Laptop screen pitch black but the light on?

I need help in this matter, here the case,
after i on my laptop and try to open Firefox, suddenly my screen became green, not actually blank green but it's like TV screen without channel.

i wait for a minute but it's still same so i shutdown my laptop. then i on my laptop again but it become hang after i log in to window..
next time i try to on my laptop again it go to safe mode and said that some of window file are missing and hang again..

after that every time i try to open my laptop, my screen become pitch black, but the light button and led were on,the fan also on (i think so,bcoz it became a little bit warm after a few minute i turn on my laptop) and i can open my cd drive... is it my ram or my motherboard? and how can i backup my data in this situation, i have my work left on that laptop?

p/s: FYI, i'm using window XP, and sorry for my bad English.

 

Are you getting a POST screen when you boot the laptop? Or is it just staying completely blank when you boot?

 

nop! i didn't get any POST screen on my laptop... it's just pitch black..no sound... no backlight...

last night i try to take out the ram and put it back(i read this somewhere so i try it).. but the result still the same.. my friend said the motherboard was broken and so my brother..
is it true it's motherboard problem?:confused

 

You could try a few things:

1) Try connecting it to an external monitor and see if you get any picture. Yoy will probably have to press a key combination to witch control to the monitor. Usually the <Fn> key + another F key such as F3 or F4 or F5 etc. There may be a picture of a monitor above the F# key that is the correct choice.

2) Start the laptop with no RAM installed and see if you hear a long continuous beep.

3) Try to start the computer with any bootable CD/DVD and see if it starts from that and you get any picture. An old installation CD would work (you are just checking to see if you get anything on screen--not actually doing an install). Or you could download a Linux Live CD such as Linux Mint and burn it to disc as an image file using something like imgburn and see if the laptop will start from that.

 

Sorry for late reply,

sach2, i try your suggestion already.

1) I try to use external monitor at my office, but still didn't show anything on second monitor( i try already press <Fn> key + another F key such as F3 or F4 or F5).

2) i start my laptop without RAM, but my laptop still in the same condition, i didn't get the long beep sound.

3)still same, my laptop didn't show any sign of booting.

So, i guess all of this, show my motherboard already broken? am i right..?:confused

 

Yeah I would be inclined to say it's your motherboard. Might be a BIOS problem more specifically. What kind (brand) of laptop is it?

 

my laptop brand is ACER.. well, as i know, if the motherboard are broken, it's better for me to buy a new laptop rather than repair the motherboard , am i right?

but if only the BIOS on my motherboard is the problem,is there any thing else that i can do to repair it?

 

I doubt it is a BIOS problem that just suddenly appeared because you were having video problems just before it went totally black.

It is probably the motherboard has gone bad. Probably best to get a new laptop rather than replace the motherboard.

Something like this cable/adapter would allow you to hook up the HD to another computer by USB connection to retrieve your data.

 

well, i guess i just need to buy another laptop...

thank guys, for your information and advice...

 

Sorry, I couldn't come up with a better diagnosis. But with no POST and the sudden graphics problem and it being a common problem with laptops and two other people who looked at it in person thinking it is the MB, it seems like the most likely cause.

Good Luck on shopping. At least, now is the time of year to get some good prices on laptops.