How to troublehoot a Portable compouter that will not POST (Power on Self-Test)

If your Dell Precision M4600 is getting stuck at the "Preparing to enter setup" stage during POST, you might want to try a few troubleshooting steps.
1. **Power Cycle:** Disconnect the laptop from the power source, remove the battery (if possible), and hold down the power button for about 15 seconds. Then, reconnect the battery and power source and try booting again.
2. **Reset BIOS:** You could try resetting the BIOS settings to their default values. To do this, look for a small button battery on the motherboard. Disconnect the laptop from power and remove the battery. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds to discharge any remaining power. Then, locate the battery, remove it for a minute or so, and put it back. This will reset the BIOS settings to default.
3. **Update BIOS:** If the issue persists, you might need to update the BIOS. Check the Dell support website for your laptop model and download the latest BIOS update. Follow the instructions to update the BIOS.
4. **Check Hardware:** If the issue is not resolved, it might be related to a hardware problem. Try removing and reseating components like RAM, hard drive, and any expansion cards.
5. **External Devices:** Disconnect all external devices (USB drives, external hard drives, printers, etc.) and try booting again. Sometimes, a faulty external device can cause boot issues.
6. **Diagnostic Lights:** Dell laptops often have diagnostic LED lights that provide information about hardware issues. Check the user manual for your laptop model to interpret these lights.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, it might be worth seeking professional assistance or contacting Dell support for further guidance.

If your Sony S-Master CMT-SPZ50 audio system keeps going into standby mode shortly after turning it on, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Power cycle the system: Turn off the audio system and unplug it from the power source. Wait for a few minutes, then plug it back in and turn it on. This can help reset any temporary glitches or issues.
2. Check the speaker connections: Ensure that all the speaker wires are properly connected to the audio system and the speakers themselves. Make sure there are no loose or frayed wires that could be causing a short circuit or interruption.
3. Disconnect external devices: If you have any external devices connected to the audio system, such as smartphones or MP3 players, try disconnecting them to see if the issue persists. Sometimes, an incompatible or malfunctioning external device can cause the system to go into standby mode.
4. Reset the system: Look for a reset button or option on the audio system. It could involve pressing a specific combination of buttons or using a small reset pinhole. Refer to the user manual for instructions on how to perform a system reset.
5. Check for overheating: If the audio system is located in a confined space or if the vents are blocked, it could lead to overheating and cause the system to go into standby mode. Ensure that the system has adequate ventilation and is not exposed to excessive heat.

The following troubleshooting guidelines are basic troubleshooting steps. Battery Charging It is recommended to charge the battery while the system is off for faster charge times. Users may notice longer charge times when the system is powered on and running graphics extensive applications.
No POST If the system does not perform a Power On Self Test, there are various things to look for:

1. Check to ensure that the system has a power light.
2. If the system has no power light, ensure that it is plugged into AC power. Remove the battery.
3. If the system has power but is not performing a POST, check to see if the keyboard status lights flash to indicate a successful POST, but no video, or that the keyboard status lights are lit in a sequence indicating a system problem.

1. With the power off and the system unplugged, remove all CRUs from the system and reconnect that AC adapter to the system and try again.
2. Run the On Board Diagnostics (OBD).

Video If the LCD on the system shows no display, or has other LCD problems, there are some basic steps to take:

1. If the LCD is not displaying video or the video is garbled, run the BIST Test.
2. If the LCD is not displaying any video, connect an external monitor to eliminate a no POST problem. A good image on the external monitor eliminates a video card problem or a POST problem.
3. Connect an external monitor when possible for all LCD related problems, to help eliminate a software possibility or video card problem.
4. If the LCD has extremely dim video, attempt to adjust the brightness or connect an AC adapter to eliminate a power management conservation setting set in the BIOS.
5. If the LCD has lines on the screen, check the system during POST as well as system setup to verify if the lines are present in all modes of operation. Run the BIST Utility.
6. If the LCD has color problems, run the BIST Utility.
7. Run the On Board Diagnostics (OBD).

Hi,
Please try the basic troubleshooting steps to resolved the issue:
- Disconnect all external device (example: USB Flash Drive, Printer, external hard drive, etc.) - Turn off the computer by pressing and holding the power button until all lights turned off. - Disconnect the ac adapter from your computer. - Remove the battery, wait for 10 seconds, then connect the battery back. - Plug in the ac adapter. - Turn on the computer.
Hope that helps.

It is a fairly straight forward process but it is definitely best to be comfortable with what your doing as damage can be done if your not careful and have some know how. here are basic steps and they are the same for all vehicle just makes sure you either mark your plug wires with tape or know which one is which so that you don't mess up the firing order.

http://autorepair.about.com/od/regularmaintenance/ss/plugs_replace.htm
Thank you,
Lee