Vostro 1400 Fails to Boot (No Display)

Question

Hello everyone! This is my first post in Dell forums, as I can't seem to find a good enough solution through Google. Hope someone can help me out with this problem.

I purchased a Vostro 1400 last August and it was working up until 2 weeks ago. I was just browsing the internet when my computer crashed; the display went bonkers. So I reset the computer, and the first time it tried booting it would show the Dell logo and the BIOS would begin loading, and midway through the load the display would just go blank, but the screen is still on. I reset it again, and it does the same thing. After a couple of more resets, the screen wouldn't show a Dell logo at all but turns on. And after a couple more resets after that, the screen doesn't even turn on. Whenever I power on the laptop now, I hear the fans spinning and the hard drive spin initially for a second, but then the computer just stays dead with no activity on the harddrive and the display doesn't turn on.

I called Dell support, and they told me my warranty expired 15 days before this happened. You have no idea how much pain I was in. After some troubleshooting, the Dell support person told me that most likely it's a fried motherboard, and that it'll cost $300 for the parts and $100 for labor. Now, I want to just install the motherboard myself and save that $100 fee, but I'm afraid that it could be the CPU or GPU or even something simple like RAM.

Basically, my question is: what could be wrong with my computer, and how (if possible) I can diagnose it to confirm which part is fried?

P.S. I have a 667MHz RAM, will that work on an older laptop that only goes up to 533MHz? Thanks!

TMcCaine · Answer

P.S. about your P.S.

Nine times out of ten the memory from one laptop won't physically fit in slots it isn't compatable with, but most of the time memory is also backwards compatible and the mother board (if set up to do so) will automatically set the proper voltage for the new memory. There are major compatibility issues with various pieces of memory and they must be 'arranged' in the proper combination to function properly. Without knowing which unit they are going into I would say, give it a try. The worst thing that could happen is that you have two laptops that don't work.

For a more accurate prediction, tell us what Laptop it is and we can help further.

TMcCaine · Answer

I spoke with someone who had the same problem with his unit and simply removing the CDROM allowed it to boot again.

Start by describing to us what happens when you power it up in the terms of the caps lock lights row, power light and so on. These typically give an indication as to what the error is.

Detecting a CPU or memory failure, you can press the Fn key and while holding it down press the power button. This will start a self diagnostic function and these lights will give coded messages to indicate what isn't working.

Lets go back to the initial problem. When the screen went blank during the boot could you still see shadows of the image as if it weren't illuminated? Ergo you can go outside and see the screen or shine a flashlight to it but it possessed no light or was there no response as if you turned it off?

Also Bonkers, as if random lines of color and images flashed across the screen as if it were possessed or did it flicker wildly?

It is possible that the mother board suddenly failed and won't allow you to boot anymore, and it is also possible that the memory that is in there is bad. But try to remove all removable devices such as the HDD and optical drive and see if you can't get back to the post screen. Do the Fn + Power Button test and let us know the results.

whatthe123 · Answer

First off I just want to thank you, TMcCaine, for helping me out with this situation. It's a very frustrating process for me, and knowing that there's some good guys out there not trying to rip me off through expensive call centers makes me feel a whole lot better.

HARD DRIVE/OPTICAL DRIVE: I have tried what you have suggested with removing both hard drives and optical drives, and it still behaves as it normally would. I couldn't see the post screen.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF POWER ON: When I press the power on, the power on would turn on. The screen would stay completely black with no power running through it. Nothing would display on the screen, not even a shadow image. The hard drive light would flicker initially for 1-2 seconds (and you could also hear the hard drive whir along the flickering), but then nothing would happen afterwards. Nothing happens when I press any of the -lock buttons (i.e. capslock, numlock, scrolllock). I press any button on the keyboard, from F1 to F12 to Enter, and still nothing happens. Only the power light stays on and the display remains off.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF INITIAL FAILURE: When the screen went "crazy" it basically random lines of color/images flashed across the screen and stayed there until I powered it down.

BIOS ERROR CODE: When I power up the laptop with the FN button pressed, what happens is that the numlock and capslock light would flicker on and off every other half-second, but the scroll lock would constantly stay on with no flickering. I tried looking for the error codes online, but Google/Dell support has failed me yet again.

I found the hardware replacement website, and their motherboards are listed as refurbished. I know there's a 90 day warranty on it, but if anyone has any feedback on their refurbished hardware, please let me know.

Thanks to everyone!

TMcCaine · Answer

From what I have deciphered of the error codes;

Scroll Lock = Bad Motherboard

Blinking Caps Lock = Bad or miss-seated Memory

Blinking num lock = unknown but I would assume video card or CPU (leaning towards CPU)

If you do any further testing do it without the HDD in place.

It is possible that you have just experienced a motherboard failure and it doesn't recognize much of anything right now, not even the memory or video card when you do the post check.

As far as a 'refurbished' motherboard I have never had good luck with any company or unit including original company refurbs. Buying used runs the risk of the same issue arising at any time and 'new' is the only choice with longevity-security, and none have any real guarantee.

I know its a bleak outlook but failing motherboards mean a fault that doesn't necessarily originate with the unit. If you had a second unit you could also test each individual component to verify their functionality and guarantee that they work or didn't work by duplicating the error. However, now that you are taking the unit apart you can go over the entirety of the interior with a fine tooth comb allowing you to clean and seat everything with a delicate touch.

Now on a less bleak approach. The video card. If the HDD initializes and information begins to flow into the motherboard but it has no output it will stall as if it were waiting for an output medium. Replacing it with new video card should allow the unit to work as it did before the unit failed. Graphical glitches and HDD initialization are telltale signs of video card failure.

whatthe123 · Answer

Thanks for the reply TMcCaine. So my decision right now is to go ahead and buy a motherboard from the Dell Replacement Hardware website. It says it's refurbished, but the sales rep explained to me that these motherboards came straight from the factory and are extra or unused. I hope she wasn't lying to me. She told me I could return it if it doesn't work, so that's fine. Anyway, my question is about the video card. On my current Vostro 1400, I have an Nvidia Geforce 8400M GS. Is this transferable to different motherboards, or is it actually part of the motherboard itself? There's really no mention of the video card on the service manual, so that really worries me.

TMcCaine · Answer

I cannot be %100 certain, but it looks like the video card is part of the unit. Customizable video cards is a rare thing for Dell's and something they do on a select few models. Inspiron I know does several model and so do the XPS series. Hopefully it will all come together and you won't have to worry about replacing or arguing with the old video card and get a new one packaged together with the motherboard.

jrt_ms1995 · Answer

whatthe123,

I, too, have a Vostro 1400 with a failed motherboard (confirmed by Dell after mailing it back), and have been trying to identify and find a replacement board. I also found the Replacement Hardware site, but the only two items there under "motherboards" appear to actually be daughtercards or such rather than the system board, and were selling for < $40 which didn't seem right for a motherboard either. Did you buy a board from Dell and get the actual motherboard? And, if so, how're the results?

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Vostro 1400 Fails to Boot (No Display)

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