Screen on my laptop going black
I have a Gateway mx6025 and I have a problem with my screen going black. I can still faintly see the screen if I hold it to light. I have it hooked up to an external monitor and I’m using it now to type this. The problem started a while back if you moved the screen it would go black and you could restart it and it would be ok. Now it’s always black it just flickers on when you first start it up for a second. Is this something I can fix? I took it apart once but didn’t know what I was looking for I thought maybe a broken wire or something unplugged but I didn’t see anything.
I think you might have a failed screen inverter (FL inverter); this problem is very common with laptops. The inverter board acts as a power supply for the LCD screen backlight bulb, it converts low voltage DC power into high voltage AC. On most laptops the inverter board is located inside the display assembly below the LCD screen and you can get access to it if you remove the screen bezel (LCD mask). When the screen inverter goes bad the backlight will not turn on anymore or it turns on for a short time and then goes off, but you still can see a faint image on the screen and the external monitor works just fine. First of all I would make sure it’s not just a loose connection and reseat connectors on the inverter (it looks like you already done this part). Next, I would try replacing the inverter board. It might fix your problem with the backlight. It’s possible that you have a faulty cable, bad motherboard or even bad LCD screen, but I would try replacing the screen inverter first.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Mary H,
How black the screen is? Look at the screen very closely with a flashlight. Can you see a very faint image?
Did you test the laptop with an external monitor? Can you get picture on the external monitor?
May 5th, 2008 at 5:14 am
My husband’s Toshiba laptop (A-25 S-279) The lower right hand corner of the screen is going black and is extremely hot to the touch in this corner of the screen. If he were to leave it on, I think the blackness would wave across the entire screen, but the heat prompts him to shut it down. Any fixes for this? The fan on the computer is working, but I assume this has nothing to do with this problem…thanks in advance for your help.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I have a HP Pavilion dv2000 laptop, and all of a sudden, when i turn on my computer, the screen is black. This only happens sometimes, though. Occasionally, when i turn it on, the computer will be working properly, however, the screen will be black. When it does work, it works fine. Basically, when it starts up, it either works perfectly, or does not work at all. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
March 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Okay, I have the same problem with my HP laptop DV2125NR. I installed a new power inverter, plus I installed a new LCD screen. It still didn’t fix anything!
The screen is black, but if I shine a flashlight on it, I can makeout a few details (but only if I shine my light on it).
I thought it was the power inverter so I changed it brand new. When it didn’t work, I figured it must be the backlight. So, I decided that instead of trying to install a new backlight, I’d probably be better off buying a new LCD screen. Well, that didn’t fix it either.
Can you help? Any ideas? I found the LCD lid switch and I pressed it up and down. Don’t know how else to go from there…
Thanks!
February 24th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Deve,
There can be a problem with the hard drive. If the clicking noise is coming from the hard drive, you’ll have to replace it.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I have a HP Uzv5000 laptop i got used. It worked for a few weeks but now screen blacks out alot especially when trying to startup. I sometimes hear a clicking noise while its trying to startup. When I am using and the screens blacksout all of the power buttons are on. Any suggestions? Thanks!
February 19th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hi Laptop freak,
The problem was in one of the memory modules. Thanks for sending the instructions on removing memory.
I tried the suspected module by itself in the machine and it did not come up! But when I examine the module closely I see some differences in color of the contacts of the module. The contact in question look shinier than the others. I thought it was corrosion and tried ruding them with an eraser, but this did not work. What other tests and solutions are they to to find out if the memory is faulty or not? This laptop is (and I am assuming the memory is as well) new. What can be wrong?
Also do you know if reseating memory modules voids an Acer laptop warranty. Mine is under a 1 yr warranty.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
billy,
First of all, check the memory. Try reseating the memory module, move it into an empty slot. Could be memory related problem.
When you have a bad inverter board, you still should be able to see a very faint image on the screen. If there is no image at all and the screen is completely black your problem is not related to the inverter. Yes, it’s can be related to the video card, but I would check the memory first. Try installing a known good memory stick.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Julian,
You’ll find this instructions in Acer service manuals.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Hi there again,
Thanks for your help in trying to identify my problem. I have reached to the point where I am trying to reseat my memory to see if my problem lies there. But I do need some help in doing this.
Can anyone or can you help me to have a step-by-step guide to Changing the memory in an Acer Aspire Model Laptop?
Thanks in advance.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Hi, I have a Gateway MX3417 notebook. I’ve had this laptop for almost a year now and it has worked just beautiful for me. I create websites, edit photos, and play video games such as World of Warcraft. I have an Nvidia GeForce 6100 graphic. I know its not the best for what I do but it holds up quite qell. But, recently (about 3 days ago) my fiance went to turn on the laptop and it started up you could hear the fan running but the screen did not come on. After turning the computer on and off a few times it still didn’t work. I just let it rest for a day. I turned it on earlier and the screen came on. I was amazed. Then I turned it off to move it to a location I could attempt to see if there were any errors on the hardware. Plugged it in and the screen didn’t turn on. I got so pissed =P. However, after turning it off and on a few times I finally got it to come back on. I read through some forums and found this one. Some suggested new video cards, some suggested replacing the FL inverter board, but some also suggested that it could be the AC adapter in which I have had to buy a new one because my dogs chewed up the old one. This adapter does not charge my battery, and infact at the moment it says that my battery is “dying”. Any suggestions?
January 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
hi , i was on my laptop watching a movie and then all of the sudden the screen turned black !! this had happened before because of the battery being low but the laptop was plugged into the wall so that wasn’t it , when the screen turned black the sound was still going then it stopped now if i try to turn off the laptop by pressing the button it wont turn off if i close the laptop it also still wont turn off , plz help , quick !!!
December 28th, 2007 at 1:27 am
I have a gateway MX4314 and the night before i had issues i closed the lid while the computer was on. Many hours later plugged it in and turned it on and i noticed the screen would not turn on. I turned off the computer and booted up again. As it booted up the computer fan came on and it sounds like its trying to boot up normally but the screen is still black and i cant make out anything if i face the light on it. any help would be greatly appreciated.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
hi,
i have an Acer 5050…my screen has a black line through it which gets thick or thin depending on how i move my laptop. My daugher stepped on it (when it was closed) and since then my screen has a black line through it. i’m not sure if the screen is cracked b/c my monitor works just fine…i’m wondering if its just the LCD film or something…is there a cheap way to fix it…b/c when i contacted acer they said it’ll cost over $600. (more than what the laptop cost me). thanks.
November 19th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Hi inmy case if the external monitor is not working what steps do I take next?
November 18th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Joe,
Can you test your laptop with an external monitor? Does the external screen work fine?
If you have to move the laptop screen in order to get regular brightness, then it’s possible that there is some kind of connection issue inside the display panel. Maybe loose cable.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I’ve read all the postings- here is a new dim screen story…
I have a Gateway NX270S. I was editing some photos from a digital camera. The pics were stored on this SanDisk multimedia card. As soon as I inserted the card my screen went black. Now, whenever I start up my computer, I have to gently jostle it until I get regular brightness…similar to moving you tv antenna around in order to get a signal.
I’ve tried playing with the open/close switch. I think the inverter is fine..but I’m not expert.
Is it true that when they go black they never come back? Help!!!
Perhaps useful info: The card had never given me problems before. This instance was the first time I had used the card since saving some edited photos to the card. In other words, the card had never had edited photos on it before.
November 14th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Lynne,
Did you reseat the video cable on the motherboard?
Did you check if the lid close switch moves without any problem?
I’ve published your question here: I replaced backlight and inverter but the laptop screen is still dim
November 14th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Hi, I have an hp pavilon dv1000 laptop and the screen flickered with black lines for about five months before going totally dim. I have had both the backlight and the inverter replaced and the screen still does not light up. Is this a motherboard issue? Or is it a cable issue? Can this be repaired or does it have to be replaced?
November 8th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Julian,
That’s what I’m talking about. Test your laptop with a desktop monitor connected to the laptop via the VGA port. Can you get video on the monitor?
November 7th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
No I haven’t. But can I do that by plugging it into a normal desktop monitor? And if it does or doesn’t work how do I reseat the video cable?
Thank you for your prompt response.
Also I thought aboutit long and hard as I was looking at the posts for a screen going black. I assessed that it can be more than a faulty inverter as if the screen was dim only I would still be able to input my password and hear HD activity, but I hear none, no LED light up.
A friend of mine told me to try the Acer’s auto-recovery option. My approach if it was a PC would be to take out all cards and try again.
Still thanks for your reply.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Julian,
This sounds like a hardware related problem. Did you test your laptop with an external monitor? Can you see anything on the screen when it’s dark?
I’ve posted your question here: Screen went black after I plugged a wireless mouse
November 6th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Derek,
You can try reseating the video cable connection on the motherboard, there is a chance to fix the problem. But most likely this is a problem with the LCD screen. I’ve published your question here: Only the top 1/3 of the laptop screen work.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I have an Acer Aspire 3680, after plugging in a Targus wirless Mouse, my screen flickered in a white light and then went black. I could sense that the keyboard and mousepad were working but after doing a hard power off it would not boot up. I just hear the fan and no display is shown. After a while I saw the splash screen, but then the same flicker and then darkness. Is this a hardware or software conflict? And how can it be resolved?
November 6th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I just bought an older laptop, a Dell Inspiron 5100, from a friend and about a month later, i came back to find that only the top 1/3 of the screen work. The bottom 2/3 is grey with vertical lines. i put the start menu on the side and it makes the bad part turn a light color of grey. Is there anyway to fix this?
October 21st, 2007 at 12:37 am
I have a Acer Aspire 5050, i try starting the computer the screen is black.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Please help me I purchased a secondhand Toshiba Sat Pro 120-160 with a broken screen. I have purchased a new screen 3 new inverters and have only a dim display. Works perfectly with external monitor. Have changed settings to Laptop monitor still the same. If I disconnect the cable from motherboard no display also replaced the ribbon cable. There is a magnet on the bezel of screen surround is that the lid shutting down as cannot find the switch anywhere. I am completely broke and cannot afford to bring to have repaired. Please help. Thanks in advance Paul V
September 19th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I have a Pavilion zv5000 Notebook it has the same problem the monitor goes out and the switch is tapped and it works, after a while the switch breakes completely on the motherboard the switch is s6 or s9 if you plug in a s video cable in to a TV some times the screen will work, this tells me the computer need a monitor driver that can over rule the switch. I have not found one yet nor have a found replacement switch. HP will sell me a new motherboad but it only need this $4 switch. I consider replacing a $4 switch with a $749 motherboad enviromental bastardy when the TV tech say all that is needed is a $4 switch or a driver to over rule the monitor. Got any idea’s
September 7th, 2007 at 2:43 am
i have Acer Aspire 3610 there is no image on my screen
only gray light,when pressing the lid close switch, the screen turns black and when releasing it it comes back gray….
i do have an image whe using an external screen.
What is it ?
the LCD screen ?
the FL inverter?
the bulb ?
July 19th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I have an HP Pavilion zt1150. My screen would come on if I had it half way closed. So I bought a used inverter and now I can’t get the screen to come on at all. Do you think it is the lid switch? If the lid switch is pushed, Windows goes into standby. Also my mouse pad isn’t working but was when the lcd used to turn on.