Laptop monitor blank, HDD light not flashing - BROKEN?

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:25

Hi all,

Laptop is a Toshiba Satellite on Vista.

I ran an AVG virus test the other day and all came back clear but then my laptop screen went blank and wouldn't do anything. I turned it off and back on again with and without the mains power but the screen simply will not come on and it appears the HDD light is no longer flashing.. although the laptop is making it's normal noise when it attempts to startup.

I know I'm female but can usually figure PC software stuff out but I've never come across this before and I'm rubbish with hardware, I've looked on Google and it asked me to check that the HDD and RAM haven't come loose, I've unscrewed a millions screws and checked these but they seem OK. I removed the HDD and slotted it back in but still no joy.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Em

Gilly · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:26

Your System is of a Down state

When you say it makes its 'normal noise' do you mean it beeps? Just powers on normally?

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:27

Gilly said:
Your System is of a Down state

I am just searching for the sig thread, I need a new one. My hair is now brunette!!

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:29

Gilly said:
Your System is of a Down state

When you say it makes its 'normal noise' do you mean it beeps? Just powers on normally?

Sorry, I don't recall it bleeping. Just the power noise when you first press the on button

randomshenans · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:30

Sounds like motherboard/graphics card if you're not getting a picture. Try plugging it in to an external screen and rule out the screen itself.

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:32

QuickLink said:
Sounds like motherboard/graphics card if you're not getting a picture. Try plugging it in to an external screen and rule out the screen itself.

Thanks.

Can I plug it into my other laptop to test as a screen or do I need a stand alone monitor?

Gilly · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:34

No you'll need a monitor to test. Can you see your VGA port?

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:49

Gilly said:
No you'll need a monitor to test. Can you see your VGA port?

I can't see it at the moment because I'm at work. I don't have a stand alone monitor at home so I'll either bring the laptop to work with me and use my monitor here or can I use my TV as a screen as that has a VGA port in it?

CEUOTC · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:52

Em Xx said:
I can't see it at the moment because I'm at work. I don't have a stand alone monitor at home so I'll either bring the laptop to work with me and use my monitor here or can I use my TV as a screen as that has a VGA port in it?

As long as it has VGA in you can just plug in your laptop via a VGA lead or VGA to HDMI converter and select PC as source on the TV, then boot and select windows key+p and see where that takes you.

Regards.

C.

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 11:53

CEUOTC said:
As long as it has VGA in you can just plug in your laptop via a VGA lead or VGA to HDMI converter and select PC as source on the TV, then boot and select windows key+p and see where that takes you.

Regards.

C.

Thanks C,

Will try this

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 20:54

QuickLink said:
Sounds like motherboard/graphics card if you're not getting a picture. Try plugging it in to an external screen and rule out the screen itself.

I've plugged it into an external monitor, just says 'no signal' so I guess it is the motherboard/graphics then.. Is that it then? It's broken and there's no way to fix it? Thanks again

kiel367 · 20 Nov 2012 at 20:56

there may be a shortcut button on your keyboard to swap to an external monitor, for example fn+f4, the actual f button you need will have a picture of a screen on it, worth as shot

Em Xx · 20 Nov 2012 at 21:02

kiel367 said:
there may be a shortcut button on your keyboard to swap to an external monitor, for example fn+f4, the actual f button you need will have a picture of a screen on it, worth as shot

Still no use