Screen only works at certain degree of tilt/open

My laptop screen is black when I open it up to a 90 degree angle or otherwise a regular viewing angle.

I have to open it only two inches at first, squeeze my hands in to put the password in...Then slowly give it a half inch, and if I give too much it blacks out.

The computer is still working and running programs just fine, but I can't open the laptop all the way, because the screen blacks out.

While it is black and I look REAL hard I can kind of see the screen.

I was wondering how much this is going to take to repair, otherwise I'd just like to sell it and get another brand of computer, no more alienware.

It's a M5700i-R2

 

Your monitor cable is loose. Tighten that up.

 

yeah, shouldn't need a repair. You most likely just need to re-seat the cable connector. Shouldn't be too hard - I'll bet the AW tech will walk you through it over the phone.

 

Alright thanks!

 

Just an update on my problem. I had a computer repair man look at the computer and we did reseat the cable connector, but it still didn't work, and he tried as well, he has found that the module has gone up, the lcd inverter. So I am trying to find a new lcd inverter for a 19 inch alienware laptop which has so far been a pain to find one for the model m5700i-r2.

The computer repair man also recommends that I dont buy another laptop larger than a 15.4 because the voltage is so high on the lcd inverter to light up the panels on the laptops that they burn out quite quickly within a year to two years...Anyone else experience that?

I've only had this computer a year and a half.

 

I don't think that tech knows much. I am thinking if you open and close the lid many times it like headphones. After so many times of use the wire brakes Or one of the plugs wires is push out so it not connected right.

I see this with headphones, Plugs for Laptops and Mouse use. A wire can take so much stress before comming apart.

 

try to see if the inverter has some sort of part #. More than likely its a very common part cause your LCD is a major brand like Samsung, LG and what not. Once you get the part # your best bet is ebay. Enter the part # see if anyone has it.

 

Just an update...The screen doesn't light up at all now not even before 45 degrees opened. The repair guy has put in two different LCD inverters and they aren't working.

The computer still turns on, and the back light just isn't lighting up. Any ideas?

This repair guy now is going to see if he can take my information/photos/videos off of the hardrive, so I will have them, then wipe the computer clean of all information so I can sell it as is.

He keeps saying he is having problems with the back light. Because I turned the computer on and if you look closely with a flashlight you can see the login for password.

I am pretty frustrated at this point, and he doesn't even know if he will be able to get my information off the hard-drive. Depending on what he says tomorrow I am going to see if I can find another repair tech.

 

Sounds like the back light went out to me. Edit: since you can still see pixels on the screen that would normally mean that the inverter went out. Your initial symptoms sounded more like a loose cable to me but it could also mean that your actual backlight went out. You have two possibilities right now, it's the inverter or it's the CCFL(the "bulb"). If it's the CCFL you will need a new panel, and that isn't worth replacing, if it's the inverter you should be ok if you can find the replacement. It also doesn't sit well with me that your repairman is just "trying" out different inverters. You need to use the correct inverter for your panel.

He can't get the information off your hard drive? I would find a real computer repair technician immediately. All he has to do is take the hard drive out and hook it up to another computer. Simple. If he doesn't have the tools or know how to do this, he is not someone you want to have looking at your computer.

 

well then obviously it's a defective LCD?

 

here's my $.02 for the "trying to get the data off the harddrive"...

go into your system settings (using a flashlight to logon and access the computer), by pressing windowskey+pause (or right clicking on my computer and hitting properties), there should be a remote tab, enable remote access to the computer.

Assuming your primary user account is an administrator account, there is no other setup that is needed to be done.

go to a nearby computer attached to the same physical network of the system, and determine your laptops IP address (you can usually do this through your router), use terminal services to connect to your computer. to start the program you can find it under accessories in the start menu, or simply type "mstsc" at the run dialog. enter your computers IP and connect. It will ask for your username and password, then your desktop should load without much delay at all.

I use this method to control more than a few computers, including servers and a windows XP computer at my family household (I'm 'away' at school) to do maintainence and debugging.

You obviously can't play games like this, however, it's sufficient to use, to transfer files, photos, movies and music across a network to a network share. (and you won't have to worry about the dead inverter)

as for your inverter problem... the inverter sounds fine. I'd check all the connections. 'cause with the angle issue, just sounds like there was a loose connection (maybe soldering has gone bad)... the inverter may be fine, but the power may not be making it either from the mobo to the inverter (most likely) or the inverter to the screen (unlikely due to the lack of motion) so take a very close look at the connection wires and see what it could possibly be.

Reminder: inspect the full length of the cable, from the connection on the motherboard (including the connection on the motherboard) to the connection for the inverter board. see if there's any wear and tear, or any type of breakage or visible damage. take a very close look at either end of the connector, perhaps taking a small pair of pliers and VERY GENTLY tugging on the wires individually to see if they're loose. you don't want to accidentally pull out good wires, so be careful... but if one comes out without any real force given, it might be the problem.

good luck, keep us updated.

concerning Remote Desktops: I'm not certain if the remote option is available in the home version of XP, I don't have sufficient experience with XP Home to say either way, if the tab does not exist, I'd recommend using an external monitor and using the keyboard Fn keys to switch to the external screen.
Edit: as I suspected (after a short bout of research I found the answer), XP Home DOES NOT support hosting RDC (remote desktops), so if you have XP Home the RDC option WILL NOT work. here's hoping you have XP Pro...

 

Yeah I think it is the bulb that has gone out and that I need a new panel, because the lcd inverters he has tried are the same type we just ordered one off ebay that may not of been reliable, so we ordered another one from a company but it stil isnt working so it must be the bulb, and like you said wouldnt be worth replacing since I'd need a new panel.

He just called and said he's got my information off the hard drive and needs me to come look at it all to confirm that he can now wipe my system.

So hopefully I can put this computer to peace now and order my new dell studio 15. Which is going to cost a 3rd of what I had paid for the alienware.

 

yea, but document it by submitting notification to AW in writing... keep paper trails...

 

I would disagree. if it's a problem with the cable (broken wire, for instance) then, no matter which inverter you used, it wouldn't work. and unless you kept your computer on 24/7 for the past year and a half, I doubt it's the bulb. those bulbs have a running life much longer than what you'd reach under normal use in 2 years. perhaps the inverter has a shorter lifespan, but trying a multitude of inverters and still not having it work... jeez. I'd go at the cable with a multimeter then... see which are making contact which don't...

I really think it's just a faulty wire, a touch of solder or a crimp of a connector would likely fix the problem. but hey, how about this instead:

noone listen to me.

it's okay, it's your laptop. if you wanna ditch it, fine. ditch it. I'm only trying to help save you some cash.