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.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!

September 17th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
My computer is an Acer Extensa 4620z and I have had the same problem. The screen jumps and little then burns into a white and doesnt allow me to see or work. I noticed that when i moved the screen is jumps and if i keep pressure on the screen usually it will work fine. So it seemed to work best at the top left hand corner for me, so I was holding it in for awhile (was in China so made it hard to find parts). But then my sis gave me a big binder clip and i squeeze that on the top so i dont have to hold it. I am going to try to see if it is a connection problem. But for some of you that might help you use it until you get it replaced and dont want to hold the screen too long. Good luck!
September 7th, 2009 at 11:55 am
i have a toshiba l25 and if i grab the top left corner of the screen and put pressure on it i will have a perfect screen. if not my screen goes black or has lines through it. i figured it was a loose connection but replugged everything i could think of. anyone think the screen itself is cracked just enough for me to fix it like that and go back when i don’t?
September 6th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
hi, i have a hp laptop
6735 i cant see anyting on the screen untill i look at it very well because it displays very tint i tried 2 lcd screen
screen but no avail, what do think is the problem.?
If the screens work fine on other machines but both of them don’t work in your machine then the next step is the inverter. If the inverter is replace and you still have that problem then the next step is the sleep or stand by switch for the laptop. Many of them if they are press on while the machine is on the screen will look like the back light of the screen is bad or the inverter is not working anymore. If you still have the problem after all this then the motherboard will need to be replace.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:29 am
hi, i have a hp laptop 6735 i cant see anyting on the screen untill i look at it very well because it displays very tint i tried 2 lcd screen screen but no avail, what do think is the problem.?
September 1st, 2009 at 11:30 am
TBill,
As I mentioned before it could be connection related issue. Try reconnecting the video cable first.
Unrelated.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
Another Acer white screen problem. When I partially close the laptop, I can see the screen image perfectly. Does this suggest anything?
Probably unrelated, but four weird “dll” messages pop up, like “kitohulo.dll not found” Scan with AVG didn’t show anything.
Thanks,
September 1st, 2009 at 7:53 am
Xhevdet,
I cannot tell without testing the laptop. It’s one of the following:
1. Loose connection between the video cable and LCD screen. I would definitely try reconnecting the cable first.
2. Bad LCD screen. You’ll have to replace the screen.
3. Motherboard fault. You’ll have to replace the motherboard.
The only way to find out which one is causing the problem, is testing the laptop with another known good LCD screen. If you don’t have a spare screen, you’ll have to guess.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I have problem with my Acer Aspire,my Lcd is all white, i can work with other monitor but in my laptop is all white,nobody cannot find the solution,someone say: YOU NEED TO CHANGE MOTHERBOARD,but i cannot understant why,coz i can work with other monitor? do you have any idea whats going on?
thanks
August 31st, 2009 at 1:14 pm
hhaha I have the same computer as your example… it just happend to my toshiba – so sad. Fortunately it still works with an external monitor.
great web site!!
Jenna
August 26th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Steve,
It’s likely that you have a problem with the motherboard.
You’ll find motherboard removal/replacement instructions in the maintenance and service guide published on HP website. You’ll have to search a little bit.
Type in Google: Hp support. Enter your HP notebook model in the search line. Go to the manuals and download the maintenance and service guide. Search for the instructions.
Find the motherboard part number, most likely it’s located in the memory compartment. Google the part number and find out how much they are asking for it.