Laptop turns on, screen is completely off.

[0wn3dz]

Hello, I have a laptop Dell Latitude E5540, running Windows 7 x64. A few months ago I started experiencing this problem. I press the power button, laptop behaves the same way as it normally does, leds turn on, fan starts spinning, but the screen is completely off, no "black screen" with the backlight on, it's just off. And it stays like this for no matter how long you wait. Once you turn it off by holding the power button and then turn it back on, same thing happens. After doing this multiple times, eventually the screen turns on, post, dell logo, and the laptop boots to windows without any problems. This issue got worse by time, requiring more and more restarts until the screen comes on, and now it reached the point where I am literally unable to get it working.

Things i've tried:

- connecting to external monitor via HDMI, monitor is not detecting any input.
- taking the hdd out and turning the pc on, same issue.
- laptop has two ram slots, filled with two 2GB sticks, i tried taking one out, switching slots in all possible cominations, nothing.
- taking the battery out and pressing the power button a few times, then plugging in the charging cable and turning the pc on, nothing.

That's about it I guess, any help is appreciated, thanks!

[patio]

Next time you get it to boot to a screen check Device Manager for any Yellow !!'s

That indicates missing/corrupt drivers.

[0wn3dz]

I'm afraid I won't be able to able to access windows any time soon, however i can't see any connection between drivers that are located on the hard drive and me not being able to even access BIOS.

[patio]

What keys are you pressing to enter BIOS ? ?

You could try with the HDD temporarily disconnected...that should get you there.

[Mark.]

I'm surprised that with all the failed boot attempts, and forcing the PC off by holding in the power button, hasn't eventually gotten you a 'PC failed to start, repairing' sort of Window.
Indicating Windows isn't the issue, but hardware is.

with the RAM and HD removed, when starting do you get any POST beeps?

[patio]

Is there a VGA external port for monitor ? ?

If so try that

HDMI dont work without proper drivers installed.

[0wn3dz]

What keys are you pressing to enter BIOS ? ?

You could try with the HDD temporarily disconnected...that should get you there.

I'm pressing the right keys, the keys I always used when accessing bios. And I already said in my original post that I tried turning it on without the hdd.

I'm surprised that with all the failed boot attempts, and forcing the PC off by holding in the power button, hasn't eventually gotten you a 'PC failed to start, repairing' sort of Window.
Indicating Windows isn't the issue, but hardware is.

with the RAM and HD removed, when starting do you get any POST beeps?

Well you have no idea how happy would that window make me, but unfortunately none appeared.
It sure is a hardware issue. I don't get any beeps even like this... without RAM it just turns on with black screen and turns off right away.

Is there a VGA external port for monitor ? ?

If so try that

HDMI dont work without proper drivers installed.

There is, I just tried it, no luck.