Dell XPS screen blank

I recently formatted my 3 yr old Dell studio XPS and reinstalled OS. When I started installing drivers from Dell CD, I installed system software first and restarted. After restart, the screen went blank. Laptop is running, OS loads, but screen is blank. Not even Dell XPS logo is visible. When I connected to an external monitor, screen was visible on it. I didn't have to to fn+f8 to move to external monitor.

I first thought that it is a driver problem, so I went ahead with installing chipset drivers and then video card drivers (ATI Radeon HD 3670). But, after installing video card driver, I started getting blue screen of death. Just to be safe, I did system restore to earlier point, and reinstalled drivers again, but same problem.

To sum up, there are two problems:

- Screen is blank. Increasing/decreasing brightness doesn't have any effect.
- After installing graphics card driver, windows gives blue screen.

What could be wrong?

- Screen isn't getting power. Some connections are loose.
- Screen has gone bad. (Is my laptop gone now ?)
- Something is wrong with graphics card. Should I replace it?
- Something went wrong while installing OS. Should I reinstall it?

What else could have caused the problem? Please help. I am very much a novice, when it comes to dealing with hardware parts.

 

It sounds like the GPU is going bad, but I think it's pretty rare for the Radeon chips in the SXPS line to fail... I'd re-install again and see what happens. Install the graphics driver before anything else.

 

Hi PV2012,

If the issue started only after the reinstall then the drivers may not have been properly installed. Try to install the Chipset drivers first and then install the video drivers. (Go to Welcome to Dell Technical Support and enter the service tag and select the operating system to narrow down the search for the correct drivers)

If you get a display on the external monitor without any issues the problem may not be with the video card. Run the LCD BIST test to check if the LCD is working fine.

To Run the LCD BIST: Shutdown the system. Press and hold the 'D' key and press the power button. Release both the hands. You will see plain colored screens flashing on the LCD.

Reply with the results.

Thanks & Regards
Dell_Satya_P

Dell Social Media Responder
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Best to install the Intel Graphics drivers in safe mode because if you remove them in normal windows it will cause the screen to turn off when the driver is removed. If you can boot into safe mode you should install them from there.

 

Thank you for your response.

I ran LCD BIST test as per your directions: I can see screen going whilte, red, green, blue every few seconds and then again blank.

Regarding drivers: They were installed in correct order: Chipset drivers and then video drivers.

 

Hi PV2012,

Thank you for the reply. If the screen went blank during the LCD BIST test the LCD needs to be replaced. If you are getting a good image when an external monitor is connected, it means the video card is working right. If the system is Out of Warranty, please contact Dell Out of Warranty Repair on 1-800-288-4410 to get the LCD replaced.

Glad to be of help.

Thanks & Regards
Dell_Satya_P

Dell Social Media Responder
Dell | Facebook
Twitter