I have 3 IBM ThinkPad T30 notebooks; they all have a common LCD related issue
I have 3 IBM ThinkPad T30 notebooks; they all have a common LCD related issue. Their LCD backlight is flashing in a random manner. It doesn’t turn itself off, just gets a little bit dimmer. It’s barely visible when something is moving on the screen (like movies and games), but its very annoying viewing the desktop. First I thought that it’s
synchronized with HDD activity, but it turned out, that it isn’t. I disassembled all of them (removing the motherboard too) and put them back together (there were no noticeable damages), but the symptom stayed. I figure it has something to do either with the backlight bulb, or the inverter, or a general power problem.Any suggestions or help is much appreciated.
When I have to fix a laptop backlight problem, I always start with reseating connectors on the FL inverter board and then replacing the inverter with a test one. Very often just reseating itself helps a lot.
Try to reseat connectors on the inverter board. You can use ProGold connector enhancer to improve connector conductivity. IBM ThinkPad T30 service manual has instructions for taking apart LCD screen assembly. If it doesn’t help, I would check what version of BIOS you have installed and search on IBM website for the latest version (actually I would try it before opening up the laptop display assembly). It’s possible that newer BIOS version has a fix for the backlight problem. If it still doesn’t help, I would try replacing the inverter board. You have good chances that it will fix the backlight problem. Fortunately, new inverters for IBM ThinkPad T30 notebooks are cheap.
BTW, I assume that you have tried reinstalling the video driver already. Just in case.
UPDATE: Here’s an update for you guys. I’ve created a disassembly guide on how to replace the screen inverter on an IBM notebook.
February 13th, 2011 at 8:27 am
I got a t30 along with 3 other computers to take apart and tinker around with. I put in a 15gb HDD from one of them and put on XP. I turned it on afterwards then the monitor started flickering lines across, then it just stopped working. When i plug it into a CRT monitor it works fine but the LCD screen won’t. I am going to sell it soon and I have to get to the bottom of it.
And yes, I’m a kid.
September 6th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I have a ibm t30. For about 3-4 months the screen started to be pink at start up then it would become normal when it completed booting. Just recently the screen just became black. I could see the picture in the screen for awhile then it just when totally black. any troubleshooting tips would be appreciated
April 15th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
9 month ago, i got the black screen on my IBM T40p and i replaced the inverter….still black. so i then carefully replaced the ccfl tube in the screen. worked fine for about 8 months and then i noticed the screen was getting pink. it then started working intermittently…now the backlight wont stay on, except 2-3 seconds after i open the screen. i just replaced the inverter and the problem still exists. is it possible that the ccfl is failing again? i thought that if the backlight comes on at all, than it is working. please advise, and i appreciate your help
January 29th, 2009 at 6:04 am
I am hoping someone can help me out. I have an IBM Thinkpad Iseies Type 2611. About 6 months ago I replaced the screen because it went bad. Now out of the blue it has started acting up again. I have found that 75% of the time when I start it up the LCD screen does not work(No picture no nothing.) I hooked up an external monitor and that works fine. On ocassion if I hook up the external monitor as the computer is turning on the LCD screen on the thinkpad will come to life. Does any one have any ideas as to what could be causing this?
Thanks for any help…. Gary
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 am
I have been having the same problems as Ed, the last post on here. my touchpad scrolls (as does the red mouse button in the middle of the keyboard) but the mouse buttons have not been working. happened suddenly. tried searching for new drivers, reinstalled the device, etc (just like Ed) but nothing has worked. I am using an external mouse now but am wondering how I can get my thinkpad working correctly again. thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer!
October 12th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Got a T30 toughie!
Neither the touchpad buttons nor the trackpoint click buttons can select anything in the Windows GUI. The
arrow key moves with the touchpad or the “red ball”
but nothing click selects.
Thought it might be a virus so tried to reinstall the OS only to find it happens even when reinstalling!
Must be hardware, the touchpad, the trackpoint, HMM!
Anybody heard of thing breaking down at bios level?
Tried enabling and reinabling both the touchpad and
trackpoint. NADA!
Don’t know if I can flash the bios because I think its
already the latest one.
Anybody seen this problem before? What did you do?
I have noticed that the touchpad and trackpoint are
completely separate pieces of hardware. BIOS maybe?
OK SAGES! What say ye?
Thanks in advance!
May 20th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I have an IBM T30 with a bright spot in the lower right hand corner. I have a couple of dead T23′s but the LCD’s work. Will the LCD from a T23 work in a T30. They are both 14.1″
April 5th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hi Laptopfreak,
I have a m105 Toshiba Satellite and am experiencing a weird LCD problem. Little pieces of hair have worked their way under the screen and have proceeded to create oil smudges. They are setting behind the screen and are only visible when the computer is on. I’ve seen your disassembly guide for this model, but have not figured out how to take the LCD off to clean behind it. What do you suggest?
Thanks, Liz
March 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am
Hello LTF, I need some help.
I have an IBM G40 laptop. Lately i had to rebuild the whole machine, unfortunately i couldn’t do it from the restore, so i installed a fresh XP Pro installation and download all the drivers from the web. However the dual monitor doesn’t work, it doesn’t detected the second monitor. I updated the BIOS, i ran two different drivers from IBM website, one for Video and the other one for Monitor management, but still doesn’t work… any ideas?
March 20th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hi,
I was wondering; any chance a 12″ XGA screen from an X20/21 or X30/31 would fit as a replacement for the screen in an X41 laptop? from what I gather its just a 12″ samsung XGA screen and these are all the same? including conector positions? (FRU P/N 92P6754 is what my kicked X41 was using)
Or do I have to get a X40/41 spacific screen?
Any advice apperciated.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I have an IBM G40 laptop. Lately i had to rebuild the whole machine, unfortunately i couldn’t do it from the restore, so i installed a fresh XP Pro installation and download all the drivers from the web. However the dual monitor doesn’t work, it doesn’t detected the second monitor. I updated the BIOS, i ran two different drivers from IBM website, one for Video and the other one for Monitor management, but still doesn’t work… any ideas?