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    Inverter or backlight issue?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Stryker412, Nov 4, 2009.

  1. Stryker412

    Stryker412 Notebook Consultant

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    I have a customer who brought me their Latitude. She said she dropped it and now the screen does not work.

    From what I've seen (using an external display), the screen/gpu are working fine but it's just not being backlit. The odd thing is though, I can get the backlight to come on but only for a split second (when using the LCD/CRT button or when first booting into windows). So does it sound like an inverter or CCFL bulb?
     
    Stryker412, Nov 4, 2009
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  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Could be either, tbh. I suggest you try replacing the inverter first, since it's way cheaper and infinitely easier to access than the backlight lamp itself.
     
    Mastershroom, Nov 4, 2009
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  3. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    Yeah, this could be either. I suspect it's the lamp though if she dropped it. And considering it comes on for a flash.
     
    surfasb, Nov 4, 2009
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  4. DRFP

    DRFP Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes of course maybe, Do you get the lamp with the inverter? I forget?

    Last time I fooled with a screen I replaced it and the screen for the 1501 came with an inverter assembled, it was easier that way.

    Dropping it seems like the answer would be a loose bulb, or even damaged bulb, so I go with that first.
     
    DRFP, Nov 4, 2009
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  5. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    My experience is inverter when it comes on for a second.
     
    gerryf19, Nov 4, 2009
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  6. DRFP

    DRFP Notebook Evangelist

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    Maybe its loose some way? they are not too expensive from what I remember.
     
    DRFP, Nov 4, 2009
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  7. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Agreed 100%; plus as Mastershroom mentioned, it is a bit cheaper to replace the inverter first.

    No you don't get the lamp with the inverter in the vast majority of cases - the inverter is just a small board similar in size to a memory module. Typically you get the lamp with the LCD assembly rather than the inverter board.

    If you shine a light at the display, can you actually see anything on it at all? It could be that the display itself is shot, as the inverter simply converts power for the backlight AFAIK, and so you should still be able to see something, although it will be a struggle.

    http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2006/07/08/notebook-display-diagram/
     
    Fragilexx, Nov 4, 2009
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