M17X R2: Screen goes off

Hi guys. It's been a long time since i start in this forum
Well, sadly i'm facing a problem with my baby, the M17X R2 (Sexy red).

Sometimes when i am writing on Word or excel, and also in normal use just browsing webs or my own folders, the screen just goes off. Sometimes i have to turn the PC off (Forcing it) and then it comes back to life, or sometimes i just close and open the lap again and works. But after sometime it turns off again. Sometimes the screen start like flickering and then goes off.

I've tried dissasembling it, cleaning it up, moving the video card, moving the screen cables: Nothing.

Any clue?

Also, wheen it goes off, i plug my laptop to a external monitor using VGA cable or HDMI and it works, after a while using the external monitor, my scren turns on.
I've been looking for this issue but it seems like nobody have it.

Thanks for your help.

 

Have you tried reinstalling the video drivers or checking on the temperatures of the video card?

 

Yes, i have the latest drivers for my Mobile HD 5870.
Sometimes when i turn on the PC none is displayed. I can hear windows booting but no more.

I don't know if there is an update for the Vcard mobo or something. (Not sure which one i have now because i'm far from my laptop right now) But this problem is makeing me really sad, i don't know from where to start.

 

you should start testing of your hardware by reinstalling various software on it, or drivers.
If the nature of the issue is NOT known by any of the members of this forum, then most likely is a hardware issue.

Start from updating your bios to revision A10, then vBios and so on, then fresh installation of windows and then newest drivers, that is what i would do.

if the problem persists you can be 99% sure there is something going on with your hardware, eighter, temperatures or something deep within Mobo or any other part, like LCD screen.

Sadly, i got almost the same symptoms when my R2 just died one day.

If not software, then i would say 60% it is LCD, 30% GPU and 10% Mobo, some people may say it is 90% Gpu and 10% LCD.

The whole idea is to narrow it somehow by running various tests, and observe how the laptop is behaving.

If you are within warranty, tell Dell about it, and they will be more than happy to change all your R2 interior parts,

If you are not covered by warranty then go to dell website and buy m17x R5 GG no RE

Jost jokeing...

Mobo is about 250 USD on ebay, LCD varies, from 120 USD (used with scratches) to 1179USD from Dell directly, sometimes you can find oryginal dell m17x R2 RGB LED screens for 150USD from china (i can personally confirm this as i am an owner of one )


Anyways, my bet is your screen is slowly dieing. Try to run games for long period of time on external screen, if everything is ok, and the laptop screen is not, then you have your answer.

post your tests and observations, we will try to help

peace