Dell XPS 15 9510 Troubleshooting

This troubleshooting page will help you diagnose problems with the Dell XPS 15 9510.

There is no response from pressing the power button on the laptop, or it will not run while unplugged

The power adapter of the Dell XPS 15 9510 has an indicator light that lets the user know it is operating properly. If the light is off that means that there is no power from the wall, or the adapter is faulty. If you are sure the outlet the adapter is plugged into is live, that means you will have to order a replacement adapter.

If you are able to power up and run the laptop with the power adapter plugged in, but it shuts down immediately and will not restart when unplugged, the battery is faulty. Replace the battery using this guide.

The keys on your keyboard won't respond or appear to be broken or missing.

If the entire keyboard fails to respond, try replacing it.

When keys can't be pressed, there may be something below the physical key holding it up. To fix this, remove the key and make sure nothing is stuck below it. You may need to wipe off the area underneath. Once it is sufficiently clean, snap the key back into position.

If keys on the keyboard are missing, replace them.

Your computer does not load the Operating System and instead takes you to an error message.

If your computer crashes during normal operation, crashes during memory intensive tasks, or beeps and will not boot up, this means you have bad RAM or that you do not have enough RAM. Install RAM into your computer.

Even though you have a hard drive in your computer, there may be an error on it. This can happen when the user shuts off the computer by pressing the power button instead of initiating the shutdown sequence through the operating system. To resolve this, get a Windows DVD for the version that you have. Please note that the specific version does not matter, only that it is for Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8. Boot to the DVD, and choose “Repair your computer,” then click next. On this screen, pick “Startup Repair” and let it run. After this, your Dell XPS 15 9510 should boot correctly.

You have trouble listening to sounds on your computer.

Test audio through the computer speakers, then test it using headphones. If the audio is only distorted while listening via headphones, the audio jack or the headphones themselves may be faulty. Audio that cuts in and out is often a sign of a loose audio jack, so make sure the audio jack is fully inserted in the computer. A guide for replacing the headphone jack can be found here.

If the audio sound is distorted when listening through the laptop’s speakers, the audio driver may be corrupt. Search for Dell XPS 15 9510. Click “Dell XPS 15 9510 Notebook,” then click “Drivers & Software.” Click the “Audio” tab and select and download the appropriate driver. Go to Control Panel -> Device Manager -> Sound Controllers. Click on your sound card and click “Update driver.” Select your updated driver, then restart the computer.

The monitor on your Dell XPS 15 9510 doesn’t show anything, or displays things incorrectly

Make sure that the display is not accidentally disabled. To do this, press one of the “Fn” keys in the lower corner of the keyboard and then press “F2.” If the display was disabled by accident, then this will re-enable the display.

If the above action does not fix the problem, repeat the previous instruction once more, hold down the Windows key, and then push “P” twice. The computer may have been previously set to “Projector mode;” doing the action above will convert it back to “Computer Only.”

If the image appears on the screen, but is disrupted by flickering or is exceeding dim when it should not be, the display is faulty. Find an appropriate replacement screen and install it using this guide.

Video image is distorted, blurry, or discolored.

The computer may be operating in an incorrect resolution. To fix this, double check the Resolution settings by right clicking the desktop and selecting “Screen Resolution.” The ideal resolution for the Dell XPS 15 9510 is 1366 x 768. Alternatively, it is possible to change the resolution by pushing the “Fn” button and then hitting “F4.” This should bring up a small menu where you can select the correct resolution.

If certain videos flicker, appear blurry, or change to incorrect colors, the most probable cause for this is an outdated video driver. To update the video driver, go to this site and download the appropriate video driver by checking for the correct operating system.

While you are working, your computer randomly shuts off without notification.

Computers can overheat due to excessive dust and other materials stuck in the vents or fans. To fix this, use a compressed air duster to carefully blow the dust off the vents and fan. If the fans are not running while the system is operating, they can be replaced.

Your computer may not have adequate contact between the heat sink and processor. This is usually caused by a lack of thermal paste or by air in between the two components. To fix this, completely clean off any old thermal paste, then apply a bead of new thermal paste directly in the center of the processor, making sure not to apply too much thermal paste. Gently push the heat sink back in place and tighten screws to lock down the heat sink.