How to Troubleshoot the Dell Inspiron 700m

Hold down the "Fn" key and press the up arrow repeatedly to increase the brightness of the screen. Press the down arrow to make the screen dimmer.

Move any speakers or subwoofers plugged into your laptop farther away and see if that has any impact on the clarity of your screen.

Unplug the laptop from the power outlet. Plug the laptop directly into other power outlets to see if the problem persists or the screen becomes clearer; do not plug the laptop into a power strip. Purchase a new power cable if you continue to experience the problem.

Turn the laptop off and unplug the external keyboard. Plug the external keyboard back in and turn on the computer. Proceed to Step 2 if the external keyboard is still not recognized.

Turn the laptop off and unplug the external keyboard. Unplug any USB extensions you may use to connect the keyboard to the laptop (see Tips). Wait one minute, then plug the external keyboard back in and turn on the computer. Proceed to Step 3 if the external keyboard is still not recognized.

Turn off the computer and unplug the external keyboard. Turn the computer back on. Click "Start," "Accessories" then "Notepad." Type some characters using the built-in keyboard on the laptop. Replace your external keyboard if characters appear. Replace the laptop's system board if no characters appear.

Save and close any projects or files on which you are working. Reopen the file or project and continue working. If you still receive the error message, proceed to Step 2.

Shut the laptop down, unplug any cables and turn the laptop upside down with the back of the laptop closest to you.

Move the battery-release latch--above the left side of the battery--to the left and hold it with one hand. Remove the battery.

Remove the two screws on the left side of the memory module cover, located above the left side of the battery bay. Remove the cover.

Spread the retaining clips on the short edges of the memory module to tilt it upward. Carefully remove the module from the computer, then re-insert. Push the module firmly into the slot and down. Repeat with the other memory module.

Replace the memory module cover and tighten the screws. Re-insert the battery and turn the laptop right-side up. Replace the memory modules if you still receive the error message.