[Bob Terwilliger]

Hi - starting a couple of days ago, my Dell Mini 9 (bought in December 2008) would not turn on. I hit the power button, the power light turns on white for about 10 seconds, and then turns off. Screen stays blank and dark. I've tried getting a new AC adaptor, and powering on with and without the battery, but it's always the same - the power light coming on for ten seconds or so, and then going out, but no other activity. Any ideas as to what's going on, or what I can do? Not sure if matters, but a couple of weeks ago I clean installed Ubuntu desktop 10.04 LTR. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Bob Terwilliger]

Hi - does anyone have any thoughts on this? Please let me know - I'd like to know whether the Mini is dead, or whether there's something that I can do. I didn't see any other problems like this on the message board.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[holmes4]

Seems to me I recall others having this problem, but not solving it. Might be a bad battery but it should power on with the battery removed.

[Bob Terwilliger]

Thanks, Steve. I tried removing the battery from the back and then powering on plugged in, but it still does the same thing. Any other thoughts?

[holmes4]

My guess would be a failed motherboard at this point but that's only because I have no other ideas.

[Shambles]

Mine did the same thing. I replaced the power supply, and the power switch. Neither worked. A month ago I bought another battery thinking the old battery was the problem. The nice thing was the battery arrived with a charge on it. My DM9 powered right up. The problem was it wouldn't charge the battery. I tried all the airplane mode stuff, but nothing worked. It's dead again. I wish the mtherboards weren't so expensive.

I check in from time to time to see if there is a fix yet. I even contemplate selling it for parts. I might even try soldering in a new bios chip. I have other projects to work on though.

[Bob Terwilliger]

Thank you both for the information. Sounds like a motherboard problem, which is unfortunately a bit more work than I'm willing to deal with in order to resuscitate my Dell Mini. Now off to find a suitable replacement...

[Shambles]

I bought the Acer Apire One netbook from Target for 189.00 on Black Friday. So far it's been great. I use it daily. Keep an eye out for sales, I think since then I've seen it for $199.00. Good Luck.

[Shambles]

Checking in Again. I haven't gotten the DM9 out in since I last posted almost a year ago. I still have the DM9, and it's still not working. I got an email the other day from the Dell blogs that someone had responded to my battery fix question. I'm back on trying to fix the DM9 again.

I bought and recieved a new power supply from Amazon. But still nothing. Maybe it's time to let the DM9 go. What bugs me is, isn't the DM9 supposed to run on AC power without the battery installed? It doesn't turn on at all. Anyone have a suggestion?

[rrfranczak3]

yes, the Mini should run without the battery installed.....you have other issues, possibly a dead mobo