No replies to this is disapointing. I have just started having the same issue with a M4500, W7, 64bit. I have two external LCDs that I use on my desk and use the laptop screen when not at my desk.
I undock, open the screen and blank! I think it is still trying to put the desktop on the two external screens. Sleeping doesn't help. Hibernate doesn't help. I haven't tried a shutdown but assume that would fix it, but it isn't very helpful. Interestingly when restarting after hibernating, the "resuming windows" text comes up on the laptop screen, but then goes blank afterwards.
One thing that sort of works was to ensure the laptop was showing the desktop before undocking, I think that might have worked.
The solution for me was to go into the power settings in the control panel (Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\System Settings) and changing the what happens when the lid is closed from "Sleep" to "Do Nothing".
Now when I undock and open the lid, the screen comes on for the laptop.
I have a m4500, sitting on the docking station/port replicator, and two monitors both connected to the ports on the replicator, with extra keyboard/mouse on the replicator as well. This is my normal configuration, but as soon as I do anything to activate the laptop screen I loose one of the external monitors but the laptop screen remains black. This includes just opening the laptop, undocking then opening the laptop, or sleeping/hibernating before opening the laptop. I suspect it has something to do with the OS trying to drive the laptop screen at an unsupported resolution, though I'm at a loss as to figure out how to resolve the issue.
The only way I can make the laptop screen work is to shut the whole thing down and reboot from scratch. This is a less than ideal solution to the problem.
EDIT: So I just did the one thing I didn't think of until reading this thread. I reverted my video driver to the latest ISV driver found in the support section. I had previously been running the newest driver from Nvidia's website. Once installed and rebooted, I opened the laptop, and the internal screen did not come on, but the external displays both remained running. When I "hot" undocked the internal display came on with no issues just like I would expect it to. I will continue to test and report back later.
I've the exact same problem too. M4500, win7, e-port replicator, external monitor etc etc.....every time I undock I have to force the laptop to power-off as the screen is blank. VERY ANNOYING. This is probably my fifth or sixth time buying from Dell and will be my last. Always problems with them, no matter how much money you spend it seems. This laptop was approx €2.5k and getting problems that you wouldn't find with a cheap apple.
I am having a similar problem with an M4500. When the laptop is booting, the built in display works, including the initial Windows 7 splash screens. Once the boot process reaches the login stage for Windows, the laptop screen goes dark and only an external monitor will display anything. When running in safe mode, the laptop internal screen always works.
I've updated the BIOS to version A12 and the video drivers to A08 with no success. Hot-undocking didn't do anything for me.
What's quite strange is that it's possible even with the dark screen to see that there is actually something being displayed on the notebook. In the interim I've set the display settings to duplicate the screens so that I can continue working on an external monitor. Playing with dual monitor settings, pressing Fn-F8, etc. and changing settings back and forth hasn't helped.
So, I get the sense from the dates on the messages in this thread that there's not a whole lot of activity and possibly no oversight of the forum by Dell. I'll give it a couple of days though and hope for a response.
I am having this same issue. When I've been docked to an E-series dock with two monitors, then I un-dock and open the screen, the laptop screen does not display. In Display Settings it appears to recognize the laptop screen and allow dual monitor display, but it is totally black (although sometimes I can see just a faint bit of content on the screen).
Same thing is happening to me, I think it is the LED back light not turning on after un-docking. It is so frustrating. I have had nothing but issues with my M4800, I found a post mentioning going into the Power plan and setting the display to never turn off in the advanced area. I set it to 9999 minutes, Maybe that will help
ThomoT
1 Message
0
November 7th, 2011 19:00
No replies to this is disapointing. I have just started having the same issue with a M4500, W7, 64bit. I have two external LCDs that I use on my desk and use the laptop screen when not at my desk.
I undock, open the screen and blank! I think it is still trying to put the desktop on the two external screens. Sleeping doesn't help. Hibernate doesn't help. I haven't tried a shutdown but assume that would fix it, but it isn't very helpful. Interestingly when restarting after hibernating, the "resuming windows" text comes up on the laptop screen, but then goes blank afterwards.
One thing that sort of works was to ensure the laptop was showing the desktop before undocking, I think that might have worked.
The solution for me was to go into the power settings in the control panel (Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\System Settings) and changing the what happens when the lid is closed from "Sleep" to "Do Nothing".
Now when I undock and open the lid, the screen comes on for the laptop.
Give that a go and see if it works for you.
L_CSA
1 Message
0
December 12th, 2011 22:00
Yep, I have similar feelings the lack of response from Dell. I'm having the same issue as the above users.
I'll test out your solution and reply back.
Soulscode
1 Message
0
March 19th, 2012 09:00
I have the exact same problem.
I have a m4500, sitting on the docking station/port replicator, and two monitors both connected to the ports on the replicator, with extra keyboard/mouse on the replicator as well. This is my normal configuration, but as soon as I do anything to activate the laptop screen I loose one of the external monitors but the laptop screen remains black. This includes just opening the laptop, undocking then opening the laptop, or sleeping/hibernating before opening the laptop. I suspect it has something to do with the OS trying to drive the laptop screen at an unsupported resolution, though I'm at a loss as to figure out how to resolve the issue.
The only way I can make the laptop screen work is to shut the whole thing down and reboot from scratch. This is a less than ideal solution to the problem.
EDIT: So I just did the one thing I didn't think of until reading this thread. I reverted my video driver to the latest ISV driver found in the support section. I had previously been running the newest driver from Nvidia's website. Once installed and rebooted, I opened the laptop, and the internal screen did not come on, but the external displays both remained running. When I "hot" undocked the internal display came on with no issues just like I would expect it to. I will continue to test and report back later.
bazilbush
1 Message
0
August 20th, 2012 06:00
I've the exact same problem too. M4500, win7, e-port replicator, external monitor etc etc.....every time I undock I have to force the laptop to power-off as the screen is blank. VERY ANNOYING. This is probably my fifth or sixth time buying from Dell and will be my last. Always problems with them, no matter how much money you spend it seems. This laptop was approx €2.5k and getting problems that you wouldn't find with a cheap apple.
Please fix this problem Dell.
lange_n
1 Message
0
September 26th, 2012 12:00
I am having a similar problem with an M4500. When the laptop is booting, the built in display works, including the initial Windows 7 splash screens. Once the boot process reaches the login stage for Windows, the laptop screen goes dark and only an external monitor will display anything. When running in safe mode, the laptop internal screen always works.
I've updated the BIOS to version A12 and the video drivers to A08 with no success. Hot-undocking didn't do anything for me.
What's quite strange is that it's possible even with the dark screen to see that there is actually something being displayed on the notebook. In the interim I've set the display settings to duplicate the screens so that I can continue working on an external monitor. Playing with dual monitor settings, pressing Fn-F8, etc. and changing settings back and forth hasn't helped.
So, I get the sense from the dates on the messages in this thread that there's not a whole lot of activity and possibly no oversight of the forum by Dell. I'll give it a couple of days though and hope for a response.
AJameson56
2 Posts
0
August 27th, 2015 15:00
I am having this same issue. When I've been docked to an E-series dock with two monitors, then I un-dock and open the screen, the laptop screen does not display. In Display Settings it appears to recognize the laptop screen and allow dual monitor display, but it is totally black (although sometimes I can see just a faint bit of content on the screen).
Palabalo
2 Posts
0
October 14th, 2015 09:00
Same thing is happening to me, I think it is the LED back light not turning on after un-docking. It is so frustrating. I have had nothing but issues with my M4800, I found a post mentioning going into the Power plan and setting the display to never turn off in the advanced area. I set it to 9999 minutes, Maybe that will help