What can you do if the laptop LCD screen turned completely white? From my experience I can tell that this problem may be related to the following:
1. Loose connection between the video cable and the LCD screen.
2. Defective LCD screen.
3. Defective motherboard (I assume the graphics card is integrated into the motherboard).
Here’s an example of a laptop with white screen. When you turn on the laptop, it starts but the image on the screen is completely white right from the beginning. In my case it was a Toshiba Satellite M45 laptop but this problem may occur with any other brand.
Most likely you still can use the laptop with an external monitor. Just connect the monitor to the VGA port on the back or side of your laptop and then switch the video output from internal to external mode.
On Toshiba laptops you can toggle between internal and external screens using Fn+F5 keys. Hold down Fn and press on F5 until you get video on the external monitor.
On IBM laptops use Fn+F7.
On HP laptops use Fn+F4.
It’s possible that you have to use a different key combination on your laptop but you get the idea.
On some laptops, in order to be able to use the external monitor, you have to connect it to the laptop and then restart the laptop so the external monitor is detected by the laptop.
I noticed that in some cases the laptop screen may turn white because of poor connection between the video cable and the LCD screen. If you want to check this connection, you’ll have to take apart the display panel because the connector is located on the back side of the LCD screen.
These laptop service manuals and disassembly instructions may be useful.
I always check the video cable connection first. Reconnecting the video cable may fix your problem.
If reconnecting the video cable doesn’t help, most likely you have a problem either with the LCD screen or with the motherboard.
The best way to find out witch one is causing the problem is testing the laptop with another working LCD screen. Without this test you’ll have to guess because as I mentioned before this could either bad motherboard or bad LCD screen.
You’ll have to disconnect the video cable from the LCD screen (connector 2) and the inverter board (connectors 3 and 1). After that you connect another working screen and test video.
For this purpose I’m using one of my test LCD screens. My test screen is cracked and because of that you see a wide white band in the center but it still works fine for this test.
The original screen is white but my test screen works normal (except the crack of course) and I can see the image. After this test I can tell that the problem must be related to the screen.
After I assembled everything back together and connected the original LCD, it’s still white.
CONCLUSION. In my case this problem is related to the LCD screen and it has to be replaced.
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August 31st, 2010 at 5:56 am
My Acer laptop screen started chipping in and out and i wud just tap on it and it went fine, eventually tapping on it was no longer useful. I opened it and checked for connections but doesnt seem to locate the cause for this problem. My concern is what would be the solution if the problem turns out to be the inverter?
August 23rd, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Perfect! I had the white screen problem after installing a new lcd in a toshiba satelite. All I had to do is push the connection on the back of the lcd screen in just a little bit further. When plugging it in I was a little too cautious and didn’t make a good connection. I checked it as you said and BAM! it’s working.
You kick butt. Thank you much.
Everyone check the connection on the back of the lcd screen. Make sure you plug it in all the way. Mine went in furthur than I thought.
August 15th, 2010 at 9:52 am
qazibasit,
I don’t know how far you had to disassemble the laptop.
Did you have to disconnect the video cable? Maybe it’s not plugged correctly?
Try reconnecting the cable.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:16 am
Doug. It appears it would be your inverter. Not the screen. If it isn’t the inverter it would be the connector on the motherboard itself. Which could possibly be fixed without getting a new mobo, but very difficult. I would try swapping mobos.
July 25th, 2010 at 12:23 am
i unscrewed my hp dv5 laptop or cleaning the fan, but after assembling, its lcd ia totally white with occassional lines. It was working fine before just loud fan. But now its not even booting.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I don’t think the motherboard is bad, especially if an external monitor works. I have the same problem with the A305, and I’m wondering if it’s the Inverter? I replaced the LCD screen to no avail.
July 20th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
I have this problem with my 8.9 AOA150 zg5 Acer Aspire One netbook but I switched the LCD with a different unit and it showed and also works using an external monitor but the LCD itself is flawless so I was wondering if anyone could tell me what is wrong with mine because I really don’t like the idea of buying a new screen when mine is perfect except it just shows white….
since I said another unit’s LCD worked that mean its not the cable nor the motherboard or graphics so it leads me to believe something physical on the LCD is loose
please help
July 9th, 2010 at 1:36 am
Hi – would appreciate some advice if anyone can help? My Dell XPS laptop screeb goes white when switched on and then fades in a blotchy-way (almost like it is burnt) to a black screen – what I’m wondering is whether this is the screen that would need replacing or whether it could be some other part? i.e graphics card, motherboard etc..
June 30th, 2010 at 2:54 am
I have the same problem. My model is a Dell D531. I have read some people come with the same problem so if you know exactly which connector is faulty i will appreciate it. Thanks
June 26th, 2010 at 9:49 am
I just replaced the LCD screen for a customer with this issue, and the problem remains, so it looks like the screen was fine, and the motherboard is faulty. Stupid me, since the customer first went to Geek Squad who told her the LCD needed to be replaced, and she came to my store since we are half the cost.
I figured I could trust Geek Squads troubleshooting ability, so I didn’t bother to do any research, I just ordered a screen based on Geek Squad’s testing…..if only I came across this article earlier.
Laptop in question is a Toshiba Satellite A305-S6898….cables are all secure, the laptop does seem to work fine with an external monitor. This laptop was a pain in the rear for me as well, I am starting to work on more laptops, but I’m still not very comfortable taking them apart all the time.
I always tell people….get the extended manufacturer’s warranty….it will usually pay for itself within 3 years….something is bound to go wrong with a laptop in 3 years the way people treat them.