Do I have a inverter problem?

My wife's Dell e1505's screen started to go black suddenly. I decided to do the following:

1. Attempted to turn off power management by setting the monitor to presentation mode. I notice that while the screen is out, everything still works.

2. Run the laptop using Ubuntu Live CD and by running it in the BIOS screen. I notice that in both cases, the laptop screen still went out, so I figure it was not an OS problem.

3. Play with the brightness setting. I notice that when I use the dimmest setting, the screen does not go out. When the brightness setting is at the highest, I can hear a crackling and buzzing sound. The screen also flickers.

4. I notice that I can restart the screen by closing the lid and then reopening it.

5. Install the latest BIOS in case that helps. It does not.

6. When it goes out, I shined a flashlight to the screen. I can see the text faintly.

7. When I hook up the laptop to an external monitor, it works just fine even when the internal screen goes out.

I figured it is not the video card because the external monitor would be out, too. It is not the OS since it occur in both BIOS and Linux. The problem is most likely the inverter or the bulb. Judging from the symptom, it sounds more like the inverter?

Paul

 

It sounds like a faulty inverter to me, I have the E1505, and I have luckily not had these problems. I sometimes have to restart my screen, by opening/closing the lid, but thats cause their is a small screen shut off button in the latch, which sometimes get recessed when its not supposed to be.

You should be able to get a new inverter for pretty cheap

You proved the laptop still works, by trying the external monitor, so everything checks out, and the inverter is the part to be fixed.
However, before buying a new inverter, take the lid apart, and try reconnecting the wires running to the inverter, see if that fixes the problem

Good luck,

K-TRON

 

Most likely just the Inverter and/or cable. not a big deal

 

Thanks, I may have gotten extended warranty for it, so it may still be covered.

 

I think that the back light may have failed. Thats a possibility too.