The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Ibm thinkpad t42 screen problem?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by mnplus1556, Nov 13, 2009.

  1. mnplus1556

    mnplus1556 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    hello. ok so i recently bout a friends old laptop. it's a ibm thinkpad t42 type 2373.

    so if i have the screen problem. i can plug it into an external monitor and it works fine. otherwise the built in lcd will display the image but the back light stays off. in attempt to fix this i bought a new lcd inverter. now it stays on for a max of 10 seconds. the only ways that it will go on is if i push the button to make it think i closed the lid. after i release the button the back light goes on for a few seconds. i have opened the laptop. the connection seems to be fine. is there a bios update or something? has anyone else had this problem? how do i fix it???


    thanks!!
     
    mnplus1556, Nov 13, 2009
    #1
  2. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,282
    Messages:
    3,122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Backlight has failed, you will have to replace the LCDm or if you are really skilled, replace the backlight.
     
    wearetheborg, Nov 13, 2009
    #2
  3. mnplus1556

    mnplus1556 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    i've heard that you can replace the ribbon cable..would this work for me??

    how has the backlight failed if it is still going on??
     
    mnplus1556, Nov 13, 2009
    #3
  4. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,282
    Messages:
    3,122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    The backlight is only coming on for a short while (and it might be on longer at lowest brightness setting). These are classic backlight fail signs. The backlight is more similar to flurorescent tubelights I think, its not like an incandescent bulb where its either fully working or fully failed.
    Backlights get dimmer over time, then reddish tint/failing at higher brightness etc
     
    wearetheborg, Nov 13, 2009
    #4
  5. mnplus1556

    mnplus1556 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    mnplus1556, Nov 14, 2009
    #5