M4400 Display Upgrade Frustration

Hi Everyone...

I"m wondering if I might find the answer here, instead of the 17 different departments I've already been dealing with at Dell.

I purchased an M4400 about a year ago. Last week I purchased two components: The backlit keyboard, and the RGB LED display. The keyboard installation was a cakewalk - no problems.

The display: Removing the original display was not bad - just need to be patient. When I went to install the new display (Part number TR217) I noticed the ribbon cable connector on the back of the display was about two inches from the top of the LCD. On the original display, the connector on the back of the LCD was about 2 inches from the bottom. The ribbon cable that comes through the hinge, from the motherbaord, is not long enough to connect to the new display. My question for Dell was:

1) Is this the correct replacement/upgrade LCD part number
2) Is there a longer cable that I was supposed to order with the LCD panel that was also supposed to be replaced.
3) Is there an extension cable that is supposed to be ordered and used for this upgrade?

After speaking with my Dell rep, Tech support, Spare Parts, as well as a few other people I've been transferered to, nobody can give me the answer. All ofthem say that the LCD panel I received (TR217) is the correct part, but nobody knows about the cable. I'm frustrated. Has anyone been through this before?

 

AFAIK, or what i've been told by a Dell rep, you would need a different connector/convertor for the RGB LED screen. And i remember the LED screens having a different cover but not sure of this. I thought that at least the WLED cover was a little thinner than the 2CCFL one.

Did you order these components from Dell? If so, you can just tell them you didn't receive all necessary items to do the actual upgrade. You could always look for the service manual online to see how the different types of screens get taken off and reinstalled, there you should definetly find what kind of cable is used.

edit: Found it http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/M4400/en/sm/display.htm#wp1205665

scroll down the pictures and you'll see that the cables are indeed different, send this to the Dell rep and ask him how he wants too solve this

 

You need a new back panel also (Front cover with the brushed look on my E6500).

That panel contains an Inverter that is used for the CCFL screens while my LED screen is missing that part.

I had a front cover for a CCFL shipped to me from Dell by mistake and not knowing I tried to install my LCD into it. The cable was about 3-4 inches short and there was a extra piece at the bottom (Inverter) that I could not hook up.

Even the physical ribbon cable did not hook up properly, so you need to order a different front cover for your laptop.

 

Ah, so that's why the cover is different, explains what the rep told me...he just wasn't sure why

 

Hi Everyone...

Just an update that the issue is the front lid. Although the specs say that the RGB LED display is a direct replacement, Dell's support folks didn't have documentation on the lid also needing to be replaced as well. I ordered the lid kit and should have it today. The cost was about $75 shipped. This one is apparently black and will replace the greay one I currently have. The ribbon cable is part of the kit. In case anyone wants it, the part info for the lid is:

Assembly,Cover,Back,Liquid Crystal Display,RGB-LED,M4400 (P351D)

-Tyler

 

What did the whole package cost you in the end?

Did they look at their own service manual to see the difference? Very cool if you're really getting a black one although this actually makes me wonder if they're sending the right part. The only black lid that'll fit on the M4400 is the lid of the latitude line (brushed metal black) thing is that the latitude isn't available with RGB LED screen, so that would be the first wavy black lid out there

 

Hi... a correction. The lid just arrived and it is gray, not black. However, it has all of the cables in the correct places. I am going to put it together now, but visually it looks correct.

also, I had to send THEM the link to the manual showing the two different LCD displays as they are being removed. That like was posted up above in this discussion.

Final price for the full upgrade was about $580 including shipping.

 

$ 580 seems a bit expensive but if you're happy with it it's worth it i guess. I'm giving them a call too check the price here. When i bought it RGB LED wasn't available yet, as an upgrade during config it's a LOT cheaper ofcourse.

 

Ok... so the display is installed in the new lid, but the original bezel that goes around the perimeter is too small.... thats another part.... I'm using it without that bezel right now, and it looks AMAZING. Expensive upgrade, but definitely a nice item. I love it.

 

Great

what happens if you close it though? Without the bezel on it and all...doesn't the panel itself hit the palmrest now?