CF-W5 display problem

To all,

My CF-W5 has been trouble free since I began using it a couple of years ago, but about a week ago the display began to randomly do what I would call a blink, then go dark. I can still see, the desktop for example, if that was where I was, but it is too dark to work with. I guess (I use it, don't know too much about it) that the LCD is going off. I can close the lid (standby) and then open it again and it will be fine. It may happen two or three times in a row, may go for hours without it happening at all, nothing to associate it with reliably.

I had a W4 that had connection problems, this is definitely not the same. I use my computer on customer networks so have up to date AV from Norton and am very cautious about what I open or allow on to my computer. I don't think it's a bug of some sort. My guess is that this may be a heat related issue, but that is all it is.

I would be grateful for any insights or suggestions anyone may have.

Thanks in advance!

rustic52

 

What happens if you connect an external monitor?

 

Glen,

I have used the computer with an external monitor many times for training with no problems. I connected it to my external monitor here for a few minutes and both worked fine.

rustic52

 

I'm a duffer with software, even the event log is pretty much a mystery to me so I rely on googling event id's from the relevant times. Obviously I note the exact times of events.
Been lucky with it so far - there's always been someone with the same problem and someone else with a fix.
SpeedFan lives on my taskbar and shows realtime temperatures of hdd, processors, anything with a sensor I think (normal at 42 & 45 degrees just now). If your problem is heat-related it might help and it's a free download.
Vaguely remember something about hotkey driver and entering/exiting sleep or powersaving being an issue, don't have the details though.

 

Believe he meant try connecting an external monitor the next time your CF-W5 display goes dim. If the external monitor works when the display does not, that rules out the video circuits as a problem.

This sounds like a problem with the cables that go from the motherboard to the display, probably the cable to the inverter circuit. It's common for these to wear through the insulation where they go around the hinge (on the left side if I recall correctly). Sometimes they can be repaired by removing the hinge cover and adding insulating tape. Or might need to disassemble the display. Either job takes patience and some skill, the W and T series are buggers to work on.

 

unclemack,

I'll look into both the event Id and the SpeedFan. It seems like both could be helpful.

Springfield,

Thanks for the gentle hint on the monitor, I had a duh moment there. Next time it happens I'll connect to my external monitor. Because I can still see whatever screen was open even though it is very dark, I don't think it is the video circuit. I wonder if there is a component in the circuit that powers the LCD that is beginning to fail somehow?

As for the wiring, as I said, my W4 had the problem exactly as you described it. If I bumped the display or when I would open/close it, it would go dark, finally not coming back at all until repaired. I can bump/open/close the screen on the W5 and there is no effect. I'm pretty certain it's not in the interconnecting wiring.

Thanks to you both for the input.

rustic52

 

Well then it may be the inverter circuit.