Toshiba Satellite M35X-S149 laptop video problem
Laptop problem: Toshiba Satellite M35X-S149 has no video. The customer complained that the laptop LCD video just disappeared without any reason. When he starts the laptop the screen lights but there in no data on it.
Laptop diagnostics: I started the laptop normally and LED showed normal activity. The hard drive started spinning. The LCD screen lighted but it was solid white color without any data on it.
Laptop repair process: when I get a laptop for repair with video problem, I always start with checking an external video. I connected the laptop to the external CRT monitor and started the laptop. The external video was fine and the laptop booted to Windows without any problem. Usually, if the external video is fine, the system board is good and the problem is in the LCD itself, in the video cable or in a bad connection between the LCD and the system board. On the next step, I removed the keyboard and reseated the display video cable on the system board, but it didn’t fix the problem. The laptop still booted without any data on the screen. Finally, I opened up the LCD display and found that the video cable connector on the back of the LCD screen was half way out. I reseated the connector and restarted the laptop. This time the laptop started normally and I got internal video. So, if your laptop starts with solid white screen without any data on it, try to reseat the video cable connector on the back of the LCD screen.
The following guides could be helpful for you:
Complete Toshiba Satellite M35X disassembly guide with instructions
Removing LCD, inverter board, video cable
Entry Filed under: Everyday Laptop Repair
76 Responses to “Toshiba Satellite M35X-S149 laptop video problem”
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Pages: « 8 7 6 5 4 [3] 2 1 » Show All
May 3rd, 2006 at 7:37 am
Nope, the monitor works fine, i connected it to a diffirent laptop and the screen popped on no problem. I connected an external crt to the laptop and it works, so the problem lies in the internal video connection on the board. If i trace the circuits and resoleder the connection might that get it to work? Thats the only thing i can think of other than replacing the motherboard that i just spent 250 dollars on.
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Paul,
If the external video works fine, then most likely the system board itself is OK. You having a problem with a video output on the LCD screen, right? There are 3 parts involved: LCD screen, FL inverter board, video cable.
When you have a problem with FL inverter, then usually you can see a faint image on the LCD screen. Do you see anything? Does the LCD screen change color just a little bit when you turn on the laptop? Try to replace the FL inverter board. If the screen is completely dark, then you have to check the LCD screen and the video cable. I would go with the video cable first. Also check the video connector on the system board. If it has bent pins try to straighten them.
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:01 pm
ok i found the problem, after thinking about it, i bypassed the lcd and plugged it into a standard drt monitor and bingo! it worked.. now my question is.. i know one monitor works so it has to be the plug-in on the board.. how do i go about fixing it.. or can i without purchasing a whole nother motherboard?
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:43 pm
I just recently bought a m35x laptop on ebay as it stated that everything powered up but the monitor didnt work. I had parts from another m35x that had a busted adapter pin, perfect fix right?>.. take the motherboard out of the working ebay bought machine and put it into the other one…. well it didnt work.. the system i bought off of ebay shows a power and battery led and the processor fan runs for a few seconds on startup but nothing comes up on screen, I have even swapped a working lcd and wiring but still nothing. Any suggestions or did i just waste 250.00?
May 2nd, 2006 at 6:47 pm
James,
If you search on eBay for the above mentioned part number, you can find the FL inverter for $45-$50. About $30 cheaper then your current offer.
May 2nd, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Thanks, I’m gratful for your help. The take down instructions for the monitor were a great help. Would you happen to know a website I could purchase an FL Inverter from, in the price range you mentioned? The best I have done so far is 76.00.
My laptop is an m35/s149 and the part number is k000018860.
Thanks again
James
May 1st, 2006 at 10:46 pm
James,
Here is my guide for taking apart Toshiba Satellite M35X display assembly . You can buy a new FL inverter board on ebay for $40-$50. You can find a part number for your FL inverter on the FL inverter itself. It will look something like this K000019440 though it might be a different part number.
Yep, it looks like a new FL inverter board will fix the problem, I mean most likely.
Once in a while, I get a laptop with symptoms like yours and the backlight on the LCD screen is bad itself and the LCD screen itself has to be replaced. But it’s very rare. I think you have very good chances to fix the problem by replacing the FL inverter board.
May 1st, 2006 at 7:06 pm
I reattached both ends of the vidio cable, the monitor is still black with the icons able to be seen very faint. After taking the screen down I’ve seen that the FL inverter is easy to replace. Is there a way to trouble shoot the fl inverter to make sure it is the problem based on the symptoms? Or, do you think it could be the LCD screen itself, based on the sysptoms? I found the FL inverter on the net for 76.00 and some change, but I would like to hear what you think before I order anything. Thanks in advance for your help.
James
May 1st, 2006 at 4:36 pm
I have the M30x/M35x Satellite. My lcd screen just went blank, using the FN and F5 keys and an external monitor I’m able to keep working. I called Toshiba and they say my warrenty is out, I then called a auth ser shop in Charlotte, NC. They say since I am able to see the very faint icons on the black screen that it sounds like the FL inverter is most likely bad. Can this be fixed by a layman, I am pretty good at soldering. Also, after this happened I had the external monitor running and pluged my DSL jack in and the LCD screen came back on and ran the rest of the day until I went into hibernate. The next day while on the external monitor I unpluged the DSL jack and the external monitor went off and I had to reboot to get it back up, also the LCD screen did not start working again like the last time. It I can fix the FL inverter how much would this cost. Thanks for your help. I read your posts on the DC jack, I had already had this problem and Toshiba fix it.
James
April 21st, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Thanks so much.