Backlight Replacement

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by jjmjets, May 21, 2008.

  1. jjmjets

    jjmjets Private E-2

    A friend of mine asked me to help with her computer. She's had a spare monitor on her desk for about a year now because the backlight for her laptop doesn't come on. She said she did lots of research and decided that the bulb must have burnt out so she bought a new one. She wanted my help (mech eng) disassembling and reassembling her screen.

    Last night, I opened the whole thing up and replaced the bulb. It required being soldered to the wire leads. When I closed it most of the way up, I turned on the computer to check it. Now, instead of just being a dark screen (data still appears but it's too hard to see) it makes a strange buzzing noise. This originally made me think there was a short, but I can't tell. Based on reading this site, it sounds like many of these problems have to do w/ the power inverter. Any ideas what the buzzing might be? Could I have damaged something else, or is the sound the light trying to come on?

    I thought about pulling out the bulb, but I didn't want to electrocute myself (I read that LCD screens get like 300V or something). Since the bulb and the board are in about the same place, I am not sure how to proceed.
     
  2. davismccarn

    davismccarn Specialist

    The Chinese have gotten into the laptop parts business and you would be surprised at how cheap LCD's have gotten. I got a client a brand new LCD for an IBM, last month, for $96!
    What is the make, model, and part number of the laptop?
    P.S. You are a brave soul to dissassemble an LCD; but, she should have gotten an inverter (the power supply for the backlight) first.
     
  3. jjmjets

    jjmjets Private E-2

    She has a basic Dell, I'd have to double check the model. I think she's doing exactly what you said, getting a new LCD. Based on the cost of the inverter, she decided that she might as well replace the screen. This way there will be no problems.

    She offered to let me keep the old screen. :cool Can you do anything with those, or is it computer specific?
     
  4. davismccarn

    davismccarn Specialist

    They are computer specific and it sounds to me as though that one is now pretty thoroughly busted. If you can post the service tag number. I was offering to help with the shopping.
     
  5. jjmjets

    jjmjets Private E-2

    Awesome, I will try to grab that tonight. No guarantees thought, it's my birthday. :)
     
  6. jjmjets

    jjmjets Private E-2

    She went ahead and bought the screen. We just installed it and everything works. I think it might have been a slightly different screen, but the model seemed to fit and the specs were the same. I think the only difference was the inverter.

    Anyhow, we're good to go. Thanks for your input.
     

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