Do you have a problem with the backlight on your laptop? If yes, you are not alone, that’s one of the most common laptop problems. In most cases the screen inverter is the culprit. Here are some LCD screen backlight failure symptoms that could be related to a bad inverter board:
- Laptop boots as usual but after some time the screen blacks out. You still can see an image on the screen but it’s very dim. You might even use a flashlight to see it better. Sometimes the backlight comes back for a while but then goes off again. In some cases you can turn the backlight on if you tap rapidly on the lid close switch.
- The screen always stay black and the backlight never comes on but you still can make out an image on the LCD. It’s dark, but the image is still there.
-In some cases you might hear a buzzing noise coming from the area where the inverter board is located, it’s on the bottom part of the display assembly.
NOTE: if you cannot see an image on the screen (not even very dim image), most likely you have a different problem and there is nothing wrong with the screen inverter.
Other related articles:
Laptop has bad video on the LCD screen. What is wrong?
Notebook display assembly diagram. How image appears on the screen.
How to troubleshoot and fix laptop video problems
How to replace laptop backlight lamp (CCFL)
Here’s an example of replacing the FL inverter board on an IBM ThinkPad T41 notebook. This guide will work fine for any other IBM notebook. Replacing screen inverter on other notebooks like Dell, HP, Toshiba, etc… will not be much different.
First of all, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
In order to access the inverter board you’ll have to remove the LCD screen bezel. On most laptops screws are hidden behind screw seals. In this case we have 5 screw seals on the front. Carefully remove the seals with a sharp object and glue them on the LCD bezel, in this case you will not lose them. Remove all screws and mark them somehow so you are not confused when you assemble the notebook back.
Some laptops also have screws on the side of the display. This notebook has 3 screws on each side. Remove screws seals and then remove screws.
Start removing the LCD bezel with all fingers. Carefully wiggle the bezel to release plastic latches. Never use any sharp object during disassemble because you can accidentally damage the screen.
If latches are very tight you can use a guitar pick to unlock them. Insert the guitar pick between the LCD bezel and cover and carefully move it alone the side.
This notebook allows you to replace the inverter board without removing the LCD bezel completely. Lift up the bottom part of the bezel and remove one screw securing the inverter board to the LCD cover. This location is very common for the screen inverter. On most laptops you’ll find it under the display bezel below the screen.
Carefully lift up the FL inverter and rotate it a little bit. Unplug cables on both sides. The left side of the inverter board connects to the video cable, the right side to the backlight bulb (CCFL tube) inside the LCD screen. Remove the inverter and replace it with a new one.
To find a new inverter board (and any other spare part too) for any IBM notebook you should use the FRU number from the part.
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July 28th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I am facing exact same problem i.e. my IBM R50e laptop screen has gone blank but I am able to use additional screen (desktop) and managing my work. Kindly let me know how much does it cost to replace that inverter as I am not sure if I should repair or get a new laptop instead.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Abhijeet
July 25th, 2010 at 5:17 am
hi. my laptop is having some problems. when i turn it on there is the baclight and some sort of flashing as it boots on the screen by it does not display anything.what could be the problem. please help
July 19th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
OK – my variation on the problem of a dodgy display (works fine only at certain angles) is that the lights on the keyboard part go out when the bright display konks out – but not upon startup! Only if I move it then they all go out – but if it starts up and the screen is dim, the keyboard lights are on.
I already tried just monkeying around with the back lcd cable – no dice. Am afraid to venture to the hinge area on my own.
Thanks so much and I appreciate your having a forum for people to post their problems – I at least feel I have some idea what the problem might be, thanks to this site.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:53 am
sir
i am having compaq presario laptop v 3000. before 2 months vendor had replace the nvedia chipset however now laptop is once again had no display( power is coming in it ) . i want to know how to diagnos that whether there is a problem in my motherboard , lcd screen , inverter or display cable. pls help me on my email
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:02 am
good am. Thsi is a helpful website i have a problem on my own too hope you can help me. i have no display watsoever in my laptop but the light turns on. What might be the problem. It just white light whenever i turn it on tanx.
God bless
June 30th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
thanks for the instructions. Really helpfull!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 stars!!!!!
June 25th, 2010 at 12:16 am
Elisa,
I think you purchased a wrong inverter board. I would suggest buying exactly the same inverter, not a compatible one.
I don’t think so. Basically, you unplug two cables from the old inverter and connect them to the new inverter.
June 24th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Hello
I installed a new inverter on my Dell B120 laptop according to your instructions displayed on the website. As expected, the backlight turned on. However, I noticed something weird involving the brightness controls on my keyboard. Before the inverter replacement, to raise the brightness, I used the UP arrow key and to lower, the DOWN key. With the new inverter, it seemed to reverse the controls: UP arrow key now lowers the brightness and DOWN arrow key raises the brightness. According to an Amazon seller that I purchased from, it’s 100% manufacturer compatible and I wonder if the new inverter has different configurations from the old one. Or perhaps it was the way I handled the installation process that caused to reverse the brightness controls? I can provide photos of how I did it, if you like.
Your response will be greatly appreciated!
June 19th, 2010 at 6:27 am
How do you remove the screw seals? It looks like there really in there.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:46 am
I have replace the inverter on 2 Dell laptops (Latitude D800, and and Inspiron 6000). I get my screen back for a few minutes then I get the same problem as before I changed the inverter (screen flickers, then goes black). It seems to be “burning out” the new inverter in a few minutes. What would be the cause of this? I have replaced the inverter with the exact same part number as the original inverter, twice. Any help or advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Sean