LCD screen
A laptop screen also known as LCD screen displays an image generated by the laptop video card. The LCD screen receives data signal from the video card through the LCD cable.
Laptop screens come in many different sizes and resolutions. In order to find the LCD screen size (in inches), you’ll have to measure the screen between the two diagonal corners.
Older laptops had mostly full screen LCD displays. Newer laptops have mostly widescreen LCD displays.
A backlight lamp (also known as CCFL bulb) is the main source of light in any LCD screen. The backlight lamp powers up by the inverter board.
The LCD screen mounts inside the laptop display panel between the screen bezel and display cover. The LCD screen is attached to the screen brackets (display brackets) which are permanently attached to the display hinges.
TYPICAL LCD SCREEN RELATED FAILURES
On the following images you’ll see some typical LCD screen related failures.
1. You can see image only on a part of the LCD screen. For example, only the top side of the screen works properly.
2. There is one or more thin multi color lines running down the screen.
3. There is a wide band running down the LCD screen. The
BUYING A NEW REPLACEMENT SCREEN
The LCD screen is one of the most expensive parts in a laptop computer. If your screen is damaged and you decide to replace it yourself, you’ll have to make sure to purchase a new screen compatible with your laptop. Hear are a few things to consider before buying a new screen:
1. Screen size.
2. Some laptops come with full size LCDs. Some laptops come with widescreen LCDs.
3. LCD screen could be matte or glossy.
4. Same size LCD screens may have different resolutions.
The best way to find a new replacement screen would be using the manufacturer’s part number or LCD screen model. Both could be found on the back side of the screen.
April 30th, 2010 at 2:41 am
Hi
My laptop screen is appearing whitish with a black smokey look as though graphite dust was sprinkled in it.
When i turn the lap top on i hear it starting up ok, just have the dead whitish/smokey looking screen. has anyone else had a problem like this or recognize the symptoms.
Thanks
April 28th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Bill,
It means the video card works properly.
Most likely you have a problem with the video cable or LCD screen and here’s what you can try:
1. Try reconnecting the video cable on both ends, make sure the video cable makes good contact with the LCD screen and motherboard.
2. Try replacing the video cable.
3. Try replacing the LCD screen.
April 27th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Okay, I hooked it up to my desktop monitor and the picture looks perfect.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Bill,
The external monitor has a cable with D-shaped connector (15 pins inside).
You plug this cable into the VGA port on the side (or back) of your laptop and turn the laptop on.
On some models the external monitor is detected and activated automatically, on other models you have to change the laptop display settings to output to the external monitor.
If the external monitor will not work right away, try using the keyboard shortcut (I believe it’s Fn+F4 combination) or go to the display settings and set the external monitor.
April 26th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Not sure what I’d need to hook up to check the video on an external monitor. Does that require special cables?
April 26th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Bill,
How about video on the external monitor? Did you have a chance to check out external video output?
April 25th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Hi Repair Man,
First of all – thank you! I spent a total of $29 to fix a “operating sytem not found” on attempted reboot and no drivers ound for the hard drive in my laptop. HP wanted to charge me $99 just to speak with me on the phone, and they likely would have suggested I send it in for service. Your guide to laptops helped me diagnose and fix the problem (bad hard drive – installed new OS on the replaced drive).
Now – my LCD related question…
My HP Pavillion dv9700 laptop’s screen shows a neon green rather than black for all pixels. If I start to close the screen, when it gets maybe three incles from being all the way shut, I can see the black go back to black, but when I reopen the screen the problem reemerges. I did open up the LCD area and attempted to wiggle/squeeze various wires but not seemed to do anything. Further, the brightness on the LCD is dimmer than I would expect (but still easily seen)and the function keys for brightness do nothing to alter the brightness of the screen.
From some various forums, I think it may have something to do with a slightly loose connection to the motherboard, but that’s a guess.
Can you help? Will you?
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Justin Bowen,
I misunderstood your question.
I had to google “velcro” to find out what it is. I guess it’s some kind of duct tape.
I don’t know if attaching the hard drive to the display cover can damage the LCD screen.
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Wow, that was quick.
You pretty much answered almost all of my questions. I say almost because I need some clarification on one of your answers.
When I asked if I should avoid attaching the HDD to my laptop when it is turned on, I was asking about whether I should attach it to the back of my screen with the velcro or not, not whether I should avoid attaching it to the PC with a USB cable. Are you saying that you do the former all the time or the latter?
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Justin Bowen,
Sounds like the LCD screen failure. Most likely replacing the LCD screen will fix the problem.
I don’t sell any LCD screens. Apparently you visited one of the sites through the advertising links.
Because there is a chance that your laptop will not work properly with a different screen. A screen with higher resolution might require a different LCD cable.
I cannot tell if a new screen with higher resolution will work fine. You’ll have to contact the seller and ask them this question.
If you have a regular (backlioght lit screen) you cannot replace it with an LED screen.
I don’t think that connecting an external HDD would cause this problem. Could be just a coincidence.
I do it all the time.
In most cases it’s not difficult. Check out http://www.InsideMyLaptop.com where I publish guide for different laptops and read though a few LCD screen replacement guides for different laptops. You’ll get the idea.
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I have an Asus N50Vn laptop. The screen has one (so far) thin line running vertically on the left side of the screen. It appeared after I attached an external HDD to the back of the laptop with some heavy-duty velcro (I attached it because it’s the HDD that contains all of my music, videos, e-books, and other important files that I use on a regular basis). I can press on the bezel or on the screen case in certain spots and it will go away, but the problem is only getting worse. I’m planning on replacing the screen but have some questions before doing so.
1. Your website lists several screens that are compatible with my laptop model. My particular laptop (the N50Vn model has several “sub-models”) has 15.4″ screen with a max res of 1280×800. Why does your site say that it is important to ensure that the original screen has the same resolution? If my video card can support higher resolutions and if the screen size is the same, will it matter if I buy a screen with better resolution? Shouldn’t the only thing I be concerned with is whether or not it will fit in the frame?
2. Can I replace my current screen with an LED-lit screen (the only one available is in the same size and resolution)?
3. Up until I attached the external HDD to the screen case, the screen was working fine. I’m going to assume, at the obvious risk of making an ass out of myself, that it was electromagnetic interference from the HDD that caused the problem. Should I avoid attaching the HDD to my laptop when it is turned on when I install the new screen or was this just a fluke (or due to pulling the HDD off of the case)?
4. Is replacing a screen difficult? I’ve worked on laptops before but have never replaced a screen. Is there any soldering involved? Are there any online sources for help with replacing screens?
Thanks for any help that you can provide. I look forward to hearing from you.
Justin
February 20th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Margie,
If these two laptops are absolutely identical, I would try moving the hard drive and memory first. It’s easier than replacing the display panel.
February 15th, 2010 at 10:03 am
I have two older identical HP Pavilion laptops model N5310. One has a non functioning display,using an external monitor, it runs pretty well with Windows XP Professional and has decent amount of RAM (512 meg). The other one has a working display, runs Windows XP Home edition, but it has less RAM (256 Meg) so it runs slower than the non functioning display one. Which would be the better,and/or easier course of action?:
1) swap the entire LCD display portion from the good slower model to the faster dead display model? (how would I do this?)
2) swap the hard drive and RAM from the dead display model to the functioning display model?
I know these are old and not worth spending money on, but I still hope to get at least one of them in full operating condition if possible.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
December 28th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Missy,
What was wrong with the old screen?
Here are a few things you can try:
1. Enter the BIOS setup menu and load default settings. Safe them and restart the laptop.
2. Try reflashing/updating the BIOS.
If nothing helps, I think your new LCD screen either bad or not compatible with the laptop.
December 28th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I replaced the LCD screen on my HP DV6000. Seemed to go smoothly and I’m getting a clear picture, but the picture is all wrong. It’s moved positions to the left and I’m getting four images on one screen (similar to how the desktop background is “tiled”). Any ideas?
December 14th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
How do you locate the lid closed switch on a sony vaio vgn sz390p. My lcd went dark on me two weeks ago. i replaced the entire lcd for over $500 and its really dim but if i shine a light on it I can see the screen. I can hook up an external monitor and its perfect. I think my lid closed switch is stuck. Where can i find this?
December 9th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
My problem is a little different. After turning on the unit and heating up for 10 minutes, I get a small semi-circular black spot that appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen. It appears as about the size of a thumb print. It will remain and after the unit runs for additional 10 minutes or so, the screen will start to “flicker” and become distorted. I have not just left it on to see if it will go totally black. After shutting off and cooling then restarting, the screen is clear until it warms up again. Would this be the inverter or a screen problem?
November 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Ed,
I doubt that your problem is related to the lid close switch. The LCD coming on for a second when the lid switch is tapped, it means the switch works.
Sounds like a problem with the inverter or backlight lamp.
If the lid close switch is soldered to the motherboard, you cannot disable it.
November 19th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I believe that the dealer was reputable. With the screen coming on for a second when the lid swith is tapped it seems that the problem is in the switch. Any way to disable the lid switch? It is soldered to the mother board.
Thanks
Ed
November 19th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Ed,
Did you buy spare parts from a reputable seller? There is a chance that your spare parts are not good. I’ve seen it happening before.
The lid close switch itself could be bad I guess.