Question

Dark LCD screen IBM Thinkpad R50e

Asked by: asidu

I tested an IBM Thinkpad R50e, when I on it I could see a very faint Intel logo for a while.
Finally when the Windows XP runs the screen becomes black.

Looking at the screen in bright sunlight I can see the windows icons faintly.
Mouse movements and controls seem to be OK. Able to shut down the laptop.
Obviously its a back light issue.

Three  questions:
1) In this case where could be the problem,  the back light or the inverter ?

2) Planning to buy an equivalent inverter Hitachi INVC647 for replacement.
Wonder if this is the right thing to do or an inspection of the light tube is necessary.

3) Also the user could not  switch the output to an external monitor. This problem has been there for a long time before the screen back light failed for some reason.

Any pointers and suggestion leading to a resolve would be appreciated.



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Asked On
2009-06-23 at 05:48:04ID24514413
Tags

inverter circuit

,

backlight

,

thinkpad

,

equivalent

,

IBM thinkpad R50e

Topics

General Laptop

,

LCD & Plasma

,

Computer Displays / Monitors

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-06-23 at 14:30:44ID: 24696503

Probably the backlight - a bad inverter tends to not show a dim image that fades.

However, if the external monitor doesn't show anything, that points to a bad video card.  Perhaps you have two things going bad now, since the dim image is indicative of a backlight or inverter problem.

 

by: asiduPosted on 2009-06-23 at 18:31:06ID: 24697624

Thanks for the input.

Just thinking  if  its a bad video card --
Is it possible for the LCD to work and  the external monitor to fail ?

The fact that some images are visible dimly by shinning bringht light on the screen implies that there is video output from the video card..

There are usually two light tubes in the LCD, what is the chance that both fail together.
If the inverter fails it will surely affect both the tubes.
I just want to make sure that I buy the right spare part.

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-06-23 at 20:25:11ID: 24698046

>Is it possible for the LCD to work and  the external monitor to fail ?

Yes, although it's rare, the connection to the external port can develop problems separate from the chip itself.  Most of the time, the LCD shows the same thing as the external port.

>There are usually two light tubes in the LCD, what is the chance that both fail together.

The tubes are around the edges of the screen - if one tube failed and the other didn't, you would have a gradually darkening screen.  I tend to think one tube is more common.

 

by: asiduPosted on 2009-06-25 at 21:57:15ID: 24718082

Its unlikely that both the tubes could fail at one one time.  So if its total darkness on the screen can I conclude that the inverter is faulty.  

The laptop owner is saying that there was no video on the external monitor long time ago. However the LCD worked fine till recently.

Also what issues need to be addressed if I cannot get the original inverter.
Is it possible to use another made make of inverter ? If not what is the reason.

Thanks

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-07-04 at 11:23:02ID: 24777590

Inverters are generic for the same electrical characteristics - if it takes the same input and generates the same output, that is what is important.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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