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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May 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Misty,
Here’s something to try. Unplug the LCD cable from the motherboard and start the laptop with an external monitor. Do you still have the same rebooting problem even when the LCD is unplugged?
If yes, your problem is not related to the new LCD screen. There is something else going on inside the laptop.
May 12th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hi, I just replaced the LCD for my dell 1500, I can see that it works, but the computer keeps booting and rebooting in a loop. Help! It does it about 5-6 times then turns off. It goes to the XP screen then back to the Dell screen, then back to XP screen. I can’t get into the safe mode or set up menu even.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Hi, i cleaned my Compaq presario c500laptop PC and now it has white lines on it .I want to replace with a used one please help me find one
.Thanks
April 30th, 2009 at 6:49 am
What was wrong with the old screen?
Did you test the laptop with an external monitor? Does it display image on the external monitor?
The old screen was cracked. I tested with an external monitor and the display was perfect.
Take a look inside the video connector on the motherboard/video card. Make sure all pins are straight and there are no damaged pins. Maybe you accidentally damaged pins inside the connector?
I checked pins inside the screen’s connector and they look good. I checked the pins on the cable and cleaned them. I don’t have the laptop apart to address the video card or motherboard. The screen is powering up, but not receiving image or signal from the computer. It is going through the color scale like a test pattern. I gave the right part number to the vendor, but maybe I just got a bad replacement screen.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Ed Aycock,
What was wrong with the old screen?
Did you test the laptop with an external monitor? Does it display image on the external monitor?
Take a look inside the video connector on the motherboard/video card. Make sure all pins are straight and there are no damaged pins. Maybe you accidentally damaged pins inside the connector?
April 29th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I replaced the LCD screen in a Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 with a replacement screen for that model. After connecting cables and powering up, it switches from gray, grayscale, red, green, blue, and then white to black 4 times quickly. Then it repeats over and over. I first thought the computer was just calibrating the color on the new screen, but it never ends. I took the screen off and reconnected the cables to make sure they were seated well. Same result. Any ideas?
April 27th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
RAUL,
1. Make sure the LCD cable is properly connected to the motherboard.
2. Take a look inside the video connector on the motherboard. Make sure all pins inside are straight and there are no bent/damaged pins. Very carefully straighten the damaged pins if you find any.
3. Could be defective video cable.
April 20th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I JUST BUY A NEW LCD SCREEN FOR MY LAPTOP I HAVE AVERATEC 4100
AND THE SCREEN DONT SEE ANY IMAGE JUST BLANK I PUT BACK THE OLD ONE AND DO THE SAME THING NO IMAGE I DONT NO WHAT HAPHEN BUT I CONNECT TO VIDEO PORT OF MY LCD TV AND WORKS FINE BUT NOT ON MY LAPTOP PLEASE HELP THANK YOU
April 15th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Mr.LCDrepair,
I agree but not with the whole statement.
I wouldn’t recommend repairing LCDs for people without experience, but replacing the LCD is a different story. It’s not as difficult as it looks like. If you are careful enough, everything should be fine.
April 9th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Thank you for this useful post. I found your blog through google. Your blog is quite interesting.. And I have added your site to my bookmarks
Repairing LCD is not something you can do it yourself. Atleast not for the people who are not computer savvy. Finding a right technician makes all the difference..