BleepingComputer.com: Laptop: It sounds like it boots up, HD spins, but no display

Thank you ahead of time, for any help you can offer.

I have a Dell Inspiron 700m laptop, running XP.

I leave it on all the time, but yesterday, I discovered the monitor was completely black. I unplugged it, and rebooted it, but still no display,
althought I can hear the hard drive spin up.

I tried plugging in another monitor to it, but it didn't display anything either.

Do you have to change the laptop settings for it to display things on another monitor or will it automatically recognize it?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you.

try hitting the FN key and f4 or f5 [one with the small square box on it ]to switch to monitor

Hello

Also for safe measures to determent it is not your graphics card:
Connect a monitor to your VGA input and boot your computer. (see if it brings anything up!)

Ok, I'll try both of those things.

Thanks

Well, darn!

I tried both of those suggestions - no luck. I guess this means it is the video card?
Is it possible to replace a video card in a laptop? It is a Dell Inspiron 700m.

I have never taken the hard drive out of a laptop before, can I take it out and put it in my big
machine so I can get the data off?

Thanks for the help.

The video card on laptops is integrated into the motherboard.
Therefore, to replace it you have to replace the mobo.
Not a job for the feint of heart & might not be worth it cost wise.

You can easily remove the hard drive and attach it to another system to recover the data.
Very simple process if the drdive is SATA & your system is SATA (or supports it) as well.
You might need a SATA data cable to do so but thats a cheap item.

Sorry to hear that Mate

There is a very good possibility it may be your graphics card!

If you tried the test and it failed....

I believe I have taken one of these apart maybe not the same model as yours...but the card connects to the motherboard instead of being integrated. But I am not 100% it is a wise thing to replace... You be better of buying a new laptop...


But don't give up yet, it could be something else...?

This post has been edited by JUICYboy: 25 May 2011 - 06:08 PM

Hello,

Now that you have posted a log here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic399077.html you should NOT make further changes to your computer (install/uninstall programs, use special fix tools, delete files, edit the registry, etc) unless advised by a MRT Team member, nor should you ask for help elsewhere. Doing so can result in system changes which may not show in the log you already posted. Further, any modifications you make on your own may cause confusion for the helper assisting you and could complicate the malware removal process which would extend the time it takes to clean your computer.

From this point on the MRT Team should be the only members that you take advice from, until they have verified your log as clean.

Please be patient. It may take a while to get a response because the MRT Team members are EXTREMELY busy working logs posted before yours. They are volunteers who will help you out as soon as possible. Once you have made your post and are waiting, please DO NOT make another reply until it has been responded to by a member of the MRT Team. Generally the staff checks the forum for postings that have 0 replies as this makes it easier for them to identify those who have not been helped. If you post another response there will be 1 reply. A team member, looking for a new log to work may assume another MRT Team member is already assisting you and not open the thread to respond.

Please be patient. It may take several days to get a response but your log will be reviewed and answered as soon as possible. I advise checking your topic once a day for responses as the e-mail notification system is unreliable.

To avoid confusion, I am closing this topic. Good luck with your log.

Orange Blossom