[PCar]

The Power Button on the right side of the hinge on my Dell Studio Laptop doesn't do anything. But... if I press the button on the left side of hinge it blinks... i think it's one short then two long flashes & stays lit. If I press the media direct button on the top of the keyboard (several times) while the left hinge power button is lit the laptop boots up.

Any ideas as to what in the heck is going on? I've been doing this for several months now since it's the only way I can get it to power up. I don't know if I need to put the time & $ into trying to get it "repaired" or if it would be an "easy fix" or if I can just keep booting up this way...

What is the button on the left hinge supposed to be for?

Any thoughts?

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Welcome to GeeksToGo!

The button on the left hinge of a Studio laptop is the Dell "Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator". When pressed it scans for wireless networks in your vicinity.
If it's functioning properly it should do this:

The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator has a light that operates as follows:
- Flashing white: Searching for networks
- Solid white for 10 seconds and then turns off: Network found
- Off (flashing white turns off after 10 blinks): No signal found

You will need to have your laptop looked at by a laptop repair technician if either the power button or wireless network locator button are not functioning properly.

[phillipcorcoran]

Welcome to GeeksToGo!

The button on the left hinge of a Studio laptop is the Dell "Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator". When pressed it scans for wireless networks in your vicinity.
If it's functioning properly it should do this:

The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator has a light that operates as follows:
- Flashing white: Searching for networks
- Solid white for 10 seconds and then turns off: Network found
- Off (flashing white turns off after 10 blinks): No signal found

You will need to have your laptop looked at by a laptop repair technician if either the power button or wireless network locator button are not functioning properly.

[PCar]

How in the world can a "network catcher" button allow me to power on my laptop? It does blink, then stay on & then go off. Right after it goes off is when I can turn the laptop on by pressing the media direct button on the top of the keyboard.

And the power button on the right hinge does nothing at all... no blinks, not anything.

[phillipcorcoran]

I won't pretend to know why the network catcher button allows you to get your laptop powered up, I simply explained what the button is for since you asked the question in your first post.

Obviously something is wrong with the way the left and right buttons are behaving. As I said, you'll need to have it looked at.

[PCar]

Thank you for your insight. Guess I better get it looked at by someone before I'm not able to power up at all!

Update... today I skipped using the left hinge button at all & it powered up by just pressing the media direct button on the top of the keyboard... STRANGE!

I'm probably taking a huge chance if I assume I will continue to be able to power up this way!