HP Laptop no display
 

I have received a laptop from a relative. It is a HP dv9000. It has a GeForce Go 7600.

The laptops screen wont come on. When you turn the laptop on, the screen changes from the standard black when its off, to a lighter black. Indicating that something is happening, but nothing is being displayed. I cannot enter the BIOS or access any features of the laptop.

I have connected the laptop to an external display, and the laptop works through that. I can access the BIOS, boot menu and load into safe mode. While on the external display, I can use the laptop as normal.

I want to know if this is a screen problem, or a graphics problem.

Edit;

Can you buy a replacement GeForce Go 7600 card? Or is it an on board graphics?

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Sounds to me like the connection between the screen and the motherboard isn't in properly. I don't know about buying a graphics card but if it outputting to an external display fine then that shows the graphics card is working. To me it's either the screen is faulty or the connection to the screen is faulty.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

If the lappie displays OK to an external unit it's not a graphics card failure. Far more likely that the backlight or related power components have died.

Edit: Just googled this a bit and there is apparently a known issue with the dv9000 where the 'open lid' switch gets stuck so the laptop does not switch the screen on. That should be a simple one to check.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Sounds like a broken inverter to me. Thats the data and in some cases power cable from the graphics card to the screen by the way.
If the screen wasn't lighting up I would normally assume its the screen itself or at least the back light but since you are getting the light it must either be the Inverter or the LCD itself. Your only real problem now is that you won't know whether its the LCD or the Inverter until you try to replace one or the other. The Inverter should be £10 - £45, LCD will be about £130 - £180 so I know which I would try first.

And since you are getting picture on an external display I wouldn't think the graphics card is the culprit at all unless its the inverter socket on the card itself that is the problem (very unlikely).

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

I'm unable to find the switch you're on about.

Apparently people are saying it has a magnetic thing instead of a switch. Or that the cable that goes beneath the laptop connecting the screen is 'crimped'.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Manual here

Page 3-8. I think it's item 6.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

How exactly do I take that out though?

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

It looks like there are a few possible causes for this issue. Switch, backlight, inverter to name a few.

To check any of these requires stripping the machine and having the appropriate knowledge and parts to do a repair.

Kymmy may be able to advise here but personally I'd seriously consider looking for a good repair shop.

but then again, I hate working on laptops !!

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

I have a slight update.

I gave up trying to open the laptop a few weeks ago, because it was ripping my hands apart. I have had another look, and with a bit of help, I have managed to open it up.

I have found the part you were on about, and I have included photo's.

I don't know what to do now.

It looks as though the flappy bit connects to the metal either on the back of the sound panel (which is upside down on the photo) or what looks like a black metal strip under the flap.

I have tried stopping the flap from connecting to other parts, but that didn't work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Have you tried to reset the BIOS to default?

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

I can't, because I can't get the screen on, and I'm not sure if a laptop has a manual override.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Have you tried pluging to an external monitor?

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Yeah, and I can see everything perfectly. Well, I say that, it's all in 640x480.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

You will be able to enter the BIOS it will show on the other display.

Re: HP Laptop no display
 

Resetting the BIOS (on the external monitor) and wiping the CMOS through a boot disc didn't work.