You replaced the broken LCD screen in your laptop with a new screen but it’s not working. Does this sound like your problem? Let’s find out what could be wrong and how you can fix it.
First of all, I assume that your new LCD screen is compatible with the old one. Different screens require different video cables. Make sure you new screen is compatible with your laptop.
OK, let’s say you accidentally damaged the LCD screen in your laptop. A part of the screen still works fine but you cannot use it like that so you decided to replace the screen yourself. You can find LCD replacement instructions in service manuals or this DIY site.
You did some research and purchased a compatible screen, installed it into the laptop, turned it on and… The new screen is not working!!! What could be wrong?
Before you start to panic, check all cable connections again. Check connection between the video cable, LCD screen and inverter board. Reconnect cables just in case.
Take a closer look at the connection between the video cable and LCD screen. It’s possible you accidentally pulled the video cable from the connector during the screen installation.
The video cable has to be seated properly, all the way down.
Also, on some older LCD screens there are very thin pins inside the connector. Take a look inside the connector, make sure there are no damaged (bent) pins.
You can straighten bent pins with a very small screwdriver but this procedure requires a lot of patience and concentration.
Fortunately, most newer LCDs have a different type of connector, without fragile pins inside.
OK, you have reseated all connectors and cannot see anything wrong but the new screen still is not working. What’s next?
Remove the new screen and connect the old one. If the old one works properly (except the damaged area) but the new one is dead, apparently the new screen is defective and has to be replaced. Hopefully it has warranty.
Here’s another scenario. The new screen kinda works. You can see a very faint image but there is no backlight.
If that’s the case, disconnect the new screen from the inverter board and plug in the old screen instead, as it shown on the picture below. If the backlight inside the old screen lights up, apparently the new screen has defective backlight lamp and has to be replaced.
Related post: Laptop has bad video on the LCD screen. What is wrong?
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
October 14th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
I accidentally dropped something on my laptop and the screen got messed up so I bought a new one and replaced it now it works but now it looks like has multiple screens. What u think could be the problem?
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:05 am
@ Majid,
I don’t think this is motherboard problem. It’s possible your new inverter is defective OR the screen backlight lamp is failing.
I would try replacing the inverter board again and if the problem still exists, replace the screen. This is my guess.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Hey,
Great website.
Second,
I have a Toshiba Satellite U400 13″ which stopped displaying things a few weeks ago.The screen do have a faint display which I can see with a flash light.I replaced a new inverter, it worked for two days but the problem has come back.
However when I am connecting the left side LCD cable to the inverter the screen comes back the moment the cable just enters the place but when I push it further to adjust to its place, the problem comes back.
I showed it to someone but hes telling its a mother board problem.Is it really the case?PLz Help.
August 30th, 2011 at 6:08 am
I have an acer and when i turned it on today the top left hand side of the screen looks like a page from my printer when i set up the printer. I has horisontal lines on it that are covered i think over 200 pixels worth I cant use my programs to investigate cause the file tab etc is located in top left hand corner of most programs is the screen broken
August 25th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
I have broken screen of lcd, it not work after i put in new one. what do i do to get it fix? it fine on side of left, in middle it rainbow colored and on side of right it all black. what this mean?
June 19th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Hi where can I check if two different LCDs are compatible for the same laptop, specifically my original LCD part # is LTN170WP-L02 and I ordered for same, but the seller shipped a different part # LP171WE3(TL)(A5), and they claim it is a compatible one.
But after I installed the new one, I am still having some issues on the display.
So not sure if the LCD is really compatible.
Thanks.
June 18th, 2011 at 9:46 am
ok.replaced broken lcd screen on toshiba.everything works except it will black out 3 to 5 times and come back on.when i put a jump drive in usb port it does the same blacks out and comes back on.put the cracked screen back in everything works.any ideas thanks.
May 30th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@ Hannah,
Nope. It looks like you’ve damaged the LCD screen and it has to be replaced.
The damaged screen cannot be repaired.
May 30th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
hi i sat a chair on my Acer laptop, the screen did not brake but it messed up half the screen and you cant really see anything on it. is there a way to fix this without replacing the screen?
April 12th, 2011 at 7:58 am
Amir,
If you damaged the screen by touching [DO NOT TOUCH THIS AREA] it’s likely you will not be able to repair the screen.
Under the white tape there are a few ribbon cables connecting the LCD to the controller board. Each ribbon cable permanently soldered to the controller board and has many tiny solder points.
I guess you damaged one of these connections. That’s my guess.