Dell laptops use a combination of amber and white LED flashes to indicate specific system issues. The 1 amber and 8 white LED code has been observed across multiple models, including Latitude, XPS, and Dell Plus systems. While this code is not always listed in standard fault code references, it often points to a BIOS-related issue or, in some cases, a motherboard fault. Basic Troubleshooting Steps Connect the AC Adapter DirectlyIf your system is connected via a docking station, try powering it using a direct AC adapter. Some users have reported successful boot after switching from dock to direct power. Perform a Power DrainDisconnect all power sources, then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Reconnect the power and try turning the system on again. Update the BIOSIf the system boots, update the BIOS to the latest version. This has resolved the issue on several models: Dell Plus systems  XPS systems  Next Steps If the issue persists after these steps, it may indicate a motherboard failure or a deeper firmware conflict. We recommend contacting our support team for further assistance. You can use the Get Help Now chat feature located at the bottom right corner of this page. Or, you may reach out to a trusted technician for a hands-on diagnosis. Please see this video for additional general No Post Troubleshooting.

This is a serious problem that I wonder if Dell is taking seriously.  I am the manager of a CAD design team at a major medical device manufacturer.  We are running Autodesk Inventor 2020 and Solidworks 2017 and trying to incorporate Precision 5540's into our group.  I'm setting up the first one, only to find myself here on this forum after less than a week of breaking in this new machine running an Nvidia T1000 w/4GB RAM (not the T2000 that ASC48 who started this thread has).  All three Dell displays that are connected to the WD19TB dock are attached to the two DP ports.  Display 1 is attached to the first dock DP port and is a Dell P2417H and does not blank out--ever.  The second dock DP port is attached to the input of a Dell U2419H and it's output DP port daisychains to a Dell P2314H display.  Both of those displays blank out randomly, and always more frequently it seems when I am actually focused on that display with my mouse.  Very annoying!  It can happen as infrequently as a couple minutes or as frequently as two and three times a minute.  The blank, black screen lasts about 1 to 2 seconds.  I have clicked on buttons while it is blank and when the video returns, the action I clicked on was enabled. There's almost nothing about this anywhere on Google, and nearly nothing here except for this thread and one other one where they mostly talk about the Realtek sound drivers related to a different computer.  Clearly, Dell has an issue here that's either being ignored while they hope it goes away (which it won't), or someone's scrambling in the background trying to figure out a solution while we're out here with no information.  But, the silence is deafening and I'm about to look elsewhere for our CAD needs.  Nothing should ship like this. Next, I'll try to determine if it matters what port it's plugged into.  Failing that, I will try switching the slave monitors out, as the U2419H display is the only one I have with an output DP port. After that, I go waste a ton of time on chat with support.  Oh, joy.  I have nothing else to do.