Dell Inspiron 17-5749 Troubleshooting

Laptop won't turn on when pressing or holding the power button.

If your device appears to be on but will still not display, try connecting your laptop to an external monitor using an HDMI cable. If the external monitor displays properly, your device’s display may need to be replaced. See a guide on the “Dell Inspiron 5749 LCD Display Removal/Replacement” here: <link>. If neither display works, it may be due to the video card or a settings/software issue. In that case, try starting in safe mode.

If your device shows no signs of operating (no lights, sounds, etc.) then it may not have power. Try plugging in your device with its AC adapter; if it operates only when plugged in, the battery may need to be replaced. If your device does not last as long as desired on battery, you may also consider replacement. See a guide on the “Dell Inspiron 5749 Battery Removal/Replacement” here: <link>.

If your device will not run on its AC adapter, try multiple power outlets and inspect your adapter for damage. A damaged AC adapter may need to be replaced. If your device still will not run, your device’s DC power port may need to be replaced or the AC adapter may not be recognised. See a guide on the “Dell Inspiron 5749 DC port Removal/Replacement” here: <link>.

When the laptop has been turned on, the screen shows the recovery screen with several different options.

If your device will not start up properly, access the recovery screen using the directions specific to your operating system. Start the process with the device turned all the way off.

Windows 7: Press and hold F8 as it starts up until the recovery screen appears.

Windows 8/8.1: Press and hold shift while repeatedly and quickly pressing F8 until the recovery screen appears.

Windows 10: Repeatedly and quickly press F12 until the recovery screen appears.

From there restart the device or restart in safe mode to see if you have any difficulties.

If your device cannot start normally, follow the instruction above then instead try “Startup Repair” or “Automatic Repair”; after selecting “Advanced boot options” or “Advanced repair options”. If that does not fix it, try a system restore or load a previous system image instead. Last resort would be a factory reset, because it would delete any files not already backed-up.

If none of these work, you may need to reinstall the operating system. It may also be necessary to replace your hard drive. See a guide on the “Dell Inspiron 5749 Hard Drive Removal/Replacement” here: <link>.

Your laptop seems to randomly restart or shuts down during regular use.

Your device may shut itself off if it’s unable to properly cool down. Turn off your laptop and remove it from all power sources, including battery and the charger. Turn the device so that the vent is facing you and use a can of compressed air to blow away the dust at a 90 degree angle. Make sure to follow the specific instructions on the can of compressed air as improper use can damage your device.

In some cases, restoring your systems may be the best option. Visit Dell Media Backup to restore previously created recovery disks or to download a Dell image for your product.

Your device appears to work, but the audio is either missing or distorted when playing through speakers or headphones.

It's unlikely your headphones or speakers are bad, but it's worthwhile to eliminate these as the source of your problem at the beginning. Try your laptop with another set of headphones or speakers just to make sure that the problem is with the laptop.

The laptop is not responding to any of your keyboard strokes, mouse movements, or button clicks.

Check to see if the touchpad is turned on or enabled. To enable/disable the touchpad you must first search your programs for Touchpad and then click Mouse and Touchpad Settings. If there is an option that says Touchpad On/Off, then click it. If not, click Additional Mouse Options near the bottom. Next, click Dell Touchpad followed by the touchpad picture which leads to the toggle on/off button. Once finished click the save button.

If the touchpad is still not responding, then make sure your fingers and the touchpad itself are clean of any debris or liquids.

If the touchpad is still unresponsive then save all unsaved documents or data. Close out all programs and apps that are open and restart your computer.

First, unplug the USB cable or wireless receiver and then plug it back in. Try this step in all USB ports.

If you are using a wireless USB or Bluetooth mouse; then replace the batteries.

If neither step has offered a solution; save all documents, close all programs and apps, and restart your computer.

Unplug the USB cable or wireless receiver and then plug it back in. Try this step in all USB ports.

If you are using a wireless USB or Bluetooth mouse; then replace the batteries.

If neither step has offered a solution; save all documents, close all programs and apps, and restart your computer.

Your disk drive won’t open when you press the eject button.

Save all documents and close all programs and apps. Restart your computer. Once restarted, hit the F2 key. This will allow the computer to enter the BIOS. Once in the BIOS, try to eject the disk drive. If this step does not work then try the step below.

Straighten out a paperclip and look for a small hole on the disk tray. Use the straightened paper clip to open the drawer.

You can’t connect to the internet through your laptop wirelessly.

Press and hold the function key <Fn> (located at the bottom left of your keyboard) and then press the Print Screen key <PrtScr> (located at the top right of your keyboard). This combination of keys toggles the Wireless Antenna off and on. If this does not allow you to connect, please move on to the next point.

Windows 10: On your taskbar, normally located at the bottom of the screen, navigate to the “Notification Area”. Look for the “Network & Internet” icon and right-click on it. Open the settings by pressing “Network & Internet Settings” link at the bottom. Under the “Change your network settings”, press on “Network troubleshooter” to determine whether the network is operational. If it is not, consult your router manual for proper reset settings. Otherwise move on to the next step in the process.

If you still can’t connect to the internet wirelessly, there may be an issue with your wireless card or wireless card connection cables. To access your wireless card, please see our guide on how to disassemble your Dell Inspiron 5749: <link>