Labtop Screen Problem

[tcepser]

I have a Toshiba Equium and the screen is just black. The PC is working and I can JUST about see the start menu, and I really mean JUST. Only mainly with bright objects.

Any ideas? New screen or is it something like the contrast being down. With this labtop there are no direct buttons to adjust the contrast and brightness. All there is, is the the Function button and a picture of a sun (to go up and down) and that does nothing.

Thank you

[azzey]

Check the cover switch, usually somewhere near the left hinge. Make sure that it is not stuck.

Sounds like the backlight has burnt out.

[tcepser]

The cover switch seems to be fine. I know its a silly question but what can be done with a 'burnt out backlight' ??

Thank you for your fast reply btw

[azzey]

Backlights are the little fluorescent tubes that light up an LCD screen. There are usually four of them, and they do tend to burn out after a while (generally long enough that with normal use, the computer will stop working before the screen does).

They can be replaced, but it is expensive and usually involves a specialty shop. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth it or not.

[mjc]

Sounds like the backlight is out...

[Lazarus Laptops]

Well this is an old horse, however, if tcpser stumbles back across this thread:

Bet ya 8 times says 10 it's not the backlight, it's the inverter.

Bob

[PrntRhd]

Good call, the inverter powers the backlights.

[Whyzman]

Bet ya 8 times says 10 it's not the backlight, it's the inverter. And how easy is that to get to vs. the tubes??

[PrntRhd]

How easy? No, how difficult. About the same, but only one component.

[Whyzman]

Here's some info that might be useful for troubleshooting:

Before sending your LCD in for repair check your Laptop is worth repairing, by connecting an external monitor and hitting Fn + internal external display key, (normally one of the F keys) this process will check the video is sending an analog signal out to the external monitor which lets you know the system board is ok. Also check on blank displays. Example: when backlight is out or faint digital data is showing. If not present you may have a bad digital signal cable or digital video chip on the system board or maybe the LCD itself is just bad. Yes we can replace bad LCD Driver LVDS ICs located inside the LCD electronics.

It's located at the bottom of this page: http://laptops.home.att.net/laptop-inverter-repair.htm

[Lazarus Laptops]

And how easy is that to get to vs. the tubes??

The inverter is cake to replace compared to the bulb.

Peel the little stickers or pads off around the screen.

Take the screws out of the bezel.

When you pop the bezel off, start at the bottom left corner so as not to crack it.

There's one screw in the small board (about the size of a jumbo stick of gum) under the LCD, as well as a plug on the right with 2 wires, a white and pink, and plug on the left with multiple wires. That's the inverter

Try replacing it.

Bob