Laptop Issue

Problem 1: No Display After Restart

When you restart your laptop, the display remains off while the system runs normally, and the battery indicator blinks white and orange.

Possible Causes

1. Power or BIOS Issue: The blinking battery indicator (two white, two orange) could indicate a specific hardware fault, such as a power-related or motherboard issue.
2. Display Connector Issue: Loose or damaged internal cables connecting the screen to the motherboard.
3. Graphics Driver Problem: Corrupt or outdated drivers might cause display issues on restart.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Power Drain Reset:

   • Shut down the laptop.
   • Unplug the charger and remove the battery (if removable).
   • Press and hold the power button for 20-30 seconds to discharge residual power.
   • Reconnect the battery and charger, and turn it on.

2. BIOS Update:

   • Go to the Dell Support website and download the latest BIOS for your laptop model.
   • Follow Dell’s instructions to update the BIOS. Be careful, as incorrect updates can cause more issues.

3. External Display Test:

   • Connect your laptop to an external monitor or TV using an HDMI cable.
   • If the external display works during restart, the issue might be with your laptop's internal screen.

4. Diagnostics Mode:

   • Restart the laptop and press F12 during boot to access the Dell diagnostics menu.
   • Run a full diagnostic test, especially on the display and power systems, and note any error codes.

5. Driver Update or Rollback:

   • Open Device Manager and locate the Display Adapters section.
   • Right-click the graphics driver, update it, or roll back to a previous version if the issue started after an update.

Problem 2: Screen Turns Off While Locked

The display randomly turns off while the laptop is locked, and it doesn't respond when you try to wake it.

Possible Causes

1. Sleep/Power Settings Misconfiguration: Improper settings could cause the display to turn off or fail to wake.
2. Display or Power Hardware Issue: The issue might involve a faulty display panel or internal power circuits.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Power Settings:

   • Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep.
   • Set “Screen” and “Sleep” options to reasonable times (e.g., 10 minutes for Screen, 30 minutes for Sleep).
   • Click Additional Power Settings > Change Plan Settings > Change Advanced Power Settings.
   • In the advanced settings, ensure the Display > Turn off display after setting is correct.

2. Test in Safe Mode:

   • Boot into Safe Mode by pressing Shift while selecting Restart, then navigating to Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
   • In Safe Mode, lock your screen and test the behavior. If the problem doesn't occur, it might be caused by third-party software.

3. Disable Fast Startup:

   • Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
   • Click Change settings that are currently unavailable and uncheck Turn on fast startup.
   • Restart and check if this resolves the issue.

4. Hardware Check:

   • Open the laptop (if comfortable) and check for loose display connectors or visible damage.
   • If unsure, take the laptop to a repair technician for a professional inspection.