Dell laptop - screen goes black - help!

Hi everyone,

Let me start this thread by saying that I am not a developer and don't know much about the inner workings of computers in general. That said, i'm turning to this forum in desperation, as Dell technical support has failed me multiple times. Here is my problem:

I have a dell Inspiron 5150 laptop. A few months ago I began to have a problem with it - if i moved the laptop (in some cases even lightly touched it), i would hear a soft click and the screen would go black. Even though it appeared to be off, the power light was still green, indicating the computer was on. This behavior is random and variable - some days i can move the computer all over the place and it works normal, other times i don't even touch it, or barely touch it, and the screen goes black. The only way i have found to deal with it is to manually power it down by holding the power button and restarting - most of this time this works, but i obviously lose or have to restart whatever i was working on.

When i originally spoke to Dell, they did several diagnostics, found no red flags, and told me it was a MS Windows problem, despite that manually touching the computer caused the problem to occur (in my naivete this sounds like a hardware problem to me). The second time i talked to them, they had me take out all the components of my computer (CD drive, memory, battery) and then put it all back. They said it could have been a faulty connection. Despite this, a few weeks later the problem emerged again.

So, i was wondering if anyone might have an idea as to what this problem might be and how to fix it. I've posted on this sight and in this forum because i found a similar thread about a screen going blank, although the details of that problem appeared to be different. Any help would be immensely appreciated - thank you!

well your correct, its definantly a hardware problem. first off, id say screw dell tech support, theres only 1 good tech support person from them, and hes on here lol. I think its Kal-El ,but its been a while, maybe ask him.

id check the monitor cable to the mobo in your lappy. disconnect that cable and reconnect, and make SURE its seated properly.

Keep complaining to dell. After a few more complaints, then might change the notebook.

Your soft click sounds more to me like a small spark. There's definantly something shorting out. You've got a lost connection somewhere that's being loosened when you move your notebook.

If you're only losing video, I would guess the connector on the back of your LCD is loose. Or that you have broken wires on the LCD itself. This is probably something very simple.

You could remove the covers from your notebook and look for the loose connection, but this will likely void your warranty.

you could just mail the lappy back to dell with a letter that says "tech support told me to mail this back for a replacement with full data migration" adn theyll be like, errrr sure whateva

Not without an RMA number.

just keep complaining to dell.
once they establish a trend then they will escalate the problem

Sounds like the invertor is playing up.

You can narrow down the hardware fault if you have an external monitor.When the screen goes black,connect your monitor and see if that gets the same result or not.If it does the same,then the system board needs replacing.If it doesn't,then you're looking at the actual LCD panel need replacing or the invertor.

I think I have the same problem. My screen would only turn off occasionally, and now after a few months when I turn on my computer I get the bios screen and the screen turns off, but I can hear the computer still on. I have tried connecting an external monitor and my computer works fine with the monitor. Someone has suggested that it could be that the laptop thinks its is closed when it is actually open, and that is why the screen keeps shutting off. Some sort of latch is stuck. My problem is I am out of warranty and am a student, so I don't know where to get it fixed. Do I send it back to dell or pay an hourly rate at some place like best buy???

Does not matter who fix it. Before you engage in repair, describe the problem to them and get them to quote the price. Any computer tech worth their salt will be able to do this.

If you go for hourly charge, then the tech can take his own sweet time on your budget.

Stay away from hourly rates.

For example, on Batsrkul situation, it would have taken me 5mins to replace the invertor, I could have charged 1 hours work, nice and sweet.....but I'm a honist person so if its a couple seconds I won't bother charging.

i just recently had the same problem and my laptop (e1505) is only a week old, i got it on saturday and when i turn it on, the screen is completely black and the only light on is the little power light, not even the button. i thought maybe i put some sort of lock on it or something, but i'm totally lost on how to do it. but it seems that a bunch of people are having the same problem.

My name is Mike. I'm a Dell Customer Advocate located in Round Rock, TX at Dell corporate headquarters. I came across your post here and wanted to offer some assistance with your ongoing issue. If you could reply to me at Customer_Advocate@dell.com we can discuss the issue further and see about getting you back up and running.

Thank you,

Mike B.
Dell Customer Advocate