No POST, no beeps, dell 1720

[Darastrix]

So here's the problem... I was playing a game earlier this evening when suddenly it froze. It's been doing this fairly frequently since I updated to Windows 7. After waiting a few minutes, sometimes it fixes itself, I had to force a restart. Now the computer will not even POST. It powers up, the power indicator light comes on, stays lit, fans spin up and CD spins. The HDD light comes on for about 1 second then turns off and the computer remains in this state indefinitely.

I replaced the motherboard about a year ago, so I doubt it is that. I pulled the memory out (I only have one stick) and no changes occurred. I tried every permutation of battery/AC connection to see if it was that. I even disconnected the CMOS battery and tried holding the power button to reset the cmos and left the battery unplugged while attempting to boot. Nothing seems to be working.

I have looked everywhere and the only thing I can come up with is that the HDD may have failed. I have a second hard drive, but seem to have misplaced my screwdrivers and can't pull either of them. Does it seem like my primary HDD is fried? Is it a Windows 7 thing that may have caused this? The problem of random freezing only started when I installed the new OS.

After leaving the cmos battery disconnected, unplugged, and primary battery removed for over an hour still nothing works. Any suggestions or insights would be most welcome.

 

[Darastrix]

Got my hands on a set of screwdrivers, pulled out both hard drives, memory, cmos battery, wlan card, pretty much everything I could get my hands on without completely disassembling the entire laptop. Still will not post, no beeps, no indication of anything beyond power being supplied. I guess this means it is in fact the motherboard and the whole things needs to be replaced? Is there anywhere other than Dell that I could get this done? Like I said, I replaced the mobo a year ago and if it already failed then I'm not really keen on sending it back to them. Any thoughts whatsoever?

 

[Prostar Computer]

Yeah a dying/dead HDD usually doesn't stop POST (unless maybe it was related to the sATA connection). Sounds like there's a test in the POST that is failing. Also, are you sure your system has a system board speaker for POST beep codes?

 

[Darastrix]

If no system board speaker I would hope for a light code, but no such luck. I just shipped the laptop out to be fixed today though.

 

[Prostar Computer]

Really? You replaced the board and they still took it for warranty service? Usually opening the case kills coverage (or did you mean THEY replaced the board previously?).

In any case, I hope Dell takes care of you.