Tech Help - Display on Dell Vostro V130 Laptop (1 Viewer)

[Anthony Martino]

Just picked up what I thought was a great deal off Craigslist, a Dell Vostro with a 128GB SSD, i5, 4GB, etc. for $60. The only catch listed was that the display was a really dim display, which would be a non-issue because I intended to just hook it up to our tv and use it to watch stuff online.

Anyway, get it home, the display is so dim I have to shine a flashlight onto the screen in order to see anything so I can move around the desktop.

Tried the VGA cable and the HDMI cable, neither detected my tv was hooked up (which works fine on an older laptop we're trying to replace)

Made sure the tv was on and connected first before powering up the laptop, still doesn't detect my tv, so I can't duplicate the display over to it.

So what I originally believed was a screen problem appears to be a motherboard/graphics issue (since the graphics are integrated).

Does it sound like I've diagnosed this correctly? And if so, I assume my only option is to try and replace the motherboard?

 

[Tommy]

Probably so, but not worth the money to replace a MB on a Vostro. That's Dell's low budget business line. I'd just find another laptop. Part that out or sell it as "parts only - not working" with a disclaimer of the issue.

 

[Anthony Martino]

Nevermind, problem resolved. Needed to hold down the function key (FN) and then press F8 at bootup and it detected the display!

 

[Tommy]

Glad you got it working.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Nevermind, problem resolved. Needed to hold down the function key (FN) and then press F8 at bootup and it detected the display!

I was just about to ask about that. There is usually a Fn+Function Key setting to cycle through the displays (duplicate, internal display only, external display only), and it sounds like Fn+F8 is it. There may be a similar setting for adjusting the brightness. I'll see if I can dig up the user manual.

Edit: Try Fn+Up Arrow to see if that increases the brightness.

 

[Anthony Martino]

No change with the screen on the laptop, but it's working flawlessly in displaying on our tv and it's a LOT faster than the previous laptop we were using. For 60 bucks I feel like I got a pretty good deal with the i5 and SSD and 4GB