Troubleshoot Display

• 1). Check the power light on the front of the computer to confirm that the PC is on. The light should glow solid green or blue.
  
  
• 2). Hold down "Fn" and tap the up-arrow key to increase the screen brightness.
  
  
• 3). Connect an external monitor to the laptop to test whether the problem is the screen itself. Insert one end of a VGA cable into the back of the monitor.
  
  
• 4). Insert the other end into the VGA port on the side of the Dell laptop. Plug a power cable to the external monitor, then plug the cable into an outlet.
  
  
• 5). Turn on the external monitor. Hold down "Fn" and press "F8" to switch the display to the external monitor. If the display is visible on the external monitor, the screen on the Dell laptop could be defective.
  
  
• 6). Hold down the power button for 15 seconds if the external monitor is also blank after connecting it to the laptop. Turn off and disconnect the external monitor from the Dell laptop.
  
  
• 7). Turn on the laptop. If the screen still remains blank, there may be a problem with the BIOS or video adapter.
  
  

Check Connections

• 1). Turn off the Dell laptop. Close the lid and disconnect the power adapter. Turn the laptop over.
  
  
• 2). Slide the tab on the bottom of the computer to eject the battery. Pull the battery out of its compartment.
  
  
• 3). Flip the computer over again and open the lid until it meets resistance. Put on an antistatic wrist strap before proceeding.
  
  
• 4). Wedge the tip of a flathead screwdriver underneath the right side of the hinge cover, found just above the keyboard. Gently pull the rest of the hinge cover off the laptop.
  
  
• 5). Use a small Phillips head screwdriver to loosen and remove the four screws lining the top of the keyboard. Slide the keyboard towards the monitor.
  
  
• 6). Lift the keyboard up and locate the keyboard cable. Lift the black clip securing the connector, then pull the keyboard cable out of the slot. Set the keyboard aside.
  
  
• 7). Confirm that the power connector leading from the monitor is securely connected to the motherboard. Follow the above directions in reverse to reassemble the monitor.