The screen on my laptop Compaq nc6120 gets dim as I plug the power adapter and it will be ok as I unplug the power cable. Would there be any idea that can help?
I think there is nothing wrong with your laptop, it’s just settings in the power management software. Usually you can adjust screen brightness separately for AC mode (when laptop runs from the power adapter) and battery mode (when laptop runs from the battery). Apparently, in your case the screen brightness has been reduced for the AC mode.
Go to the power management utility and turn the screen brightness all the way up for the AC mode. On some laptops (some Dells for example) you can change LCD screen brightness in the BIOS setup menu.
I cracked the LCD screen on my HP Pavilion laptop. When it cracked, there was only a red tinted picture on the left third of the screen. I replaced the LCD screen and when I turned the computer on, you could BARELY see a faint image. I got a new inverter and put it in and the image remains very dark and basically unviewable. Where do I go from here?
You didn’t have to replace the inverter. If two-thirds of the cracked screen worked fine and you could see the image, there was nothing wrong with the inverter board.
First of all, check all connections between the video cable, LCD screen and inverter. Try reseating all connectors and test the laptop again. If you still have the same problem, try installing original LCD and inverter back.
I have a Dell Latitude D800. I’ve had it about 3 years and about 2 months ago, I opened up the screen to a dim (faint) image. After a review of common problems, I know that my backlight is failing to come on. Typically I can close the lid and re-open it after a few seconds and I can receive 5 - 20 seconds of lit screen before it goes dim. Depending on how long it takes Windows to login, I can usually do a Send/Receive and sometimes even read/reply to an email or two.
I took off the LCD frame and reseated the video cable to the LCD, as well as the plug going into the FL inverter from the laptop. That didn’t fix the problem but it didn’t get worse.
Also, I’ve connected an external monitor successfully. The display on the other monitor has 0 issues.
Most likely your problem is related to the screen inverter. The screen inverter works as a power supply for the LCD screen backlight. When inverter fails, the screen backlight stops working at all or it works for a short time, as in your case. You have a good chance to fix the problem if you replace the inverter board witch is not very expensive and is easy to access. You can find a new inverter board here and replace it using these instructions.
My Dell latitude D620 laptop is working fine but my screen is very dim, I can still make out what it says on the screen but it’s pretty difficult. When I turn the system on it has never flashed at full brightness, it just remains dim. I called Dell tech support and they said I need to replace the entire LCD screen, which I hope isn’t the case. I thought it would be the inverter or the backlight but they said the backlight and LCD aren’t separate entities, but that the LCD screen would have to be replaced to solve the problem. I’ve tried reconnecting a few different things under my keyboard to no avail. please help!
Most likely this problem is related to the inverter board witch you can replace without replacing the entire display assembly. Yes, on Dell laptops the inverter board is a part of the LCD screen, but you still can remove and replace the inverter board without replacing the LCD screen. Check out these instructions for taking apart the display assembly on a Dell Latitude D610 laptop. Take a look at the first six images. You can find a new LCD inverter for your Dell Latitude D620 here, it’s not expensive.
I have Inspiron 9100 notebook. The screen is very dim using battery power. Is this a backlight problem and if so is backlight built into the screen or is there a bulb to replace?
If the notebook screen is very dim only when it runs on the battery power, most likely this is not a hardware related issue. Check your notebook power settings in the control panel. It’s possible that your LCD screen brightness is set to minimum when the notebook runs on the battery power. Usually, you can adjust settings in the control panel, in the power management utility. You can change screen brightness for AC and battery modes separately. On some laptops you can change screen brightness settings in the BIOS setup menu.
Here’s an example of adjusting the LCD screen brightness on a Toshiba laptop. You can do it through Toshiba Power Saver utility in the control panel.
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I have a 1-year old laptop that the screen is going dark on. I did a lot of research (including from your site) and replaced the inverter. However, the problem persisted. I’m looking for either some advice on where to go next.
I know that the backlight and the LCD is okay because it lights up when I power the machine on. It’ll boot all the way into the OS, but then goes dark about 30 seconds after. External monitor works okay, and I can see the image on the LCD if I shine it with a flashlight.
I am starting to suspect the lid switch module. It has one of those magnetic ones that I can’t get to or even test easily. The strange thing about that is that sometimes, if I plug in my external monitor, the LCD will light up for a brief time before going dark again. Maybe this is “normal” when the lid is closed. It’s hard to tell at this point.
My other worry is about the motherboard. Do you know if these symptoms are consistent with a problem there? I’m *suspecting* not, because I’d imagine that if the MB had a problem, I wouldn’t be able to use the external monitor.
Even though the LCD screen lights up for a while and goes dark only after 30 seconds, the problem still could be related to the screen backlight. Unfortunately, the only way to find out is testing the laptop with another working backlight attached.
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I’ve had a Dell Inspiron 8600 laptop for 3yrs and suddenly the screen has gone very dim. You can still just make out things if you try to see screen in light. During startup it lights up but very quickly blacks out. I used an external monitor and it works fine. Now i found that if move screen at around 30-40 angle from key board and start it works fine after 2-3 attempts, thereafter if i raise the screen it works without any problem.
Can you please let me know what exactly the problem is? Is it some loose connection?
It’s possible that there is some kind of connection issue inside the laptop display panel, probably loose connection between the video cable and the screen inverter. You can try this. Open up the display panel and reconnect the video cable on the inverter board, it might help.
I have a 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?
Have you tried reconnecting the video cable on the motherboard? It’s possible that the video cable is not making a good connection with the motherboard and reconnecting the cable can help. Just unplug the video cable from the motherboard and plug it back in.
Does your laptop have a display close switch? The display close switch is a small button located somewhere close to the laptop hinges. This button turns off the backlight when you close the display. If the button got stuck inside, the backlight will not turn on even when the laptop is on and the display is opened. Try tapping on the lid close switch and make sure it moves up and down without any problem.
I have an IBM T41p laptop and I’m having problems with the display going out.
Symtoms:
1) it just started doing this a few weeks ago, and it’s progressively getting worse (more often) (I’ve had the laptop for a couple years).
2) It goes in and out - I can sometimes see a very faint view of what’s on my screen in the background, but for the most part it’s black. You can’t see enough to do anything.
3) if I put the computer in sleep mode and then bring it back out, the display comes right back immediately (a bit pink at first).
4) sometimes, if I pick the computer up, the screen goes black - sometimes, I’m just sitting here working on it and it goes black. (driving me crazy)
I just got home, and with the machine unplugged, the display still keeps going black and the laptop works fine with an external monitor.
Looks like your laptop might have a few different problem and here’s what I think.
It goes in and out - I can sometimes see a very faint view of what’s on my screen in the background
It sound’s like there could be a problem with the screen inverter - the board witch converts DC to AC and provides power for the screen backlight. This board is located inside the display assembly and here’s an example how you can replace the inverter board. When the screen inverter goes bad, you loose backlight but still can see a very faint image on the screen.
If I put the computer in sleep mode and then bring it back out, the display comes right back immediately (a bit pink at first).
This part sounds like the screen backlight lamp (CCFL) is going bad. A pinkish tone on the laptop screen usually indicates a failing backlight lamp. Here you can read more on replacing the backlight lamp.
Sometimes, if I pick the computer up, the screen goes black - sometimes, I’m just sitting here working on it and it goes black.
This part sounds like you might have a loose connection between the video cable, motherboard and the LCD screen.
Sounds like a lot of problems?
OK, here’s what I would try to do in this case. Proceed on your own risk. If you are not sure, do not open the laptop case and take it to a professional repair shop.
1. I would check and reseat all connections between the LCD screen and the motherboard/video card. Also reseat connectors on the inverter board.
2. Make sure the video card (if it’s a separate module) is properly connected to the motherboard. Reseat the video card.
3. You mentioned that sometimes the backlight goes off but you still can see the image and sometimes the screen starts with a pinkish tone. You might have a bad inverter, bad backlight or both of them are not functioning properly, you’ll have to guess. I would try replacing the inverter first because it’s much cheaper the backlight lamp and the replacement procedure is much easier. If it doesn’t help, replace the LCD screen. I mentioned that you can replace the backlight lamp inside the screen but it’s not easy (actually it’s hard). That’s why I said replace the LCD screen.
You should be able to find help with laptop disassembly in the IMB hardware maintenance manual for your model.
I have a Dell XPS m170 notebook and I am having a problem with the monitor. I was playing some games last night and all of a sudden it went black but it was still on it did not turn completely off. The computer itself was also still on because I could hear the game sound. It did this twice last night and I let it set for around 20-30 mins and then it would work again. I figured it was due to overheating, but today I was just surfing the web and the laptop had been on for about 5 hours and then it did the same thing again. Now I have not gotten the screen to work. It has a glow but it is just black. I hooked up a normal monitor to it and it worked fine. I ran the diagnostics test and it found no problems but I do not know if that checks the LCD when I have it hooked up to another monitor. Any information would help.
Turn on the notebook and wait until the LCD screen goes black. Take a closer look at the screen. Can you see a very faint image on the screen? It will be a regular desktop with icons on it, but very very dim. Can you? If yes, than most likely you have a faulty screen inverter. I think replacing the inverter board might fix your problem. Here’s Dell XPS M170 notebook service manual, it has disassembly instructions. The inverter board is located inside the display assembly. You’ll see it below the LCD screen as soon as you remove the display bezel.