dell screen going blank

givmeaccccc · 07-02-2009, 03:40 AM

i have a very old dell latitude CPx laptop. the screen goes blank after afew minutes. strangly when i half close the laptop then reopen very slowly it comes back to life again for a minute or two then screen off again!

it did this recently but came good for a few weeks. could it be a loose wire or connection?

help please it's driving me mad..............thanks

**TriggerFinger** · 07-02-2009, 11:25 AM

Check the lid switch also. Also try with an external monitor. Observe if it happens if you just boot into BIOS settings.

givmeaccccc · 07-03-2009, 02:51 PM

Hi Triggerfinger

Sorry for being so stupid but what is BIOS? Also do I just plug in another monitor into the back of the laptop to try another one? Do I have to tell the laptop that it has to work to another screen?

Thanks again

**TriggerFinger** · 07-03-2009, 09:13 PM

Here's the link answering your first question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS

You just have to plug a monitor into the vga connector before you power ON the laptop. In the DELL logo splash screen you will see options (messages) that says 'F1 - Setup' or something. Try each of the options if none of them says about going into BIOS settings. AFAIK you do not need to tell the laptop to use the external monitor (at this stage of the boot up process) before Windows starts.

givmeaccccc · 07-05-2009, 04:08 AM

Many thanks. Have now managed to get laptop to work to a different screen with no problem at all. I guess then that there is an issue with the actual screen on the laptop.

Nor sure where to go from here but think it may be time to invest in a new laptop. Have had great service from this old one that i may as well just go back to dell.

Thnaks again Trggerfinger unless you can suggest how to fix the screen on laptop easily?

Regards

mk3390 · 07-05-2009, 11:02 AM

since it's out of warranty opening it and checking the connection to the screen might help.

**TriggerFinger** · 07-05-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by givmeaccccc

Many thanks. Have now managed to get laptop to work to a different screen with no problem at all. I guess then that there is an issue with the actual screen on the laptop.

Nor sure where to go from here but think it may be time to invest in a new laptop. Have had great service from this old one that i may as well just go back to dell.

Thnaks again Trggerfinger unless you can suggest how to fix the screen on laptop easily?

Regards

Worked with an external monitor? If yes, first try checking the connections of the LCD and motherboard. If connections are OK then it could be a bad LCD and may need replacement.

07-02-2009, 03:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
givmeaccccc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 OS: windows xp	dell screen going blank i have a very old dell latitude CPx laptop. the screen goes blank after afew minutes. strangly when i half close the laptop then reopen very slowly it comes back to life again for a minute or two then screen off again! it did this recently but came good for a few weeks. could it be a loose wire or connection? help please it's driving me mad..............thanks

07-02-2009, 11:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,784 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: dell screen going blank Check the lid switch also. Also try with an external monitor. Observe if it happens if you just boot into BIOS settings. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-03-2009, 02:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
givmeaccccc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 OS: windows xp	Re: dell screen going blank Hi Triggerfinger Sorry for being so stupid but what is BIOS? Also do I just plug in another monitor into the back of the laptop to try another one? Do I have to tell the laptop that it has to work to another screen? Thanks again

07-03-2009, 09:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,784 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: dell screen going blank Here's the link answering your first question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS You just have to plug a monitor into the vga connector before you power ON the laptop. In the DELL logo splash screen you will see options (messages) that says 'F1 - Setup' or something. Try each of the options if none of them says about going into BIOS settings. AFAIK you do not need to tell the laptop to use the external monitor (at this stage of the boot up process) before Windows starts. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-05-2009, 04:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
givmeaccccc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 OS: windows xp	Re: dell screen going blank Many thanks. Have now managed to get laptop to work to a different screen with no problem at all. I guess then that there is an issue with the actual screen on the laptop. Nor sure where to go from here but think it may be time to invest in a new laptop. Have had great service from this old one that i may as well just go back to dell. Thnaks again Trggerfinger unless you can suggest how to fix the screen on laptop easily? Regards

07-05-2009, 11:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
mk3390 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18 OS: vista premium 1	Re: dell screen going blank since it's out of warranty opening it and checking the connection to the screen might help.