I did, and change from max battery to max performance, it did not make a difference. The AC should be able to support max performance with LCD on all the time, but sadly that is not the behavior I am getting now.
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Browse All TopicsHi, I do not know what ahppened, but all of a sudden, my laptop's LCD decided to sleep whenever it wants to. I am now forced to hook it up to a CRT to type this question.
I used the BERLAC ADVISOR to obtain the info on my hardware and I have copied it beneath this question.
The symptom is --- About 10 hours ago, in the middle of use, the Dell laptop seemed to have decided to turn off display if AC power is on. Even when on battery, the system seemed to love going to hibernation. I tried various settings with Del Quickset and put it on presentation mode, which is supposed to tell the computer that I want the LCD display always on, whether on AC or battery, it still shuts off LCD unpredictably. On AC, it is predictable, I only get to see a flash of the screen for about 1 xecond and all went dark. The battery power condition is a little better, but getting worse by the hour ...
Connecting to the CRT, there is no problem at all. When I tried to switch between LCD and monitor, the LCD will flash the correct screen for a few seconds and go dark again ...
Guys, any idea what went wrong ? I need this to travel with me soon ...
Thanks for your help ...
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Operating System System Model
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
Dell Computer Corporation Inspiron 600m
Enclosure Type: Portable
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
600 megahertz Intel Pentium M
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Board: Dell Computer Corporation 0D2125
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A14 08/26/2004
Drives Memory Modules c,d
56.20 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
15.89 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
TOSHIBA MK6026GAX [Hard drive] (60.01 GB) -- drive 0, s/n
Y4759498T, rev PA202D, SMART Status: Healthy
768 Megabytes Installed Memory
Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 56.20 GB 15.89 GB free
Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
local user accounts last logon
Administrator 12/18/2004 7:46:04 PM (admin)
Kingston Chi 3/13/2007 3:45:04 AM (admin)
local system accounts
Guest 6/11/2006 8:53:40 AM
HelpAssistant never
SUPPORT_388945a0 never
Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account
ActiveTouch Document Loader on LPT1:
Autodesk DWFWriter on Autodesk DWF Writer Port
CutePDF Writer on CPW2:
HP OfficeJet Series 700 Fax on LPT1:
HP OfficeJet Series 700 Print on \\LEGUN-DESKTOP\HPOffice
HP OfficeJet Series 700 Print on DOT4_001
Microsoft Shared Fax Driver on SHRFAX:
pdfFactory 2 on FPP2:
Controllers Display
Intel(R) 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CA
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
MOBILITY RADEON 9000 [Display adapter]
Default Monitor
DELL P792 [Monitor] (16.1"vis, s/n 4D13322C506Q, February 2002)
Generic Television [Monitor]
MS_ 19.7 [Monitor] (19.7"vis)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Communications Other Devices
Conexant D480 MDC V.92 Modem
Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated Controller
Dhcp Server: 172.16.0.1
Physical Address: 00:0F:1F:CE:9D:98
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
primary Auto IP Address: 172.16.0.100 / 24
Gateway: 172.16.0.1
Dhcp Server: 172.16.0.1
Physical Address: 00:0E:35:97:EB:20
Microsoft AC Adapter
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery (2x)
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Alps Touch Pad [Mouse]
O2Micro SmartCardBus Reader
USB Root Hub (4x)
Networking Dns Server: 172.16.0.1
Virus Protection [Back to Top]
AVG 7.5.446 Version 7.5.446
Realtime File Scanning On
Missing Microsoft Security Hotfixes [Back to Top]
All required security hotfixes (using the 05/09/2006 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) have been installed.
==========================
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As jasonr0025 said check your Power Options in the Control Panel and be sure that the monitor is set to "Always On". If it is, then I'd have to agree with sparkmaker as I experienced a similar problem with an LCD monitor where the image would come on for about a second and the screen would go black. The problem was believed to be a the backlight inverter.
If your notebook is under warranty I'd give Dell a call for repair. If it isn't under warranty http://www.moniserv.com sells inverters for various LCD monitors and also offers service/repair.
Good luck!
Have you tried getting a PSA Diagnostics code from the Inspiron?
Both the LCD and the Inverter would give a result
http://tinyurl.com/2onach
Thanks guys for your helps. It is like guiding lights out of the darkness ...
MASQUERAID, I performed the PSA tests. I could see all the test procedings at the CRT monitor. At the beginning of the tests, I could see it on the laptop LCD. However, after a second or so, it went dark.
stevepo, the above test says the LCD inverter test passed [whatever that means --- I saw it on the CRT, while the LCD is dark. During the video tests, I can make out the bright bars going up and down the LCD, mimicking the CRT. So it looks very much like what you described.
However, my question is --- why would the LCD be working for those breif second or so ? It behaves like that maybe the inverter was overheating or something ... coming on for a second and then go out for a long time ... then reppear for a second again ...
From the CRT, I can see that the Dell diagnostic testing declared itself ALL Passed, despite the fact that the LCD screen was dark.
Bottom line, guys, does this mean that it is a software situation or do I need a new backlight inverter ?
Do you guys know of any quality issue with the Dell laptop LCDs ? I have another Dell laptop that I gave to my daughter which seemed to have suffered the same symptom. She is coming home this weekedn with that laptop, I am certainly going to put it thought the same tests ...
Both are out of the 1 year warranty ... But do they have a problem with pre-mature LCD death ?
Thanks, guys !!
It was my comment that suggested the Inverter.
If you can see the faint image with a flashlight then the inverter is bad. The lcd inverter and backilight has nothing to do with the image on the screen other than making it bright enough to see. The inverter is like the ballast in a flourescent light fixture in your home, it raises the voltage to 900-1300 volts.
Do this without the external monitor in place as you may be turning the lcd screen off when switching between the two.
Hey, guess what, I am now working from my LCD screen. I removed the AC adaptor and closed the lid to force the hibernation, then open it again and press the power button to revive it. Now I am working on LCD for a good minute or 2 now.
Does this mean that the inverter is not bad ?
This is very confusing ...
It is now a good 5 minutes after. The LCD is still working well, at half brightness as it was designed. I kept typing so as not to go into screen blank out. I have the Dell Quckset set on max performance and I changed the screen setting to never turn off.
Oops, it just turned itself off ... I would say it is about 7 minutes after. I am now working off the CRT now ... They had both been on ...
you could actually have a loose connection in your laptop near the p/s or hinges. I had a laptop that would do exactly as you described when the powercord was wiggled. Once I reseated the lcd connector I had no problems after. But if you want, you can meter the dc out on your ac/dc converter and see if it matches output on the label.
HTH
Jason
This sounds about right. It seems whatever I got, the problem is fluid and may change for the worse, not the better. Perhaps I should just send it to people like http://www.moniserv.com/ to fix it once for all.
Thanks, guys ...
Thanks for your suggestion. I went back to the Dell Quickset and set the brightness level of both the AC and battery power at level 4 brightness [Level 8 being the maximum brightness] and restarted under AC power. While it did last longer when booting up under AC, it eventually still go out [overheating ?]
The usual battery setting was level 5 and it did last longer than AC, but will eventually go out on my Laptop. It lasted a lot longer on my daughter's Dell 8100 which coincidentally have the very same symptoms.
There must be something wrong with Dell LCDs ...
Can you see the faint image on the desktop after the backlight goes out?
As long as you are seeing the faint desktop image after the backlight goes out(flashlight technique) the inverter is more than likely the problem as it is only used for lighting. The inverter itself may be overheating and the electronic circuit degrades once it hits a higher temp.
Yes, for example --- this screen has 2 black strips on either side --- easily seen even without the flashlight. When I minimize this screen, I can then see the outlines of the Thunderbird email program --- even the list of individual messages.
I guess the question is why the AC would cut out the display so soon and battery will make it last longer ...
Well, I guess the question is moot ... need to replace it anyway, right ?
The inverter need replacement.
Her is the service manual for this laptop, it doesn't show specifically how to replace the inverter but it does show the display disassembly.
http://support.dell.com/su
And the 8100 if your interested
http://support.dell.com/su
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by: jasonr0025Posted on 2007-03-13 at 05:36:33ID: 18709492
check your power settings in control panel.
Thanks