LCD goes off all the time

Hi guys!
Have a really bad problem here. I would really appreciate if somebody could help me.
So, here we go. All of the sudden LCD started to turn itself off. If I press Fn+F7 twice it goes back on, but doesn't stay on for a long time and turns off again in a little bit. If I dim a backlight (Fn+F5) it stays on for little longer. So the only way to make it stay on most of the time, is to keep it one Fn+F6 above complete darkness. Additionally , it is having some kinda flickering once in a while. Very wierd.....
I don't know what to do with it
I read the topic on cleaning the dust and stuff, so I went to pick up a bottle of the compressed air and gave a notebook throughout cleaning. Didn't help. I re-installed the Windows XP. Same story. Re-flashed BIOS . Still nothing...
And this problem happens not only under the Windows. It is the same in DOS, when I was saving the image with Ghost, and even in BIOS setup.
So, I guess I am in big trouble and this is a hardware... Please, prove me wrong.
Did anything similar happened to anybody here?
Please, a need an advice!
I will try to call Asus Tech Support tomorrow, see what they say. But last time I called them , a guy wasn't very helpful.

Notebook is Asus A6Jc, nVidia 7300, Intel T2300, 2GB RAM. Prior to this it was completely functional.

Will be waiting for your advices, guys!
Thanx in advance!

 

Backlight? FL inverter? Virus/Trojan?

Anybody? Please!

 

It seems that it is the inverter. Either that or the backlight itself (less likely) or even the inverter cable (even less likely).

I suggest send it in for repairs if it's still under warranty. Otherwise, you can try to find the inverter on ASUS eStore (they're cheap but may be difficult for you to replace if you never took the notebook apart).

 

Thanx E.B.E. !
It is two years and one month since the purchase. So I guess I am out of luck and the repair will not be covered by the warranty.
At Asus estore there are threee inverters:
A6 INVERTER W/CMOS 20P L=36.1 - $7.00
A6 INVERTER W/MIC L:280mm R1.1 - $7.00
A6J INVERTER_BD. - $15.00
http://estore.asus.com/shop/category.asp?catid=460

Should I get the one for $15.00?

I did take a notebook apart before, but never the LCD part. I think i will order the part and try to replace it once it comes. If I don't succed, then i will take it to local repair shop, see if they can do it.
Just got off the phone with Asus Tech support. they told me I should send it to them. They will diagnose it for free, contact me will estimate and attempt to rapair. Flat labour fee is $45

 

Yep, so maybe getting the inverter first is still better (there's a good chance it'll be the problem).

Personally I think that the last (15USD) component is what you need. I don't know what the other two are (what's with the mic & stuff? looks weird).

You could try to take the LCD apart and check the part # on the inverter, see if it matches the one on the Internet. I wouldn't bet the part # is on the inverter, though (I don't remember but I don't think it was on my M6BNe when I changed it).

 

Hi!

I've just received the inverter, replaced it , and...... ...same thing

1. Inverter - checked
2. Backlight
3. Inverter cable

Should I move on to the next item - Backlight? Is it DIY or is it time to send it to Asus for the repair?
Replacing inverter was pretty easy. Only one thing, the top left screw doesn't come out.
If connected to an external monitor (external monitor only mode), everything works fine on it. But it is too heavy to carry it with me all the time.

What would be the official name for the "Backlight"? I don't see any at Asus eStore page for the A6Jc

http://estore.asus.com/shop/category.asp?catid=460

Once again, thank you so much for helping me!

 

Backlight is an internal component of the LCD; the LCD will set you back 300-400+ USD...

Try the cable next, just because it's cheap.

If that doesn't work either... then it's the backlight, and you need to make a decision whether you want to fix the laptop or simply get a new one.

Edit: I suppose it does the same thing if you sit in the BIOS, or in a Live Linux boot-up, right? We don't want to be paying money for something that might be software...

 

Hi!
Just got off the phone talking to Asus tech support.
Replacement LCD panel costs $355, plus about 100 for labor. Seriously considering getting another laptop. Sony has a pretty good deal on refurb laptops right now http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665253631&XID=A:227502:10383604:121678-n-1:CJ
Or maybe, for about $500-600 more, I should get a a brand new one. I was pretty happy with mine A6Jc, but wouldn't mind a higher resolution screen. So M50/51 would do it.
By the way, if i decide to send A6Jc for the repair, is it possible to replace the LCD panel with a higher resolution one (1280 x 800 -> 1440 x 900)
At the Asus global websites A6Jc specification page shows "15.4" WXGA (1280*800) / WSXGA+ (1680*1050)"

To E.B.E., what do you mean by "Try the cable next, just because it's cheap"
Replace the cable with a new one? Which cable? The one that goes to the inverter or the one from inverter to the screen?

Yeah, it does the same thing in the BIOS. Screen does not go blank if I put Backlight to the minimum. I have turn off all the lights in the room so I can see it (barely), but it does stays on. The more I increase the backligt the less time is stays on. I have noticed that it stays on longer if it was cold boot, if it was just restarted no change. So i guess there is something to do with a temperature, isn't it?

Thanks, once again!

 

Yeah, that may be temperature related. Which would suggest electronics (backlight), not cable...

I meant the cable that goes from the mainboard to the inverter. The one that goes from the inverter to the screen is not removable from the LCD panel (at least not on my M6, your case may be different).

I meant it was cheap as in under 20USD on the eStore. So given it's much cheaper than a new LCD for instance, you could try it to make sure you covered all the bases before you give up on the laptop, or buy a new LCD.

I believe it is possible to replace with a higher-resolution panel, but you should ask them about it.

 

Hey, what if I buy a panel on the Ebay? I see there are some sellers, who sell them for $154 WXGA and $194 WSXGA+. Do you think it is worth trying ?

 

I don't know. I have no experience with ebay. You should wait for suggestions from other people.

 

Just received used LCD panel I bought on eBay. Installed it. It did take care of backlight problem, but this screen has 7 vertical colored lines running all the way from the bottom to the top. Both in Windows and in DOS. Is this panel defective?
Will start the dispute at the eBay & PayPal...