Screen issue

Dey were Sooted · 14-09-2011 10:04am #1

Dell Vostro 1500 - took it apart last night to replace the thermal compound - when i got it back together the computer would not boot up - i rechecked everything and noticed the socket where screen is attached to the mobo (not the graphics card) was slightly askew so i fixed this in place . now the computer will boot but i have to boot with an external monitor connected and tell the laptop then to use it's own screen as it's primary monitor - once this is done it works away fine no problem - anyone know how to fix - i've tried a search but it is a hard one to phrase for search engine correctly .

cheers Gav

jnaseer · 14-09-2011 12:28pm

Is it an integrated graphics card?

mp22 · 14-09-2011 1:50pm

Have you tried the function button and f8 after it starts.

Dey were Sooted · 14-09-2011 1:54pm

pretty sure by looking at it, yes it is --- it's a nVidia GeForce 8600M GT

Dey were Sooted · 14-09-2011 2:00pm

mp22 wrote: »

Have you tried the function button and f8 after it starts.

yes i did - i only tried the option to work through vga - but it didn't help as i was not able to switch back to the laptop through properties . when i plug in a vga or s video it will use the external screen no probs on boot - problem is getting it to use the laptop screen when no other monitor/tv is plugged in .. i suppose i must try reinstalling drivers etc if it ain't a straight forward thing i thought i was maybe overlooking ....

jnaseer · 14-09-2011 7:34pm

Dey were Sooted wrote: »

pretty sure by looking at it, yes it is --- it's a nVidia GeForce 8600M GT

You might take a look in the BIOS settings to make sure everything looks ok.

Dey were Sooted · 14-09-2011 7:37pm

i did thanks- as far as i could gather there was just a screen brightness control

Dey were Sooted · 18-10-2011 1:13pm

still trying to fix this - what i've learned since is that if i plug out the palmrest from the mobo the screen will come on at boot - so i thought i may have damaged the magnetic lid switch in the palmrest . i bought a replacement palmrest and after putting the replacement in the problem is still there ..... i'm totally baffled on this one ... have tried searching for answers on the web but no joy ..... anyone got any ideas ..... ?

thanks Gav

Cork24 · 18-10-2011 3:09pm

jnaseer wrote: »

Is it an integrated graphics card?

Its a Laptop,, i dont think your going to get a PCI-EX graphics card with a 2Gb Ram SLi card in their so i would think,, but i could be wrong..

Cork24 · 18-10-2011 3:13pm

the Graphic card is ok if a different Monitor is working, I would open it up again and look at the Cables, Are you sure you did unplug the power cable of the Monitor without notice ?

Dey were Sooted · 18-10-2011 4:37pm

the display is plugged in - if i unplug the palmrest from the mobo the display will come on when laptop is switched on . if i connect the laptop to another monitor/tv through svideo or vga cable, the monitor/tv will come on when i boot and i then can tell the laptop to use it's main display through the properties . It doesn't seem to use it's own display as it's default screen when i switch it on without any external monitor plugged in.....

Cork24 · 19-10-2011 9:50am

Right unplug power lead take laptop apart take out BIOS battery leave it out for 10 mins it will reset all BIOS settings all memory will be wiped that sorted in CMOS if this doesn't fix your issue then you might try a new power cable for the screen if that doesn't work. In plain English "your f** ked"

Dey were Sooted · 19-10-2011 12:19pm

Thanks - this was going to be my next step - i'll try it later and then if that doesn't work see can i get my hands on a new power cable .....

Cork24 · 21-10-2011 12:42pm

Is ur screen working

Dey were Sooted · 21-10-2011 3:13pm

Took out the Bios battery and no joy . just searching now for a new power cable for the screen on ebay . Will post once I swop that out .

yoyo · 21-10-2011 3:59pm

I wouldn't invest too much cash in fixing a 8600GT machine, coz its bound to fail sometime, very strange problem though, could be the way the display cable is flexed when the palm rest is on causes the issues?

Nick

Dey were Sooted · 21-10-2011 4:29pm

thanks for the advice all..... i'm thinking the same.... this is the last step before i give up .... it's a grand machine ... was going to upgrade the hard drive and sell it on then ... if i can't get it to work i'll prolly strip it down and sell the parts ...

Dey were Sooted · 15-11-2011 10:04am

Well I swapped out the screen cable and no joy . So now I'm trying to decide if I should strip it down and sell off the seperate parts or sell it as one piece for parts/repair . Anyone have any experience with doing this or could recommend the way to go . The system does work . 2.3Ghz Core2 Duo processor with 4GB of Ram . Will be keeping the hard drive as it is on it's last legs I'd say . Any ideas as to how much I may get for it . Cheers Gav

holcus · 15-11-2011 11:27am

check your closed lid sensor. in most cases it is tiny electronic device attached to a palmrest. And quite strong magnet on a screen bezel.

Dey were Sooted · 15-11-2011 7:04pm

thanks but i've already swapped out the palmrest

Dey were Sooted · 16-11-2011 12:10pm

Delighted to say it is fixed !! Weird but true ..... I held a magnetic tip of a philips screwdriver near the lid sensor while powering it up . Straight away the screen came to life and has done so on each boot five or six times since . I'm guessing there was a screwdriver near it when I worked on it weeks ago and on the boot up the sensor got confused. By doing what I did today brought it right again . Hope this one may help someone else out in the future ........

Screen issue

Comments