Dell Latitude 3340 Troubleshooting

No audio can be heard through the speakers.

Troubleshoot the sound settings. To do that you’ll need to open Windows audio troubleshooter. The troubleshooter can help automatically fix audio problems on your laptop. To do this, click Start > Settings > System > Sound and select Troubleshoot.

Check whether your speakers are muted or if the volume is turned up. You can check to ensure your devices aren’t disabled. To do this, click Start > Settings > System > Sound. Select your device and then click Device properties for your input and output devices

No image showing on the laptop’s screen and experiencing the Black Screen of Death.

At any time you run into a BSOD issue, you can always try this keyboard shortcut: press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B at the same time. This hotkey combination will help you restart your PC’s graphics drivers.

In many circumstances, your Dell laptop black screen error is basically caused by a bad connection between your operating system and monitor. Thus, you can try the hotkey combination first to reconnect the display.

Because you can’t restart your Dell laptop the standard way, here’s what you can do:

• Disconnect all external devices or peripherals (such as a printer, Bluetooth, or USB devices).
• Power off your laptop by pressing the Power button for about 10 to 20 seconds.
• Disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery intact.
• Drain the remaining battery by holding onto the power button for approximately 60 seconds.
• Place the battery back in and plug in the charger.
• Press the Power button to turn on your laptop.

The touchpad stopped working, the cursor won’t move properly.

On Start (Windows logo Start button), search for Device Manager, and select it from the list of results. Under Mice and other pointing devices, select your touchpad, open it, select the Driver tab, and select Update Driver. If Windows doesn't find a new driver, look for one on the device manufacturer's website and follow their instructions.

If those steps didn't work, try uninstalling your touchpad driver: open Device Manager, right-click (or press and hold) the touchpad driver, and select Uninstall. Restart your device and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

If the touchpad does not still work after updating the drivers, then the touchpad may be damaged. Purchase a replacement touchpad to replace the damaged one.

Battery not charging even when plugged into the electrical socket.

If your laptop’s battery suddenly stops charging, be sure to take the following steps to resolve the issue.

• Ensure you are using the right AC adapter (Input: 100-240v, 50/60Hz; Output 9.5v 3.34A) specified and that it is working. Do this by using it to charge another laptop.
• If that doesn’t work, wipe the battery connectors with a clean, dry cloth. And pay attention if there is a rusty surface, as this may prevent the laptop from charging effectively.
• Connect the battery back to the laptop and power on the laptop.
• Plug the power cord to the laptop and to the wall electric switch. Power it on. Your laptop battery should charge afterward.

However, if this doesn’t resolve your challenge, you may need to install the latest BIOS on your laptop by following the steps below:

• Go to your windows screen and type “troubleshooting” on your search bar.
• ·   Click ‘troubleshoot’. On the troubleshoot page, click “power” then “Run the Troubleshoot.” Wait till the troubleshooting has been completed then close that page.
• On your Windows screen, right-click on the windows sign and select ‘Device Manager
• Expand Batteries. Uninstall the device and restart your computer. This should resolve the charging problem.

However, if the problem still persists after following the steps above, then turn off your PC.

• Turn it on, and press the F12 key. A black screen will appear with different menus. Choose diagnostic on the menus and confirm if any error appears.

If there is any error, cross-check the meaning of the error message against the EPSA reference code in the second link below.

If the battery still doesn't charge, then the battery might be bad.

Buy and install a new battery.

The laptop feels hot, and the fan is not running properly.

Turn off the laptop, remove the battery if possible and step away until completely cooled down. Check the vents, fan, or sides for any dust then use compressed air.

Change your system's fan control settings. If you have a Windows model, you can do this in the BIOS menu. There are also third-party power management apps that allow users to access their fan settings.

If cleaning the fan does not help, it’s best to replace the fan.