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Inspiron 8500 No video

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8 replies

by harvey

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My laptop suddenly stopped working. The display showed a lot of colors and shut off. I had previous heat problems so I thought they had resurfaced so I waited the appropiate time and turned it back on . I got the post screen and then it went off again. Now when I turn it on I don't get any video.I start in diagnostic mode fn + power and I get off - flashing - on. Do I need another video card

8 replies

by oh smeg

Motherboard and isn't replaceable as such.

What you need to do here is to take the unit to a repairer and have it properly diagnosed to see if this particular unit is worth repairing. While every thing is repairable there are quite a few things not worth repairing when they can be replaced with new hardware cheaper than the cost of repairs of the original unit.

However if necessary you may need the Data copied off the HDD to some other media that you can use and with only one computer at your disposal this isn't possible.

Col

by mylittlemansanidiot

The video cards on most new laptops is infact a separate component from the mother board.

Here's a tutorial on how to remove your video card from the Inspiron 8500.

http://www.bay-wolf.com/8500video.htm

Although, unless you're reasonably technically proficient I wouldn't recommend doing this yourself. Also, if the machine is still under a manufacturer/seller warantee/guarantee, I'd return it to the place of purchase for accredited repair.

by harvey

The video card is indeed seperate. I know how to replace it. I am trying to verify that it is indeed a bad video card

by sgt_shultz

but the symptoms sound to me like video ram went bad. and since you can POST, the mboard seems like it is good, wouldn't you say? in fact the video has to be somewhat good, eh? this *is* a puzzle.
can you take out any of your ram to try to affect this problem and in the same vein, can you diddle with any of the BIOS video settings (especially having to do with ram) in the bios. (my only concern is that you have bad mboard ram).
you have probably thought of all this already but maybe you can take the ram and the video card to a shop and see if they can test them for you. or go on ebay and try to find a docking station for it that will let you put a regular video card in it...
what did Dell 'chat' tech support have to say about it.

by harvey

there is no video upon boot if I hold down fn during power on I get the post LEDs of off-flashing-ON indicating a video problem

by gary56789

hook the rear video connector to an external monitor (don't know what F key combo you need to send the signal eternally, see the manual)? If the external monitor has a good signal, it is not the card. If not good, replace the video card.

by chrisengland2

Sounds like your video card does have a problem. I've seen several that have went bad and shown various but similar symptoms. They're fixable. Is it a Radeon 9000 card?

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