Laptop - Blank Screen ?!

[Gorguruga]

Its a friends laptop running Windows 95, was working fine till today. She turned it on this morning and the screen was black - no picture. You can hear the hard drive spinning inside but the screen is just blank. I went round and tried connecting the laptop from the Monitor out socket into a spare monitor - still no picture. Nothing is displayed at all not even the boot-up screens before Window loads. Any clue what the problem could be?

 

[Bobg1]

Trying an external monitor is one thing to do, But, You need to tell the machine which video port to use. There should be a "FN" key, which allows you to use system funtions that are attached to the f keys. The f keys will normally have little images printed on them to help tell you what they should do. I believe on the compact it is the F4 key that switchs monitors. You may find that this was hit and that is why there is no display. You should get at least 3 different settings, Internal, Both, External. There may also be a None.

 

[Gorguruga]

I'll go around there and try this today.. there is hope! Most people have told me that the laptop has packed up and to buy a new one, but its the first time I heard of this display possibility. Would I just press the FN key as soon as the computer is switched on? Thanks!

 

[mczee101]

my sister had this problem with her laptop. Dunno if it is the same though. Not good news it was bought at PC world and luckly was still under warrenty she needed a new motherboard. If the monitor wont work from the external port then may be bad news and u might need a new Mother Board?

 

[Gorguruga]

mczee.. the first thing i thought is that it was a hardware problem and up until I posted here that's what the general opinion was in other forums.. sure is a big possiblilty because of how old the laptop is.

 

[Gorguruga]

No luck with the FN key, it just didn't react at all the screen remained blank.

Looks like that laptop's heading for spare parts graveyard.. She has another laptop she dug up and that also has a problem, I'll create a new post for that.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

 

[Bobg1]

Did you try it with an external monitor attached?

 

[Gorguruga]

Yes, tried it with an external monitor too, but still no display. I think the other laptop has very bad problems too.