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Laptop problems... Updated

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somunny:

--- Quote from: AlanS17 on March 26, 2007, 05:33:50 pm ---You could try the obvious first, and then look for a more obscure (though completely possible)  problem like hardware failure. Most laptops have function key combinations that control brightness and contrast. Have you tried messing around with those?

--- End quote ---

Tried that.  There's a couple of F keys that do brightness and contrast.  No luck.


--- Quote from: USSEnterprise on March 26, 2007, 05:44:55 pm ---Did you try an external monitor yet?

--- End quote ---

Haven't tried this yet.  It's on my list.


--- Quote from: ChadTower on March 26, 2007, 03:26:24 pm ---
Is it the LCD or the OS?  First guess from that description is that your LCD backlight is dead.

--- End quote ---

--- Quote from: shardian on March 26, 2007, 03:30:09 pm ---I will second Chad. Probably something blew on the backlight inverter board.

--- End quote ---

This definitely sounds plausible.  I'm leery about pulling it apart, though.  This thing looks like it would come apart easily but going back together, well...  Do you think this is an expensive fix?

USSEnterprise:
well, not knowing exactly what the problem is, its hard to tell. Could be a bad video driver on the logic board, could be a bad inverter or backlight. Could be a lot of things.

boykster:

--- Quote from: USSEnterprise on March 26, 2007, 06:01:38 pm ---well, not knowing exactly what the problem is, its hard to tell. Could be a bad video driver on the logic board, could be a bad inverter or backlight. Could be a lot of things.

--- End quote ---

If you can make out the screen, but the display doesn't "light up" so to speak, it's definately somewhere in the backlight.  It could be:

- the switch that compresses when you close the laptop lid
- the inverter board that converts low voltage DC to high voltage AC to power the CCFL light
- the CCFL backlight bulb itself
- a control circuit somewhere else, but unlikely here

Depending on the age of the laptop, it might be worthwhile to take it to a repair place, or to open it up and check it out for yourself.  if you can verify that it's either the switch or the inverter, you <might> be able to repair it yourself.  If it's the CCFL backlight, I doubt it's user serviceable.

ChadTower:

If it is the backlight bulb, is that a case for replacing the bulb or the whole screen?

boykster:

--- Quote from: ChadTower on March 27, 2007, 09:00:46 am ---
If it is the backlight bulb, is that a case for replacing the bulb or the whole screen?

--- End quote ---

generally it requires replacing the entire LCD screen.  With most recent LCD panels, the backlight is integrated into the sealed LCD package and is not a replaceable part.  The last time I messed around with laptop type LCD panels was about 4 years ago, and at that time they were ALL integrated sealed units that were not user serviceable.  NO way to replace the backlight.

If you're inclined, disassemble the laptop and try to find the manufacturer and part number on the LCD screen.  NOT the laptop model or manufacturer, but the manufacturer and part number of the actual panel.  There are several sites online (as well as ebay) that source replacement panels, but usually you need an EXACT replacement part as there isn't a standard connector for these things.

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