Is it the laptop backlight?

DiiFMaritime

Hope you are all feeling festive - it's almost Christmas

I was wondering if anyone can advise - the screen of my 7 years old laptop gave up yesterday. It was flickering and then went black. I closed the lid and opened it again, then the screen came back on and flckered and black screen appeared again. Am I right in thinking it is a problem with the backlight? If so, where is the best place to get it fixed quickly and how much is it likely to cost?

If it is something other than the backlight, I would appreciate if you could tell me what it might be and again how much it is likely to cost to fix.

Many thanks

StuC75

have you tried googling the Make & Model number as this will usually provide a range of youtube clips on others with the same problem and possible ways to resolve..and the cost if its a backlight or lcd screen itself...

TadleyBaggie

When I had a backlight fail, I could still see the screen image under certain light angles.

almillar

Yep, shine a torch on the screen or view it in a very bright room. If can see the unlit image, it's the backlight, or the cabling to the backlight (can get nipped in the hinge or just wear. If not, could be the graphics chip, or the cabling from there to the screen. If this is the case, try squeezing different parts of the laptop base. If there's a dodgy connection in there it could come back, but it'll only get worse. Backlight would be cheaper.

DiiFMaritime

Thank you all for the replies. I decided to get someone to fix it for me and can confirm it is the backlight. The guy did ask for my password for the laptop - is this normal?

almillar

He doesn't strictly need your Windows password (or even a BIOS password) to replace the backlight - as you know, if the screen lights up, to ask for the password, it's repaired and his job's done. Unless he's offered to do anything else.