Laptop went dead!

stuzhunter

The screen goes completely dark but the screen is still running and depending on the light reflection on the screen I can see the computer Icons

The charger is the original Dell laptop that came with the laptop.

If the charger is the problem why would it still charge the battery correctly?

Hammyman

I was checking it was the original because there are a lot of copy ones on Ebay that look identical to the original except the plastic is a fraction of a lighter shade of grey and slightly more shiny finish.

OK so we've established that the laptop is still running when the charger is plugged in, merely that you can't see the screen. If the screen is going completely dark but you can see the icons, the backlight is going off so it points to a fault with the screen inverter. Basically, when you are running on battery, the screen brightness is set lower than on AC (about 40-50% of full) so it could be that the inverter is fine with that. As soon as you plug in the charger, the laptop screen brightness is set to the AC setting (default full brightness) and the inverter can't provide enough to the backlight so it goes off. Also when turning on with the charger plugged in, it is most likely the inverter manages to supply enough to the backlight for a few seconds at full brightness until it gets hot and fails.

To test this theory, plug in the charger and when the screen goes dark, press the keys to LOWER the display brightness which is the Fn key and down arrow if I remember correctly. If it is what I think it is, you should find that the screen comes back on once it gets to a certain point.

Good news is that if it is this, they're a few quid on Ebay and you can change it yourself if you're OK with removing the screen bezel - its literally 5 or 6 screws and a couple of connectors.

Let us know if it does come back on when you lower the brightness.

stuzhunter

Hammyman,

You are spot on..perfect diagnostics..many thanks for all your advice

When the laptop was working on battery I tried to increase the brightness using Fn and the Up arrow and as soon as the brightness reaches 50-60% the laptop screen went dark and went dead.

So I plugged in the adaptor and reduced the brightness to 50% and laptop is now working on BOTH power and battery but of course it is a bit anoying as I don't have full brightness on the screen.

I can't find any screws on the screen? Is it fairly complicated to replace the Screen invertor?

Would it be expensive to get it repaired at a repair shop?

Hammyman

stuzhunter wrote: »

I can't find any screws on the screen?

There's four of them, one under each rubber on the top of the screen surround.

Is it fairly complicated to replace the Screen invertor?

Not once you've got the screen bezel off. This is a guide for a Toshiba but the steps are the same as yours - just the screws for the bezel are in a different position and you wouldn't progress past changing it in step 6.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaP35/replace-lcd-screen-inverter-1.htm

Would it be expensive to get it repaired at a repair shop?

Cost of part plus no more than 1/2hr labour or minimum labour charge if they charge by the hour for example.

stuzhunter

The laptop screen eventually went completely dead..would not even work on battery or less brightness but I have received a new inverter today and hopefully this will do the trick.

stuzhunter

I bought a new 'compatible' invertor on ebay and I fitted it in my laptop myself but the problem is still the same. Basically, the laptop is running fine but the screen is completely dark. Does the invertor need to be exactly the same with the same reference as the original Dell invertor or would the laptop works fine with any compatible invertor?

stuzhunter

I have connected the laptop to an external monitor and the laptop works fine. So it looks like the screen has failed as it does not work with the new invertor