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16 Posts
0
178474
Vostro 1400 does not boot up anymore, black screen
Hi,
My Vostro does not start up OK anymore, I do not even get the chance to enter setup via F2, F8 or F12. I have tried to insert the Vista DVD but it does not do anything for me. I am 100% sure the "boot from CD/DVD option" is number 1 in the list of how to start up.
It started with a few incidents where the screen went black all of a sudden when surfing or doing random things. The computer could have been up for a few hours or just 10 minutes. I thought it maybe went to sleep but all lights were on so it felt like the video just dropped. I did not find a way to wake it up again. Reboot worked most times but then I got a few occurences where Vista wanted me to repair it. Did so and it worked.
Yesterday:
I got home and started the machine. Checked some emails and surfed for 10 minutes and then the screen went black again. Tried a restart, did not work. I only got a black screen. On the second attempt I got to the menu where I can choose how to start the computer (fail safe etc.). I tried "last good configuration" (or whatever it is called). It never booted OK.
After that I tried with the Vista DVD inserted to no avail. The light for disk will only blink a little and then no more and the DVD spins for a while but I only see a black screen. I have probabaly tried 15 attempts so it feels pretty dead...
Of course I did not choose the extended warranty so here I am with a 15 month old laptop. Any ideas or comments will be highly appreciated!
nikasp
16 Posts
1
January 13th, 2009 04:00
RESOLVED (I think)
I called DELL Sweden and mentioned this blog post: http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2008/09/12/nvidia-gpu-update-limited-warranty-enhancement-details.aspx?PageIndex=1
The issue seems to be a too hot running GPU, an NVIDIA graphics card that is soldered onto the motherboard.
I am entitled to a 12 month extended warranty for this specific issue, starting from September 2008 when my warranty ended.
DELL will actually send a technician to my home tomorrow to swap the parts. I am quite happy with this resolution and did not expect in-home service. Well done DELL. I really hope the new GPU is of better make/quality.
dehfa
2 Posts
0
February 27th, 2009 15:00
I am wondering if this is the only reason for this trouble with vostro 1400. I am having exactly the same problems, however can not get this warranty enhancement cause my computer has and integrated graphic card and not the nvidia. Please, let me know if that was the only problem. It seems to much coincidence i have exaclty the same sintoms in my computer which i also bought in september 2007.
itsadc
2 Posts
0
July 22nd, 2009 16:00
I am having almost similar problem. My Vostro (warranty expired on May 2nd 2009) will not boot up anymore. It wont make any noise/ any kind of activity when booted up.
The screen stays turned off as well. I removed the battery, then memory, and then the HDD, as I wanted to work just on the motherboard to figure out what the problem can be. However, it still wont boot up. Seems like Vostro 1400 have been poorly designed and lot of them are having problems with their motherboards.
Any quick solution to the same will be appreciated. It is a pain to see the computer dying on you when its barely out of warranty. Seems like Dell sent it with a timer to make more money on it.
itsadc
2 Posts
0
October 18th, 2009 21:00
I fixed my Vostro 1400 by replacing the RAM. I found online that the issue was faulty/ non-functional RAM. If you have two RAM, you can try by replacing or removing one each and see if your PC boots up. If it doesnt then, you may have to try other means.
zkong
3 Posts
0
October 18th, 2009 21:00
My Vostro 1400 died too. No POST, no fan noise. Tried all sort of tricks. The CPU was fine as tested on another machine. When power button was pressed, the ON LED light came on for 4 second, then Charge LED light came on for 1 second, and then nothing happened. When press and hold the power button, all three lights (Num lock, Cap lock, Shift lock) all came on for a few second and then nothings happened Is there any way to decode the light code? Any help is greatly appreciated.
zkong
3 Posts
0
October 20th, 2009 06:00
Thank you very much for the tip. Tried. Also put in a known good RAM. None works.
pdnguyen
1 Message
0
January 9th, 2010 22:00
Man, I got the same exactly problem. I already spent $150, went back 2 times to the computer service store. I installed Windows 7 on it on New Year, it was working great. And just now, I got the same exactly issue again. Black screen, can't boot the DVD.
I was able to connect my laptop to my TV, i could see and Windows was booting. But the resolution was so low. I checked the display setting, only Generic video monitor is available. I tried to change the resolution setting, it didn't change anything. Now, I got completely black, no bios, no nothing.
This laptop is a trash..totally fraud design! The technician who fixed my laptop told me he fixed the graphics chip (1st visit) and replace the screen (2nd visit). I am really angry this is occuring on an expensive laptop ... i paid $2K+ on this stupid laptop 2yr+ ago. This is the first laptop i ever had so many issues, and the first with black screen.
Just plainly stupid stupid poor poor design!
volrath
2 Posts
0
March 7th, 2010 02:00
Hi, I have the black screen problem too. My warranty (12+12 extended for nvidia defective GPU) was expired about three month ago :(
Tried without RAM, but the screen in black even if I connect to an external monitor.
I've got to replace the entire motherboard?? Buying new vostro is cheaper ....
Dell should offer a life-time warranty for this problem.
Thank, Stefano
zkong
3 Posts
0
March 7th, 2010 13:00
For my problem, I borrowed a good same laptop, compared component by component, finally confirmed that the motherboard is dead. When removed everything from the motherboard, attached a good battery, the LED behaived not the same as the good one. Since the motherboard is too expansive to replace, I got to take a lost on that.
samsridar85
1 Message
0
July 2nd, 2014 15:00
actually, the same problem had for my laptop also. i checked the rams. switched them and ran with either one of them and found pne is faulty. now it is working with one ram. have to get a new one.