I turn the laptop on and I hear the dell startup music so I know it is running but I cannot see anything but a dark blue screen and then completely black. The num lock key is lit up and the wifi light is on and so is a cylinder shape is lit up too which is right next to the wifi light. What is wrong with my laptop? it was just working yesterday! Please help me fix this!!

Do you have a external monitor you can try?
This will tell us if it is the laptop screen or the system itself.

No I don't that's why I wanted to know how to fix this.

is there any other way to fix this?

Unless we are able to test it there is no way we can do it.
Can you borrow a monitor as it will only take a minute or two to try it.
The only other option is to take it to a laptop repair shop and have them test it.
No joy as they will charge you I'm sure to do exactly what I am advising.

i would have to use the computer i am on now. Well can you tell me what to do and I will reply back with what happened.

Sorry I had another topic I was helping with.
All you need to do is unplug the monitor from the system you are typiing to me on.
Plug it into the back of the laptop and boot the laptop.
Is there a picture on it then?
Once you see it then we will continue.
Make sure you shut laptop down correctly and return the monitor plug to the system you are typing to me on.

I didn't see any picture when plugged it up.

If no picture when you booted up then the laptop itself is having a problem.
You may have a faulty video chip on the motherboard.
You would need to take it to a repair shop and have them diagnose the problem.

what could have caused a faulty video chip???

Could be overheating, dirty or just the age of the system.
They are electronic parts and can just go bad. No different then a radio or a kitchen appliance.
Has the system been dropped or anything spilled on it?
Was there any indication of a problem like screen flickering the last couple of days?

i think one of my little sisters may have dropped it., but it was working fine right after.

It could be a problem but since we can get no video there is really nothing we can do from this point.
You will need to take it to the shop and have them look at it.
I'm sorry but without being able to see and run diagnostics on it there is very little we can do but offer suggestions and speculate as to what is causing the problem.

my mother came home and looked at and she said something was loose on or around the back panel like it had been pushed back to far..so she pushed it back in place and the computer started working again. I had a heart attack for nothing lol. But thanks a lot for your time!!!

Actually it was nothing like I said something was wrong with the screen.
Thankfully it was just a loose connection. Easy fix and alot cheaper.
Tell your mom great detective work.
Congratulations. for a successful resolution for your issue. I am happy everything has been worked out for you. With that being said I am happy to say:


You are very welcome. I'm glad we could help and please let us know how everything works out for you.
If there is anything else we can do to help please feel free to ask. I appreciate that you allowed me to assist you with your issue and for your patience. Thank you for choosing GeeksToGo for help.