due to the bios being wiped out.

When we try to turn it on, I've not only had to pull ram but the battery, or whatever else isn't nailed down. If it's cold - it will start - if it's been running at least once, it will play games. We have had to push the LCD button (F8 IIRC) to get it to boot also.

This was more than a month ago - so I'm posting from memory (which wasn't the greatest back then) - I'll see if I can do more this afternoon as long as the computers aren't infected too bad (scanning the kids machines)

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

Here's a link to the manual.
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...8500/index.htm

I could kiss you. Thanks so much, you saved me time.

[Quakindude]

I've seen in the past where replacing the CMOS battery fixed every single issue the computer was having. A computer that doesn't keep system time well can load the Bios, but corrupt the OS from my experience. Which causes all sorts of funky errors.

Before trouble-shooting further, I'd give the CMOS battery a go. But be warned, replacing a CMOS battery on a laptop is extremely involved for some. I did this very procedure on a Gateway laptop I have and the dang thing was soldered to the mobo. After finally getting it replaced, the computer never worked again. I strongly suspect it was due to my assembly technique, which was a few weeks after my surgery, and I borked the entire thing somehow.

[Blondie]

We've taken apart Compaq's before with good luck, so we'll see what happens. I'm good with a soldering gun

[Blondie]

Question - does anyone know if the reserve battery is the same as a cmos battery? Looking at the stuff Joker linked to - none of the diagrams mention or show a cmos battery.

[Jokerswild]

I have no clue Sue. I went thru the manual and it looks like Dell doesn't want you messing with it. You might try posting on the forum in the notebook section to see if someone there can help. I'll look around and get back to you if I find anything.

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

I have no clue Sue. I went thru the manual and it looks like Dell doesn't want you messing with it. You might try posting on the forum in the notebook section to see if someone there can help. I'll look around and get back to you if I find anything.

I did some forum searching, found a few posts that referred to the reserve/cmos battery; which is why I think it just may be.

Gonna do some paperwork, then will join the forums there and possibly make a post.

[Jokerswild]

I asked in the inspiron section but it may be awhile before I get a reply.