I am having some trouble with my laptop. I used it the other night(maybe Sunday evening) to visit here, FB and do some banking. Monday evening when I pressed the power button it turned on, the little green light lite up, and I can hear it make the usual sounds, the disc drive makes a clicking sound when it boots up. But there is nothing on the screen. Is there something I can do or do I need to take it to Staples or somewhere like that?
If the screen won't light up at all and you know that it's getting power, there isn't much you can do except take it to a repair shop. They can remove the hard disk and test it. They can hook up a second monitor to the computer's VGA port (assuming it has one) and see if anything appears. If so, it could just be a bad screen. There is little on laptop computers that is user-serviceable unless you're fairly knowledgeable and have some experience. How old is it, and what brand?
Is there any chance the "f4" key was pushed? That cycles the display output on a PC between several different options. One option turns the laptop display off while sending the output to a second display. You display could be disabled as a result. Start it up, let it go through the "normal" start-up sounds and then try pushing the function "fn" key concurrently with the "f4" key. Do this once and wait at few seconds to see what happens. If the display stays dark, try the same f4 keystrokes again. Again, wait a few seconds to see if the display comes up. If this is the problem, the laptop display should come back on with one or two f4 cycles.
The hard drive is gone. Probably lost all the files too unfortunately. Happened to me too long time ago. Have the repair shop put in a new drive and load a new O.S. and you are good to go!
Even with a failed (or completely missing) hard drive, you should get something on the screen at boot. Try connecting an external monitor if possible first. Sometimes just the backlight for the screen fails. You can use a flashlight to see if there is actually an image on the screen.
O.S. is an operating system. The software that stores files and programs that makes the computer usable. Windows or Apple, they both use some sort of interface to allow the computer hardware to communicate with the user. Of course it could be as someone else suggested... that it is a hardware problem. Best to take it to a repair person. In our city we have a place called Reboot Computers. They have helped me more than once. Bet there is a place where you are located who can help in the same way.
I guess I've always been lucky. When my computer acts up I restart then keep trying the free cleaning programs till it works correctly. Once I needed the main power thing after the fan stopped and once a new hard drive on a desk top. I don't like laptops. My lap is under my desk shelf. Sometimes this helps!
OK, hubby told my laptop into Staples. The tech guy checked it out and the end result is the Mother Board was no good. He did remove my hard drive which he feels is still in good condition. He said that we could load that information into this laptop if we wanted to...not sure how but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. So I now have a little silver box on my kitchen counter. I'm assuming the info on this hard drive is save until I do something with it? Maybe Santa will bring me a new laptop for Christmas,
Back to the subject of THANKSGIVINGS. Here in the US of A Thanksgiving is the time many stores have what they call BLACK FRIDAY sales which seem to last for weeks. Maybe our American Santa can pick up a new lap top over BLACK FRIDAY and stuff it in your stocking over the mantel with care. Of course this means you had to be good all year.
