I have a gateway 450sx4 laptop...im having a problem with my screen. When i turn it on, you can't see anything...i've even tried conneting a monitor and still don't see anything...what else could it be??? HELP!!!

Go to your network and check to see if your WIfi is enabled

u may need to change the motherboard...

It's likely that your screen is "fried" (faulty) ... try to connect your laptop to an external VGA monitor, and see if the screen shows up (on the external monitor) properly. You may have to toggle the output display (device) from computer screen to external monitor ..using Fn+F3.
If it displays on your external monitor properly, it means your laptop screen is no good. You can replace the laptop screen, or just continue to use the external monitor.
If it does the same (blurry & different color, etc.) on your external monitor, then, your video card/module on your laptop is bad. This usually happens less often.

It sounds like your monitor is in sleep mode.


Try pressing any key on the keyboard, it should wake it up.

Yes you should try ito adjust the brightness.
Can you see a slight image on the LCD, screen this indicates a backlight problem?
You can connect an external monitor to the video connector on the laptop, then boot it up and see if the is a display on the external monitor. You may have to press the blue Fn + one of the Function key so you can switch the video output to the external monitor. If you get an image on the external monitor then the video card is OK and the fault is with the LCD backlight. This could be a faulty inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or the CCFL lamp is faulty, 80% of the time it is the CCFL lamp that is faulty.
The inverter is easy to replace, the CCFL lamp requires a lot more work and requires soldering skills.

Go to www.lcdparts.net for parts and/or repair service and DIY info.

Hi!

I compared them, the on you have is a good laptop, the one you consider to by is not.
The one you have has on mobile prosessor 2,7ghz, the 450 has an pentium4, that will get that laptop warmer and it will consume mote electricity

The 7320 have 512mb ram and you can upgrade it to 1,5gb ram if you want. The 450 have 512mb ram and thats the maximum it can have.

The 7320 has an 15.4 in TFT active matrix 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) screen. The 450 has 14.1 in TFT active matrix 1024 x 768 screen.

The 7320 has Intel Extreme Graphics 2 Shared video memory . The 450 has ATI Mobility Radeon M6-P 32.0 MB

In my opinion, the only thing thats better on the 450 is the videocard, and that just a little bit better.

So my advice is..DONT buy that 450, there are better laptops out there for a good price.

I hope the info i gave you helped
If you have further questions, just ask me and i will do my best to help you

Good luck
Nic
PLEASE rate me

sounds like ,audio card went died or mite be screen has shorted out try hooking it up an orther screen and see if it boots up if so either viedo screen card or screen it self

do you hear any fans running?

Have you tried to replace the backlight lamp, itself? When you say you tried a different LCD, do you mean the barebones LCD panel? Yes, an external monitor should work fine.
Ron-

It could possibly be the video card, I don't know that much about how hardware is laid out in that model, whether it is an built in card or a connected one so I cannot give you any trouble shooting tips. Do you still have tech support available with Gateway?