If you have an external monitor to use as a test, see if it works.  It likely will, in which case, call Dell and have the display panel replaced again.

 

Do you have an external Monitor to try ? if not, try pressing and holding down (Fn+Power button) while the computer is off. If it shows a Diagnostic display screen then if the diagnostic screen shows up there's a problem w/ the lcd.

Thanks for the help so far. I have exhausted both the options. I can't connect to an external screen because this laptop comes with a HDVI port that can connect to HD displays. And, to run the diagnostics, I need to see something isn't it. I did press the power+fn key it ran some diagnostics (I think so) and the screen started showing different colours - red, green, blue, etc. So, that might conclude that it's not the issue with the screen. I believe it's the graphic card this time. I'm waiting for the service centre to let me know.

 

I shall keep everyone posted on this front. 

 

Amit

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@Amirage wrote:

 

I can't connect to an external screen because this laptop comes with a HDVI port that can connect to HD displays.

 

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Although you've said it's a 17" laptop Amit... you haven't told us which model it is - i.e. a XPS M1710, a M1720, or a XPS M1730?

So did you mean HDMI - or DVI?

 

If the laptop has an HDMI port... you just need to use either a HDMI - DVI cable, if you want to connect it to a LCD monitor... or a HDMI - HDMI cable of suitable length, if you want to connect it to a HDTV?

 

If the laptop has a DVI port... you need a DVI - HDMI cable of suitable length to connect it to a HDTV... or a DVI - DVI cable to connect it to a monitor?

 

If it only has a standard VGA port... then the cable you need, will obviously depend what connections your monitor +/or HDTV have?

All CRT monitors just have a standard VGA connection... and most HDTV's - and many LCD monitors, also have a standard VGA port... so a standard VGA - VGA cable of suitable length is alll that's required.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about the confusion created. It's an XPS M1730 and the port is a DVI port. The issue is that I don't have the cable in question nor a HD display at hand. The cable is not available in the market as this laptop is the first of it's kind in Dubai. It's not officially launched hence the lack availability of accessories.

 

Anyway, let's see what the service centre says.

 

Keep everyone posted

 

Amit

Hi all

 

I have just checked with the service centre and they have informed me that the motherboard in my pc has konked off. Now that's really odd. The explanation they gave me was that there's a genuine problem with the motherboard in these laptops. Has anyone experienced this?

 

I'd rather suggest that all XPS users lodge a formal complaint with Dell asking an explanation as to why was a defective motherboard used in the first place.

 

I'm planning of going public with this issue and will be writing a letter to the editors of all major newspapers in the world. I'm really getting fedup with Dell and the kind of products they are selling.

 

Amit