An IdeaPad Slim 5 that shows no sign of life is handled by Lenovo's own ladder, and owners confirm the order. First, the power: try the original charger in a wall outlet and look for the charge light, and if you have another compatible charger, try it, since a charger that has failed is common. Second, a static discharge: unplug everything, hold the power button for about sixty seconds, plug the charger back in and press power. Third, the Novo button, a small pinhole on the side of many IdeaPads, which opens the Novo menu for BIOS Setup and System Recovery even when Windows will not start.
A laptop with a black screen but running fans and keyboard lights is a different problem, covered on the black-screen page. If the laptop beeps, restarts in a loop or shows an error, note it for Lenovo. Remove external devices before testing. Before concluding the laptop is dead, wait: after a full discharge, an IdeaPad can take several minutes of charging before the light appears. Use a wall outlet and avoid power strips, and watch the charge light on the laptop and on the brick for any change.
Differential
Likely causes of “Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 family will not turn on or start”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A failed or loose charger
What separates it No charge light
How to confirm Try another outlet and a known-good charger
- 2
A hung power controller
What separates it No lights and no fans
How to confirm Unplug everything, hold power sixty seconds
- 3
A depleted battery
What separates it It starts only on the charger
How to confirm Charge for thirty minutes
- 4
A Windows or BIOS problem
What separates it It powers on and stops at a screen
How to confirm Use the Novo button for recovery and BIOS defaults
- 5
A board or battery fault
What separates it Nothing works after the steps
How to confirm Contact Lenovo
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether any light or fan responds
- The charger used and its light
- Whether the Novo menu opens
- What happened before it failed
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedCheck the charger and outlet
ReversibleUse the original charger in a wall outlet and look for the charge light on the laptop.
Unplug accessories
ReversibleRemove USB drives, dongles and monitors, then try to start it.
Do a static discharge
ReversibleUnplug everything and hold the power button for sixty seconds, then plug in the charger and press power.
Charge for half an hour
ReversibleLeave it on the original charger before pressing power again.
Press the Novo button
ReversibleWith the laptop off, press the pinhole button on the side with a paperclip to open the Novo menu.
Contact Lenovo
ReversibleIf there is still no sign of life.
Wait a few minutes on the charger
ReversibleLeave it connected for ten minutes before you decide it is dead.
Listen for fans and look for lights
ReversibleAny activity shows the board is alive and points at the display.
Try the Novo button menu
ReversibleIf the Novo menu opens, the board works and the fault is in Windows or the display.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The Novo button
- It starts a menu with BIOS Setup, Boot Menu and System Recovery.
- Charger wattage
- A charger of lower power may light the charge indicator but not start the laptop.
- A flat battery
- A fully flat battery can take minutes to show life.
- Novo menu
- If it opens, the hardware is alive.
- Power strips
- Use a wall outlet during tests.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If nothing responds on the original charger after a static discharge, contact Lenovo
- !If it loops into recovery, try Startup Repair and then Lenovo
- !A burning smell means unplug it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Charger, outlet and Vantage checks for an IdeaPad that will not charge.
Battery driver reinstall and a 60-second static discharge.
An owner's black screen on a Slim 5 and the BIOS-default advice.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why won't my IdeaPad Slim 5 turn on?+
A charger fault, a hung controller or a battery problem.
What is the Novo button?+
A pinhole button that opens a recovery menu.
How long should I hold the power button?+
About sixty seconds.
What if the fans spin but the screen is black?+
See the black-screen page.
How long should I charge a dead laptop?+
At least thirty minutes.
What if the Novo menu opens?+
The board works; see the startup page.