Inspiron Display Issues

[aggiestudd07]

I just formatted my older Inspiron 8500 to breathe some life back into it, but I have been having some display problems for the past 6 months that I was hoping would be solved by formatting. However, the problem seems to have gotten worse.

Previously, the monitor was blank (outputting only to the VGA port on the rear panel) until the window's welcome screen and then it would switch back to the built-in display.

Currently (since I formatted), there is zero video on the primary display at any time, it will only display to the VGA output and a secondary monitor.

Here is what I have done or tried:
Settings in the BIOS (no options existed for this issue)
Flashed BIOS
Reformatted and reinstalled all updated drivers
Flashed Video BIOS
Played with settings in properties under Windows

Here is my Laptop:
Dell Inspiron 8500 (Summer 03)
P4 2.6GHz (non-HT)
512 MB Ram
30GB HDD
GeForce Go 4200 Mobile

I would appreciate any advice or help that you guys can offer since this thing is a little out of warranty

 

[Dallows]

I just formatted my older Inspiron 8500 to breathe some life back into it, but I have been having some display problems for the past 6 months that I was hoping would be solved by formatting. However, the problem seems to have gotten worse.

Previously, the monitor was blank (outputting only to the VGA port on the rear panel) until the window's welcome screen and then it would switch back to the built-in display.

Currently (since I formatted), there is zero video on the primary display at any time, it will only display to the VGA output and a secondary monitor.

Here is what I have done or tried:
Settings in the BIOS (no options existed for this issue)
Flashed BIOS
Reformatted and reinstalled all updated drivers
Flashed Video BIOS
Played with settings in properties under Windows

Here is my Laptop:
Dell Inspiron 8500 (Summer 03)
P4 2.6GHz (non-HT)
512 MB Ram
30GB HDD
GeForce Go 4200 Mobile

I would appreciate any advice or help that you guys can offer since this thing is a little out of warranty

As long as you're installing the proper video drivers it sounds like an lcd issue. One thing you can try is to reseat the LCD cable, if that doesn't fix it, it's the lcd itself most likely.

use this site -http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins8500/en/8500/sm/index.htm
for how to remove the parts. The lcd cable sits under the keyboard and is really easy to get to. Just remove the hinge cover and maybe the keyboard.

 

[Usquabach]

you have the exact same problem I had on my Inspiron 8500...same specs as well.

I get no output on my primary display with the 4200GO but have not tried it with an external display.

I decided "TO HELL WITH THIS" and bought a Vostro 1700 to replace my Inspiron.

I would like to hear your results as someday I will replace my video card and try to salvage 40GB of data off my Inspiron's 40GB HDD.

But I'm a lazy, lazy man.

 

[aggiestudd07]

you have the exact same problem I had on my Inspiron 8500...same specs as well.

I get no output on my primary display with the 4200GO but have not tried it with an external display.

I decided "TO HELL WITH THIS" and bought a Vostro 1700 to replace my Inspiron.

I would like to hear your results as someday I will replace my video card and try to salvage 40GB of data off my Inspiron's 40GB HDD.

But I'm a lazy, lazy man.

I wish I could take the "TO HELL WITH THIS" option, but it is a little out of my price range. I will post here if I can find a solution. Mine does, however, work with an external display.

 

[Macg]

I had a similar problem, and finally tracked it down to the switch that puts the computer to sleep when the laptop is closed. The physical switch has a small post sticking up that is pushed down and then pushes on the switch below. It has two guides to keep it in place, and there are hooks so it doesn't slide off. One of the hooks had been broken off, so the slide would dislodge and then not come back up and release the switch. I could still see the screen when connected to an external monitor, and sometimes I would see a single line at the bottom of the screen. I had to pull off the plate at the back of the keyboard, including the covers for the hinges and put the slide back on the guides. It became a pain. Finally I disgarded the slide, and replaced it with a paper clip just the right length, with a piece on top curled into a circle. It is fastened on one side with a piece of clear duct tape, and it works great. Doesn't say much for Dell's past construction, but for an eight year old (I think) machine, it keeps it going. When I took it to a computer shop, they immediately suspected a screen problem, and didn't spot this little sliding switch jammed and stuck. Hope this might help someone out there.

 

[aggiestudd07]

I had a similar problem, and finally tracked it down to the switch that puts the computer to sleep when the laptop is closed. The physical switch has a small post sticking up that is pushed down and then pushes on the switch below. It has two guides to keep it in place, and there are hooks so it doesn't slide off. One of the hooks had been broken off, so the slide would dislodge and then not come back up and release the switch. I could still see the screen when connected to an external monitor, and sometimes I would see a single line at the bottom of the screen. I had to pull off the plate at the back of the keyboard, including the covers for the hinges and put the slide back on the guides. It became a pain. Finally I disgarded the slide, and replaced it with a paper clip just the right length, with a piece on top curled into a circle. It is fastened on one side with a piece of clear duct tape, and it works great. Doesn't say much for Dell's past construction, but for an eight year old (I think) machine, it keeps it going. When I took it to a computer shop, they immediately suspected a screen problem, and didn't spot this little sliding switch jammed and stuck. Hope this might help someone out there.

i had the same problem with the small switch that turns off the monitor. every now and then it comes off the two small rails and gets stuck in the monitor-closed position, thus turning off the monitor, but if i just flicked at it it would pop back up.

my actual problem that i discovered some time ago i believe is that actual cable that connects the screen to the video input underneath the power and volume buttons is shorted. every now and then i have to pop that small cover above the keyboard off and jiggle the cable and it initializes the monitor immediately. the main thing is that there is nothing wrong with the screen or the motherboard, i can deal with a small shorted cable.

i believe the problem is because the video cable lies directly over the cpu heatpipe.

thanks for the suggestion, i really appreciate the help. good luck with yours too