OMFG help! M1530 won't even turn on

Hey guys,

I have a year old red M1530. My specs are:

Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
(Clean install on empty hard drive, only basic drivers/no crapware)
Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (Dual boot)
Core 2 Duo T7700
x2 Corsair 2GB DDR2-667MHz RAM
GeForce 8600M GT 256MB GDDR3
320GB 5400rpm HDD (Samsung -_-)

Recently I dropped my laptop from my bed, making the bottom left hand corner of the palmrest (i.e. the part right above the HDD) bend and open outwards, so I bought a new Product Red palmrest off ebay and replaced it myself - worked a charm, had no problems for two days.

The problem occurred today: I decided I would restart my computer to work on my Windows 7 partition as it was the partition without Steam. It shut off like normal, but it stopped at a black screen - the Dell startup screen never showed up. I had to switch off the computer by holding down the power button.

Now, when I turn it on, everything starts up as normal for a split second, then all the lights on the multimedia interface go out, and nothing shows up on the screen...I can hear the hard drive running like normal, so I doubt it's a hard drive failure.

The techie at my uni residence says that either the LCD display wiring has gone faulty, or the LCD burnt out (or some other bit of hardware), but I find it funny that this should happen AFTER a restart...isn't that a bit of a coincidence? I opened up my laptop to reconnect the cabling, but nothing seems to work...a motherboard failure perhaps?

Any ideas? I didn't even get a chance to make a backup of my work from the ****ed thing...T_T

 

to be on the safe side try getting an hdd enclosure, put your laptop hdd in it and transfer the files somewhere safe in the meantime. If you can't even read the hdd then you know what's the problem, but I doubt that it's the cause of your problem because you'd still be able to see it bootup up until it needs to access the drive.

 

You recon it could be the motherboard, with all the LEDs on the multimedia centre going out?

 

Just to make sure it isn't just an LCD failure before you rip the thing apart, try plugging it into an external monitor.

 

Do you have Accidental coverage? And, what is your warranty? Do you have Onsite?

Cin

 

Erm, I don't think I have accidental coverage...I bought it with the most basic warranty coverage that came with it, as my parents were being rather stingy at the time...(so 1yr XPS warranty + 2yr standard Dell warranty).

Besides, I actually overclocked my gpu and replaced the palmrest myself...though I don't think it'll be noticeable unless I point it out; I'm pretty sure it's not a gpu problem anyway.

I bought this laptop in Hong Kong but brought only the laptop and power cable for my studies in London...is the standard Dell warranty international?

 

Erm..ok. Thanks for advising. I just thought if you had those, it would be to take advantage of (since you would have paid for it when purchased).


Cin.

 

It could be anything honestly, it's hard to tell. I'm pretty confident that it isn't the hard drive failing and I doubt that it's the lcd failing because technically you'd still be able to blindly logon to windows and hear some sounds.

It might be the motherboard but there's no way I can be sure without actually having a look at it. Might be something else, so there's no point in starting to switch hardware to see what works and what doesn't, your best bet is to have a tech take a look at it.

But like I said earlier, take out the hard drive and back it up!!!

 

Yeah, I'm going to do that first thing I get to school later today...I'm going to try see if I can connect my computer to an external screen first to see if it's just my LCD, then back up my stuff.

I opened my laptop again to check see if the cabling is alright - doesn't look like there's anything wrong with the cabling, so it's probably either the screen itself or the motherboard...is it possible to buy a new motherboard if that turns out to be the problem?

 

Just contacted XPS support, which guided me through a diagnostic...
It's definitely the motherboard - they're sending a technician to replace the entire motherboard and gpu.

Thanks for you help guys!

 

Yeah the 8400M and 8600M tend to die A LOT.

 

Nice..That's very nice they are doing this for you.

Good luck. The Technicians are pretty decent!

Cin.

 

Dell technician came over and replaced the motherboard...works fine now.
Fingerprint reader decided to stop working though - techie coming over to replace palm rest for the (PRODUCT) Red as well, though I replaced the palm rest myself...