Laptop screen is too dark!

Shakespearefan · 22 April 2009 at 9:39PM

My laptop is about 4 years old and for all that time has been connected to a 17" monitor in my study. I have decided to get rid of the monitor to make more room but on removing the monitor found that the image on the laptop screen is barely visible - it's basically black with just a trace of the screensaver. Consequently I've reconnected the monitor which works fine.
I've tried the brightness button on the laptop (F8) but this makes no difference. Is there something else I should be doing? Or will I have to take it somewhere for a repair? (I don't have a problem switching between laptop and monitor - using the FN and F3 buttons; the laptop screen is definitely "on" just very, very dark).
Suggestions gratefully received.

eyeinthesky · 22 April 2009 at 9:58PM

This could be a dead backlight, they can be replaced but I think it would be expensive, they are like a very thin fluorescent tube. It could alternatively be the inverter, something to try is wipe the laptop screen across the bottom edge, firmly, with a screen wipe or cloth. This used to work with my old laptop, and the backlight would be ok again for months.

GunJack · 22 April 2009 at 10:34PM

Couple of other possibilities....check your power settings, ensure the laptop/notebook/portable profile is being used, or check your graphics properties, as if you're driving a monitor you may need to readjust for using the internal screen...if neither of these have a bearing, then next best guess would be a backlight issue.

SimbaSimon · 23 April 2009 at 6:08AM

If its very dark and you can tell its on but just see the faint outline I'd definitely say its the backlight. Its pretty common on older LCD displays and very expensive to fix. You may be able to find a replacement on ebay but I personally wouldn't bother.

wakers23 · 23 April 2009 at 10:59AM

I had the same problem, took it apart myself and it was the backlight, too expensive so just replaced my laptop instead.

eva16006159 · 23 April 2009 at 11:03AM

Simple idea but could it be that you have power save settings set to not have light on when lap top is not plugged into mains power?

nickcardwell · 23 April 2009 at 12:38PM

i would replace the inverter, we have approx 10 laptops go in the last 3 years, and we ended up replacing the inverter in all of them and they are still going strong.