help finding my way thru replacement LCD screen jungle???

Good folk,

I am trying to find a replacement LCD display for a Compaq Presario V2000 (V2311US). Someone sat on it and, while it still lights up, it is no longer readable. Nothing else is wrong, naturally. The laptop works fine with an external display. But it needs a new LCD screen to be laptop again.

Now I've already seen the Mobility Guru article about ScreenTekLtd over at TomsHardware. I've also already pulled the units screen to get the actual LCD screen model number. It's a 14" Samsung LTN140W1-L01. And if you search ebay it is easy enough to find offers to sell a replacement for one of these. What's hard is to figure out whether or not to buy what is offered.

If anyone has pointers to any place on the web that provides more info about buying replacement LCDs, I'd love to hear about it. Anything that might help me take a better guess at what is happening behind the scenes would be appreciated.

I did check Compaq's online parts catalog to see what they would charge me for a new screen (Compaq part number 373055-001). It's $775 .... and so that's why I am looking around on eBay.

You'd think it would be simple. I know I need a Samsung LTN140W1-L01, so just get one. But I'm not sure you can trust part numbers out there. An auction for a glossy screen and one for the non-gloss screen will BOTH claim they are selling a LTN140W1-L01. Same thing for screen resolutions, different values specified yet they still claim to be selling a LTN140W1-L01.

Anyone here have any insight or suggestions? (Maybe I should try to get a job working at Samsung ... )

-lost boy johnny

 

Cheapest I think is look for old V2000 series laptop over ebay. Otherwise if the laptop is not highend, then you better get a replacement for around $400. Or buy one at that price( typical Sempron or Celeron models) are around that price and replace screen. You will have spare HDD, Battery, DVD Drive, Power SupplySOme memory and all other parts(If you sell those individually again probably you can get more than $200). ScreenTek and Similar Screen suppliers are charging more than actual basic laptop itself.

 

In my wandering this AM, I found a link at ScreenTek's website to a NotebookReview.com article by abaxter. I'll post a link to it here for possible future reference.
Replacing and Upgrading a Notebook LCD Screen

For my purposes, both this and the MobilityGuru/TomsHardware article of actually of limited use. On the plus side, they do provide very useful info on the physical procedure of replacing your LCD screen. But what they do not provide help or insight for is the process of buying a new LCD screen. These articles just point you towards ScreenTek Ltd. as a fait accompli.

While I'm sure ScreenTek Ltd. works and probably works well, it's certainly not all there is to the story, is it?

-the "still wandering in the LCD wilderness" john

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been looking but so far I have not seen any old V2000 laptops going for around $400 on eBay yet. They still get bidded up to $450-500 or more.

And even if I snagged one at $400, I'm not so sure that I'd actually make anywhere near $200 by selling the parts in an old V2000. How much demand is there for 256MB PC2700 RAM and 40GB 4200RPM drives? Hint: I just bought 2x512MB SODIMMs on eBay and paid $27 each.

And then there is the really big possible catch-22. How do I know that the LCD screen in an old V2000 I pick up would actually work in my V2000? Short of actually pulling the LCD screen and checking it's model number, there is no guarantee that Compaq used the same LCD parts in both.

-john

 

Well a monitor from screentek is usually around 400-500 (including mine) I have never had to replace one out of warranty (yet) Its pretty easy to do its just the cost. You can find the exact monitor at screentek I would probably go that route.

 

In my experience with ScreenTek their customer service was A+, they're more than willing to just ship you the part of course if you want to do it yourself (they'll provide instructions) or you can take it to a nearby laptop repair shop (I bet even Best Buy's "Geek Squad" would put the screen in for a certain amount after you buy the screen, or see if they do screen replacement themselves -- I'm sure it'd be a ton though). There's other resellers out there for screen parts, but ScreenTek is the only one I've had experience with, just Google "Laptop screen replacement" to find a couple of companies in the first couple of pages.

Either way, I recommend giving ScreenTek a call and seeing what your options are, they're pretty helpful on the phone in my experience. You're probably looking at a $400 screen though.

 

No, I am not telling to buy $400 on eBay. You can get new laptop at those prices, many times, OD, Staples etc. New HDD, Battery itself is worth $100 as per HP or $50 as per eBay( Not HP, but similar), DVD/CD drives are going for $50 on eBay. One guy is even selling indivdual keyboard keys for each $5( if he can sell all keys, he will make money more than laptop!! ) Ofcourse celeron M or Sempron will easily go for $50. And many people will buy wireless miniPCI for atleast $25.

But anyways, that depends on your patience level. I would never buy screen for $400 ( I personally feel it is like rif-off people weakness as they can not get replacement, Nothing specific against ScreenTek or someone else, but as as general trend. ) All these HP/Dell/Asus these guys want you to buy their accidental policy or new notebook. I personally believe ScreekTek service would be excellent, but cost is terrible at $375 for screen and $50 for service and additional shipping making it like almost $475.

Anyways, I hope you would be able to find some viable solution soon. Best of luck.

 

I don't know if I'd say "never", but I know I'm definitely going to spend time looking at other options before relenting and paying that much for what is essentially a commodity.

I view ScreenTek and the other $375+ LCD fixers as just filling a niche. The premium price is OK for people with money who just want to pay to minimize hassles. But that is certainly not me. I've got more time than I do money. And I have no reason to rush to get the notebook up and running.

As for the concept of having someone else do it for me .... Well, sure, if it was like ... really difficult ... if I might break something doing it myself. But that's just not the case here. I've already torn the LCD out and put it back in. I have no concerns that the task is beyond me.

Interestingly enough, after my previous post in which I talked about how reluctant I was to buy a used V2000 on eBay to salvage the screen, I actually did place a bid on a system. I'm expecting to get outbid, but we'll see how that goes. Never say never.

-john

 

May be I shouldn't have said never!! atleast with current laptop or laptop like V2000 or DV1000 series( both use same screen). May be if I own a Premium ASUS woth $2k+, then may be, may be.... who know...