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?
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February 5th, 2012 at 7:02 am
Im sure the screen i compatible. The battery was unplugged, but there is a slight chance the ac adaptor was still plugged in. not sure.
What are the consequences of this mistake?
February 3rd, 2012 at 5:25 pm
@ bart,
Did you make sure that your new screen is 100% compatible? Did you remove the laptop battery while replacing the screen?
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:48 am
Got a question,
Replaced a broken screen in a notebook but is doesn’t work.
The old one showed with stripes and stuff, but when i put it in now, i get nothing, just like when i put the new one in.
An external monitor works fine.
I replaced both the screen and the cable.
Is it possible that the connector on the mainboard is the issue, or should i send the new monitor back as a DOA?
Cant be the videocard since an external monitor works like a charm.
Could use some help over here!
Thx in advance!
December 7th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
@ Eamonn,
One of the pins INSIDE the connector? I don’t think you can fix that.
Have you tried connecting the video cable to the connector at all? Maybe it will run even with the broken pin. It’s possible (if you are lucky) the broken pin is the ground pin or something like that. This is just a guess.
December 6th, 2011 at 8:26 am
I managed to break one of the pins off the part with the lcd connects to the motherboard. Do you know what this part is called. Is it possible to get a replacement? Is it possible to repair?
Eamonn
November 8th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
@ lmie,
Is it broken physically?
What connector you are talking about, the one on the screen or motherboard.
If it’s on the motherboard, I don’t think you can fix it but depends on how bad the damage is.
November 7th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
I think I broke the video connector while I replace the new screen. Now my laptop is totally turns white. Can I replace the video connector by myself? Or how could I fix this problem? Could you show me how to replace it?
October 20th, 2011 at 7:48 am
@ Poonam,
Sounds like a failed LCD screen. You’ll have to replace the screen.
October 18th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Hey i can see the white lines like in this picture only but the screen is intact its not broken..
please tell me what to do for this..
October 14th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@ Fourscreens,
Could be incompatible screen.