Laptop Wont Power up with screen down

Anshu · 06-29-2006, 11:55 PM

I have a dell 5100, did the mod so i have an external momentary switch(and relay setup) the only problem is that the computer refuses to power on with the screen closed! There is no ovbious sensor to obliterate.
any ideas?
cheers

turbocad6 · 06-30-2006, 12:02 AM

there should be a tiny little plunger up twards the hinge side of the base.... just a tiny pin..... if you shave it down the laptop will never know if it's opened or closed.... it would be a little more difficult to interupt it with like a toggle so you can decide how you want it to work at different times...

DarquePervert · 06-30-2006, 12:05 AM

There shoudl also be a setting in the BIOS and/or the Windows power management settings about how you want the laptop to react to closing the lid.
You want it to do nothing.

turbocad6 · 06-30-2006, 12:06 AM

yeah, that too

Anshu · 06-30-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

There shoudl also be a setting in the BIOS and/or the Windows power management settings about how you want the laptop to react to closing the lid.
You want it to do nothing.

but that is only for when its running. It wont let me come out of standby or being off with the lid closed, which makes sense to prevent accidental turn on. but im a little more

then that

turbocad6 · 06-30-2006, 12:38 AM

I saw sensor & obliterate in the same sentance, so I figured you were after the hardware more really

also I said it won't know if it's opened or closed, that's WRONG... I ment it'll always think it's open...

Anshu · 06-30-2006, 12:41 AM

yea. I looked at the computer and couldnt find a button. i read somewhere that mabye it was magnetic. ugh

guino · 06-30-2006, 12:56 AM

Most Dell laptops have a little pin by the power button that is pressed the the screen goes down (I've had 3 of them), in such case you can simply pull the panel above the keyboard out and disconnect the sensor if you like. Even if the sensor is different, you can probably do something similar w/ most Dell laptops even if it's a different type of sensor. The only side effect is that you won't be able to configure the computer to standby/etc when closing the screen.

Sidewalksalvage · 06-30-2006, 01:13 AM

If you were adventurous enough to open the unit to install a momentary switch for power...i bet you could do it again to can the lid switch.

It is either magnetic or push based, either way its gunna be coneccted to the board via some kind of wire and pin connector. I say open it up, find the switch follow the lead and pop it out. (you can leave the hardware in just dissconnect it)

Your hardest problem will be if its hard soldered to the board...but i think again if you soldered a momentary switch in, you will be able to unsolder the unit off.

I dont like the idea of cutting down the switch cuz if you ever DO need it again, and hell you never know... you dont have any easy way of getting it back. by unplugging / unsoldering, you can always reverse your actions.

Anshu · 06-30-2006, 01:22 AM

I really have no problem doing the dirty work, its just i have no idea where the switch is. i guess ill look closer tomoz

turbocad6 · 06-30-2006, 01:22 AM

yeah, I'd probably want to keep it reversable really too...

turbocad6 · 06-30-2006, 01:24 AM

I've seen some with a micro switch at the latch, but I thought all dells had the little pin switch??

if you can't find anything in the base it may be in the bezel?