Blank Monitor on startup, no backlight

After cleaning the GPU fins and stuff, I tried powering it back on but to my dismay, there's nothing. No backlight. So, I tried connecting it to an external monitor and that worked. I didn't fiddle with the LCD cables, only the GPUs.

This happened a couple of months ago as well, but it fixed itself after a couple of days for no apparent reason. Help!!!!

Thanks

 

Hi, yeah that's strange it happened to my R1 doing the same thing, i don't have idea of why it does that, but after a couple of restarts worked again.

 

Desperate bump. Sadly, still not working after a couple of restarts. Can anyone pinpoint the cause of this problem? Loose LCD cable maybe? If so, how can I fix it?

Any help would be MOST appreciated!!!!

 

Have you tried reseating the LCD cable? I would put money on that being the problem.

Check out the pic, it has caused me problems before as well. Sorry about the crappy pic, I just poached it from the net

 

I found the cables / connectors in the pic but I have no idea how to reseat them since they look glued in or something. Any pointers?

SUCCESS! Turns out it's the dust that's short circuiting it. Got a thin layer just right behind the blue connector which I blew out not realizing that it's the culprit!!

THANKS for pointing me in the right direction Douse!

 

No Problem

For future reference if you need to take this clip out, there is a metal arm that flicks up.

Then you literally just pull straight up and it pops off.

 

Bad news. Problem resurfaced. I restarted my system and now the screen is blank again. I can hear the startup audio, I can even login (by sortof moving my mouse and typing my pass) but I can't see a damn thing.

Guess I need to reseat the monitor plug, can someone tell me how to? Because I don't want to break anything. The monitor plug looks really firmly attached to the board.

Prior to the restart, my secondary GPU got some awkward readings on hwinfo. Only 40 degrees max when I'm running The Old Republic. Faulty crossfirex cable? Pretty sure I didn't fiddle around with that. I only removed both GPUs to get to the fans under them.

Can really, really use some help now. Thanks!

Oh.. and the crossfire option vanished from CCC. :I

I'm going to summarize everything I'm having so far.
1. Blank screen on startup. No backlight.
2. Very low GPU utilization on slave card (78 max temp on the primary card, 40 max temp on slave. Tried running ME3 and ToR. Same results.)
3. No crossfirex option in ccc
4. When connected to an external monitor, it works. (No blank screen)

Tried so far:
1. Cleaning dust from GPU fins and around monitor plug.
2. Trying to reseat the monitor plug but could use some pointers as to how to do that.

 

To reseat the plug I would remove it, blow it out and make sure it's clear of dust. Then keep the little handle pin upright and start by sticking one end in and flattening it while applying pressure till it's seated securely. Then I would move the handle downward (toward the screen) it should be in place. The issue is do doubt the plug not seated properly.

As for the crossfire issue, I would just make sure the two ends are secured in the cards completely, and reinstall the drivers. Also for the crossfire issue, go into CCC and make sure that CCC isn't picking up the external monitor. If that doesn't work I would try removing the drivers and reinstalling.

 

THANKS!

I reseated the monitor plug. Now it's working again. Going to reinstall drivers now. Hopefully everything goes well.

Just out of curiosity, do I need to uninstall and reinstall CAP as well? Or it is alright to install CAPs over other CAPs?

(12.1 CAP3 runs Alan Wake like a charm but 12.2 CAP1 broke it)

 

Caps over caps will be fine. Glad you got the screen working. Your over one hurdle.

 

Reinstalled drivers and had 12.1CAP3 and 12.2CAP1 installed as well. Still no crossfirex option in ccc for some reason.

I did remove the GPUs to get to the system fans under them but I'm pretty sure I plugged them back in right. Didn't even fiddle with the crossfirex cable. Am I missing something? Says atiumdag 8.950.0.0 in GPU-Z.

Here's two screenshots. GPU-Z and hwinfo32.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt241/ShimmerArc/GPU2.png
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt241/ShimmerArc/GPU1.png

Usually, the second GPU isn't displayed in hwinfo when I'm just idling at the desktop....

Odd! Says disabled adapter under the primary adapter in ccc. :I

Help!

Found this thread from 2010.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/625194-no-crossfire-option-ccc-2.html

It is OK to install AMD drivers over Dell ones?

 

Stop poking at it and use your warranty

 

Wish I still have mine. Unfortunately it expired a loooong time ago.

Aaaand, strangely, puffing off a speck of dust on the slave card (and the primary card) fixed the crossfire issue.

This is official. Dust is my nemesis.

 

That's why i'm a maniac with my electronics and clean them regularly.

 

Dell wouldn't mind extend your warranty, though it is expired. It is very good to keep your system clean and out of 'dusty' area, but also is not good to meddle with it too many times and to keep removing and putting back parts all the time... Without realizing something may not be kept back the same way and that is how you start damaging your system by making a short circuit on your motherboard, burning a graphic card etc.

Best, try calling dell and see if you can extend your warranty, I am sure they will be happy to do so... This time you got lucky and you somehow fixed your problem, but think about the future, was an expensive investment.

 

Personally wouldn't let Dell touch my system with a 40 foot pole.

 

^^^Agreed, for me the warranty is a last ditch effort.

 

I'll have to secon- third that as well.

The last time Dell sent a technician my way he broke one of the screw+washer thing (not sure what it is called) on my HDD and he doesn't even know what to do, kept calling his superior to ask stuff. Very unprofessional.

 

When I sent my R2 to the Depot for two new GPU's and a motherboard replacement it heres what I got back. Working Mobo and two working GPUs.

Here's what I also got. My prestine unscratched screen came back with several deep scratches. My palmrest was also scratched. I had 3 loose screws in the slave GPU fan just loosley bouncing around making all kinds of wicked noise.

I called Dell and the sent me a screen, palmrest and two GPU fans for me to replace. I asked them not to send a tech and to send me the stuff so I can replace it myself. I was glad to see they honored my request.

In fact my new screen (new as in I got it in early Aug 2011) still has the plastic on it. Bubbles and all, but I figure it keeps dust and scratches off it. But eventually I'll take it off. but right now it's not really bothering me. my palmrest still has the plastic on the shiny speaker ports. That too needs to come off. I just don't want it getting scratched lol.