T42p Fn-F3 Turn off monitor - LCD now will not stay on..

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larrys · #1 Post by **larrys** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:40 am

I was leaving the laptop on overnight, and decided to use Fn-F3 to turn off the LCD.

Well, in the morning I tapped the Fn key, and the LCD turned back on. But, after a few seconds of typing, the LCD turned back off. Actually, the LCD is not completely off, but it is so dark as to be essentially useless.

The only way I can get the LCD to turn back on is to hit Fn-F3, and then to tap the keyboard after a bit. Then, the LCD turns off again after a few seconds.

It seems as if the Fn-F3 utility to turn off the monitor is in a loop, and cannot be stopped.

Any ideas??? Help!!!

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:26 am

Reboot. If that doesn't fix it, then see the following thread. (You could try booting up a CD to rule out a problem with Windows.)

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=38664

larrys · #3 Post by **larrys** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:11 am

That's a very disheartening thread.

Seems like my problems mirror yours completely.

I've had the pinkish hue on startup for quite awhile now, and if I keep the brightness on low, the monitor will stay on (for now).

I've rebooted into safe mode and the problem still occurs. Flashed the BIOS off the DOS screen with the problem still there.

Guess it's either the backlight or MB.

And of course, the 2-year extended warranty expired 2 months ago...

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:26 pm

Yeah, it's a bugger. I still have not repaired that T42 as I haven't had the time, nor been home to deal with it. Shortly after that problem occurred, I had the opportunity to acquire another T42 still in warranty. So I purchased that one and that is the one I am using now. I do plan to repair the other one and pass it along to my daughter - if I can do so without too much expense.

larrys · #5 Post by **larrys** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:44 am

Well, I found out I am still in warranty. The 2-year extended warranty was on top of the initial 1 year warranty, for a total of 3 years.

The service rep said its probably the inverter

, but they're sending out a shipping box for me, and we'll see...

Now I just have to hope they do it right...

larrys · #6 Post by **larrys** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:08 am

Well, just to cap off the thread...

I received my shipping box the next day after contacting support, with a prepaid overnight shipping label.

Support completed repairs the day they received my laptop, and I received it the following day. Nice turnaround.

And for the diagnosis: I have a new (or refurbished

) LCD assembly.

So far, it appears to work quite nicely, and the screen is so bright I actually had to turn down the brightness one notch from my usual setting.

#7 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:17 pm

Thanks for the update.

I might just have to get another display and give it a shot. I was not happy with my attempt to put in the backlight. It is probably better just to spend the extra money and get the complete display.

#8 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:15 pm

I just got a display lid complete on ebay for $117 total, installed it, and my backlight problems are gone.

Temetka · #9 Post by **Temetka** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:09 am

Good to hear.

Does anyone know what the life average life expectancy of these LCD panels in the T4x series is?

jmatth · #10 Post by **jmatth** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:03 pm

larrys,

What version, if any, of Microsoft Office do you use?

I'm having a similar problem to you, but I'm not convinced it's a hardware problem because my LCD and backlight function normally until I use Fn+F3 (and afterwards, if I toggle my power schemes).

See my thread here.

T42p Fn-F3 Turn off monitor - LCD now will not stay on..

T42p Fn-F3 Turn off monitor - LCD now will not stay on..

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