Is my laptop dead?

Question

I have a Dell SmartStep 250N. First, I got an "Operating System Not Found" message. A little later, the screen was completely blank on start up. I bought a new hard drive and RAM and installed them. Now when I start it up, the power lights come on and the fan spins and the DVD Drive will pop out if I press the button, but the screen is completely blank and there are no sounds. If I press cap lock the light doesn't light up. What's the problem and what can I do to fix it?

Answer 1

maybe you need to reinstall an operating system i.e. windows XP, windows 98, windows 2000, etc....just cuz you have the hard drive doesnt mean it comes with the OS, you need to put one on there.

Answer 2

when you open up your computer check all the jumpers for the correct position and also check the BIOS chip and make sure that you didnt accidentally knock it out. what the problem is is that your computer is trying to run POST and is hitting an error but in your BIOS the setting "Resume on error" is set to "ignore all". the dead give away to that problem is the fact that caps lock/num lock/etc... will not load... i have had this exact problem before on my own personal desktop. if everything is in tact i sudjest you find the jumpper on the motherboard that resets your CMOS once you reset it that "resume on error" setting should be set to "halt on all errors"

hope this helps, have fun!

Answer 3

It is possible you just knocked the video cable loose from the motherboard.

Answer 4

Hi there.

Primarily, change(or remove your new) memory of your machine.
I think this will just work fine.



See ya.

Answer 5

reset or update your bios, it might be corrupt, make sure your new HD is formatted correctly, make sure the ram is seated correctly

Answer 6

try go to a computer technician if not buy a new laptop.