Using laptop with external monitor only

[phillpower2]

Yep I second HP BIOS being a pain in the proverbial, especially for folks who want to upgrade the add on GPU.

What was the damage to the original video ribbon, it must of been bad *perhaps even snapped) for you to get the eight beeps when the the ribbon was attached to both the MB and screen.

[seskanda]

Of course I’ve seen much worse than HP BIOSes also but again that is for another thread topic

Not sure but maybe I tear it somehow I never tried attaching the cable and screen yet. Well I finally got the LCD flex cable and as expected that does not get me around the eight beeps, unless I go into BIOS. If anyone knows how to use external monitor only and not have internal screen attached let me know.

[phillpower2]

Will connecting the notebook to an external screen allow you to run the Dell diagnostics for the rest of the hardware, continually tapping F12 when restarting the notebook should be the “how to” for your notebook.

If anyone knows how to use external monitor only and not have internal screen attached let me know.

Seen this done a few times but honestly can[ICODE]t recall if any were a Dell and am pretty sure that you can[/ICODE]t with a Dell, I did mention in my reply #14 that I wasn`t convinced that the screen or ribbon was the only problem and sorry to say that you now having connected a known good video ribbon more or less confirms it.

[seskanda]

I may be able to get into diagnostics but what is it that I should run a diagnosis of ? The LCD screen is not working or connected. And I if do a full scan that will take hours especially the memory tests.

Seen this done a few times but honestly can[ICODE]t recall if any were a Dell and am pretty sure that you can[/ICODE]t with a Dell, I did mention in my reply #14 that I wasn`t convinced that the screen or ribbon was the only problem and sorry to say that you now having connected a known good video ribbon more or less confirms it.

I bet in older laptops the BIOS allowed to use external screen without having an internal one connected. Yes I made the assumption that the missing LCD flex cable caused it to do the eight beeps, but was wrong about that. Now, I think it is because the LCD screen is not connected. But it will probably still do eight beeps as the internal screen is bad.

[phillpower2]

Entirely up to you if you see if you are able to run any suggested tests but what have you got to lose, the notebook atm is nothing more than a thorn in your side.

If you are able to run the tests via an external screen you should test everything that you can, as said above you have nothing to lose by doing so.

Yes I made the assumption that the missing LCD flex cable caused it to do the eight beeps, but was wrong about that. Now, I think it is because the LCD screen is not connected

Can I ask what you mean by the LCD screen is not connected.

[seskanda]

I have nothing against running the suggested tests, but the eight beeps prevents me from doing anything but go into BIOS. When I hit the F12 key, the Boot Menu pops up and if I choose Diagnostics or Hard Drive the dreaded eight beeps return.

Can I ask what you mean by the LCD screen is not connected.

Sure I mean the internal LCD of the Vostro 3450 laptop is not connected

[phillpower2]

It was explained in my reply #14 that the video cable must be connected to both the MB and the screen, do you even still have the screen or did you get rid of it when you discarded the video cable;

You need to connect the video ribbon to both the motherboard and the screen regardless of the fact that the screen does not work.

[phillpower2]

Any update seskanda?

[seskanda]

It was explained in my reply #14 that the video cable must be connected to both the MB and the screen, do you even still have the screen or did you get rid of it when you discarded the video cable;

I have the screen but it does not work and gives the eight beeps. Also, this defeats the whole purpose of the thread, to use external monitor only on laptop without internal screen attached.

[phillpower2]

Sorry but as has been explained an integral screen needs to be connected to the Dell notebook or the power on self test will 100% guaranteed fail, not sure if you have read it already but found a Dell thread with a Dell Vostro 3550 and they say that after several goes they got the notebook to boot and the beeps stopped, the thread is here if you were able to do this you could leave the notebook on stand by all the time rather than powering it right the way down.