Laptop turns on but nothing on the screen

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by DT3, Aug 11, 2010.

  1. pspr

    pspr

    I'd call them again and say they gave you a computer that only lasted 2 months and you expect them to cover the problem. Put the monkey on their back and get an exception. They should at least extend your warranty so this would be covered for 3 months.
     
    #11     Aug 11, 2010
  2. nkhoi

    nkhoi

    my laptop screens all die after the guarantee expired all but Toshiba's
     
    #12     Aug 11, 2010
  3. I am going to be very vague here because I can't remember exactly...

    I had a laptop that went from functioning to black while using it. I did a bunch of research on what the problem could be.

    1. The lamp/bulb burned out. These look like mini lights that you'd see in a building, long and circular.

    2. There is a computer chip that powers the monitor and that could have shorted out. For some reason the word "inverter" is sticking in my head.

    Do some research on laptop bulbs or laptop inverters and see if anything is related.

    Also, as far as laptop > external monitor, it won't be instant as far as I know. You need to switch the desktop from the laptop to the external monitor using a function key, or going into the display settings. I can't remember how to do it since it has been over a year since I last used my poor ol' laptop.
     
    #13     Aug 11, 2010
  4. schizo

    schizo

    #14     Aug 11, 2010
  5. DT3

    DT3

    I'm trying to do this, but it just shuts down at the slightest touch. Usually I need to hold it down for like 5 seconds but now just pressing it lightly turns it off
     
    #15     Aug 11, 2010
  6. I had the same problem. The driver may have been blown out. Go to Dell site to re-install.
     
    #16     Aug 11, 2010
  7. schizo

    schizo

    That's because your BIOS is dead. Trust me it's your BIOS.

    See my post above on how to flash your BIOS.

    BTW, DELL no longer store their BIOS drivers in ISO format. They're all in EXE, which is not bootable. So use the download link I provided instead.
     
    #17     Aug 11, 2010
  8. DT3

    DT3

    Thanks Schizo,

    I don't see my model number in that link. I went to Dell website and see they released a new Bios a couple days ago for my model but like you said it is a exe file, how should I proceed?
     
    #18     Aug 11, 2010
  9. pspr

    pspr

    If you can get the .exe file copied to a CD and use notepad (not a full wordprocessor) to create a text file with the following in it

    [autorun]
    OPEN=search.exe bios.exe
    ICON=disk.ico

    Replace bios.exe with the name of your bios .exe file. Then rename this text file autorun.inf .

    When you put the CD in your dell drive it should automatically start the bio.exe file. So long as there aren't any interactive prompts it should run OK.
     
    #19     Aug 11, 2010
  10. schizo

    schizo

    First contact DELL support and request for the BIOS in ISO.

    If your request blows up in your face, as I've experienced in my past encounters with their support reps, you'll need to manually convert EXE to ISO.

    Unfortunately, there's no software that will directly convert EXE to ISO. You must initially extract the EXE file and whatever it spits out you will then need to re-archive it as ISO using apps like MagicISO.
     
    #20     Aug 11, 2010