"Logged in, are you?"
somebody had to say it
Posted on 01/22/2007 7:44:47 PM PST by JRios1968
Ok, folks...yes, I am logged in, moose bites can be nasti, etc...
I have a problem that's baffling me. My Gateway Pentium4 laptop (purchased in 2003) has decided that its monitor won't show up stuff anymore. If I hook up a regular monitor to it, I can see stuff just fine in the monitor (external) but otherwise I see nothing in the laptop's monitor.
I tried going back to its WinXP "Last Best Known Config" or whatever it's called, and nothing. I even tried to make the screen brighter...nothing.
Short of getting a new one (and no, I am not buying a Mac...my work and school configurations require WinXP,) what can anyone suggest? Thanks.
I need some help PING...
"Logged in, are you?"
somebody had to say it
When you boot, do you see anything or is it blank even during boot?
LOL
I can see something...barely...and you can see something on the screen, but again, just barely
But seriesly, look at the keyboard for a FN-combination of keystrokes that might've turned off your laptop monitor, while leaving the external VGA port active.
It's typically fn+F5, but your keyboard may vary.
Have you tried booting in Safe Mode?
I am asking questions based on a very similar, recent experience.
They are typically florescent bulbs that are well buried behind the screen.
The machine is about the right age for the bulb to go.
On some models there is a key sequence - shift-F5 on mine - that deactivates the laptop screen in favor of the external video. Check your manual for what that might be on your unit. Hit it a few times.
With the external monitor attached, you might try getting into Device Manager (Control Panel/System/Hardware tab) and looking for signs of failure under the "Display adapters" icon and the one labeled "System devices".
Then it's the shop, I'm afraid. Good luck and let me know if you get any more information.
Good tip. That had happened to me after giving a presentation - forgot to switch back to LCD mode.
I have a machine of the same age (Inspiron 8500) and I use it a lot (it was my primary machine). The same thing happened. Diagnostics showed that everthing was working normally save for the LCD - it was kaput. The LCD has been replaced and all is well.
Sounds like either the backlight or the inverter to me.
I expect a replacement screen costs about as much as a new better laptop (unless you can e-bay it out of someone's bone pile and replace it yourself).
I will never again spend a penny on anything gateway (or Sony but for different reasons).
I've finally forgiven Seagate for shipping 100% bad batches of 20 Meg drives (I was out of choices).
The replacement LCD was not bad (the campus computer store was able to get one for a relatively low cost).
I hear ya regarding Seagate. Recall some friends who had problems with their HDDs many years ago.
fn + F3, maybe?
Checking that, everything shows ok...gonna try the keystroke combos...
If it's that...OUCH
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.