Laptop no backlight - diagnostic steps

Laptop no backlight - diagnostic steps

Problem

A customer laptop is not showing display but is obviously running and is working when connected to external monitor.

Resolution

Things to check whilst Windows is running:
• Check if during power up the display panel lights up for the manufacturer logo (even briefly)
• Try increasing brightness using function row hotkeys if available.
• Try toggling external monitor using function row hotkeys if available.

  1. Connect laptop to external monitor and start up the laptop.
  2. Open the Windows Start menu.
  3. Click the Power icon.
  4. Hold down the "Shift" key.
  5. Click "Restart" as you continue holding down Shift.
  6. Release the Shift key when you see a blue screen.
  7. Open the Troubleshoot menu.
  8. View your advanced options.
  9. Access the command prompt.
  10. Then repeat the tests using the function row hotkeys for brightness and external monitor toggle.

If panel does not light up then the problem is most likely to be a non-functional display backlight.

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