Dell Laptop screen not working

[Kane52630]

ok its my sisters Dell Inspiron 1521 Laptop, we had it for about 3 or so years and now the screen just blanked out. whenever i start it now you see the screen for a sec and it goes out.
can anyone help me out, i think its because the screen is fried.

 

[Mister J]

It sounds like the backlight went out. If the monitor has its normal visibility for a second or two during the bootup sequence and then goes dark or if you can still see a faint picture when the monitor is dark (clearer to do if you hold a lamp or something near the screen), I'd definitely say backlight.

I had the same issue on a Dell desktop about 4 years into it. It was cheaper to just buy another monitor rather than to have it repaired. I don't know how that would translate on a laptop though.

There are some DIY guides on the web, but I wasn't trying to **** with that.

 

[Kane52630]

im not sure if i can even see it under a lamp but yea it was clear like normal and just blanked out after i boot it.

so just replace the monitor as in getting the new top for it?

 

[Mister J]

There might some brand of repair on a laptop that's dissimilar to a desktop for this issue, but the prices that various techs quoted me to repair the backlight (~$130) was more expensive than getting a new monitor. On a laptop, I imagine it's more involved and therefore pricier. Guesswork on my part.

 

[Alistair]

Kane,

Well, there is a few options it could be, and easily repaired if your not afraid to dabble around a little bit. Assuming, as everyone else said if it is more cost effective in the long run, but that's up to you, but here is a few possibles.

1) Blacklight died
2) Loose cables (From Opening)
3) Power Inverter (I know, sounds like Star Trek. Ha!)

Usually 3 year is max for a LCD Screen if used a lot in a notebook, and that's why when I have my notebook home I have it connected to another monitor so I can get a little more time out of it, but, that's that. =P I've done this to my mother in law's notebook, and it ended up being the inverter which was even easier to fix.

Anyways, here is a link that might help out:

http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/12/09/replace-laptop-backlight-ccfl-lamp/

G'Luck,
Ali

 

[Kane52630]

thanks alot both of you. ill see if it will work this weekend

 

[Kane52630]

ok, well i tried to look if i can fix it, looks like it will be troublesome for me so i went to Fry's today and yea your right, it costs up to $200 for diagnose and to fix it.
so i tried to connect the laptop to my other monitor and for some reason it wont work.
the laptop onlys supports VGA and i have a VGA cable. im wondering if its a driver isssue?
if so that means i have to look into my laptop with a bright light to update the driver, right?

 

[Alistair]

Kane,

Ouch! That's hefty, but if she really wants it... It's up to her.

Anyways, it could be that you have to send it out? I know I had to use FN and F8 on my notebook to tell it to project to another screen.


Ali

 

[Kane52630]

nevermind man i got it working. i had to use a really bright lamp that i bought so i can see the screen and it took me about an hour to navigate though the screen but i updated my drivers and i got it working now she's using the new moniter that came with my dell desktop