Video Card in a Dell Laptop

There are 3 auxilary video connections on that computer. You can use HDMI, S-video and 15 pin video connections. Your best bet is with the 15 pin connection. When you connect to that you may have to use the F5 key to change modes and make it come on.

Hook a spare monitor to the video output usually on the back, if picture okay! the problem is the laptop screen caused by a inverter board, "located just under the LCD display, or the backlight behind the LCD screen. But if both show the same symptom it is the video graphics card that is defective normally built into the motherboard.

First power the laptop down. To do this, hold down the power button until it shuts off (usually 5 seconds). Wait 5 seconds and turn it back on. Do you see the Dell splash screen? If you do, hopefully the computer will boot into the OS. If you do not see the Dell splash screen, there is something going on w/ the video card or monitor. Hardware issues need to be replaced by Dell. If the laptop is w/in a year, you can call Dell and the should be able to send a part for free. Otherwise, you'll have to send it in for repairs.

If you get the same thing with an externe monitor then your Video card is dead. sometimes it's separate from the motherboard, if it's the case it might cost you 150 USD to replace it (used on ebay). If not sell it for parts...
Cheers

Do you hear beeps when turning on the laptop? If you hear 1 long and 2 short beeps, then there's a problem with your video card. You need to consult a technician to test your video card and replace it if necessary.

Have a great day!

This could possibly be your video card. Can you try changing it out?

Char S.

Are you sure the laptop is powering up?
Do you hear the laptop boot up and the hard drive spinning and the power LED is on when you connected the external monitor?
The monitor must be powered up before the laptop for the video info to switch video port automatically.
If the external monitor is blank then you can't make it work, your video card is faulty and it is not possible to replace as it is built-in on the motherboard. You could replace the motherboard but this may not be a cost effective solution,

You RAM module may be faulty or needs reseating in the DIMM slot B. Reseat the both RAM modules then :-
Check the POST information as it boots up, the amount of install RAM should equal to the installed RAM (the total RAM could be 256Mb or 512Mb or 1Gb depends how much memory you purchased with the laptop) less 64 Mb or 128 Mb RAM which is used for video memory (depends upon your video card requirements).
Once you fix your RAM problems you should be able to reinstall Windows.

Boot into BIOS and go to the Video card setting, that sould fix it

Well it is most likely a issue with the Video driver as you are able to boot to the safe mode.I would suggest going back to the safe mode and deleting the present driver for the video from the device manager.before you restart the system just download the latest version from the support.dell.com so that you can reinstall it.Also check in the graphic properties which screen is set to be the defuat.Incase still not working i would suggest reinstalling the operating system before replacing any hardware.