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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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.
June 5th, 2010 at 10:58 am
My laptop LCD went white too a few weeks ago, I also thought the system board was faulty. It turned out that it was getting too hot! The problem has not returned ever since I put a ventilated tray underneath and not to leave it on all day long.
Turn off your laptop for a day or two and try again.
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:55 pm
My laptop is doing some weird stuff. I can turn it on and it has a fine picture for about 10 to 20 minutes and then the whole screen starts to turn white then multiple color lines that stretch from bottom to top. If I plug it in to a external monitor there is no problem. Also if I set the monitor to turn off after 1 minute of inactivity or if I go to sleep mode and then come out of it then the screen is back to normal for a few minutes then it does it again. The more I repeat this method the sooner the screen returns after resetting. It seems the longer I let the monitor rest the longer I have until it turns to white and then colors. Also I had it off for a while and put it in my hot car for a trip somewhere and it would do that screen after only like 2 minutes. When before it would take 10 to 20 minutes to do so at first. Which leads me to believe it is something getting to hot or something. Do you have any ideas? Also just to say, everything works fine on the laptop while this goes on. I currently have it hooked to external monitor. Thanks.
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Hey, I just wanted to post and say thanks.
I was able to fix the white screen I was getting by taking the screen off and fully plugging the cable in.
Also, this video that shows you how to take the screen off helped me quite a big too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_FtMr_40-w
May 30th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Sorry for the long wait, I misplaced this link. Yes, I do get external output perfectly. Today I took it apart again. Here’s the story: The hinges are very stiff, and I noticed this has caused part where the LCD mounting bracket connects to the right hinge to snap.(you can also notice stress fractures appearing on the outside of the lid) Today I pulled the lid toward me gently from the top of that side, and when enough force was used (not too much), the screen would come to life. It was still pretty badly messed up, with horizontal and vertical lines, random colours, etc. But I could see the mouse cursor and move it. When I let go, the screen would hold the image, frozen, and slowly fade to white. The mouse would not move, so I assume some connection is broken and causing this? I carefully unscrewed it and manipulated the cables, but none had any effect. I notice the back of the lid has foil, and that is connected to the hinge too, so I can;t help but thing there is some sort of connection there? I can provide photos if you need. I’m not really sure how to proceed.
May 11th, 2010 at 3:38 am
yes the original screen was white so i thought that was the problem. i bought a new screen and fitted it and that was the same so i connected the laptop to an external monitor an it started up but would only show up on the external monitor in safe mode. when i try to start it up normally it tries to use the original screen which goes white.
May 10th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
mark,
Did you get white screen with the original screen? If yes, most likely this is the motherboard failure.
May 8th, 2010 at 3:33 am
what could it be if you connect a new lcd screen and its still white. also connected an external monitor and that was ok apart from the laptop would only start up in safe mode.
May 4th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Robin,
It’s hard to tell what is causing the problem. Could be bad LCD screen or motherboard (video card) problem.
Can you get image on the external monitor?