Thinkpads Forum

Hi there,

I have an R51 standing beside me, where my sister spilled beer on. This thing is pretty tough since it still works. The only thing not working anymore is the backlight of the screen, which is kind of bad since you don't see anything on the screen anymore. The IBM-guys said that the motherboard und the screen have to be replaced costing almost the price of the new laptop.

Now I'm thinking about two options: Either trying to plug the backlight directly to the power or removing the screen and plug it to an external monitor. Can you give me any tipps or does anybody know if one can unplug the screen leeaving the connector open without further damaging the laptop.

Any help welcome,

Dominik

Your R51 should have a DB-15 external monitor connector that you can plug a monitor into. There is no need to remove the display. You can get a small monitor stand (ThinkPad Monitor Stand or ThinkPad Convertible Monitor Stand), put the external monitor on it, open the display all the way and slide it under the monitor stand.

Some people use a ThinkPad Dock II or a ThinkPad Mini Dock with an external monitor, so that is another option.

GomJabbar wrote:Your R51 should have a DB-15 external monitor connector that you can plug a monitor into. There is no need to remove the display. You can get a small monitor stand (ThinkPad Monitor Stand or ThinkPad Convertible Monitor Stand), put the external monitor on it, open the display all the way and slide it under the monitor stand.

Some people use a ThinkPad Dock II or a ThinkPad Mini Dock with an external monitor, so that is another option.

Yes but it's a little annoying to have a black screen in front of you. With an external keybord you always have to open the laptop just to switch it on so you can't just put it closed under the monitor. If I just remove the brocken screen then I can use the laptops keyboard and mouse etc.

Are you l33t with a soldering Iron?

If you know what voltage/watts the backlight takes >_> you could always try and find a place on the mobo that outputs it and kiddyback the backlight onto it rofl

gearguy wrote: you could always try and find a place on the mobo that outputs it and kiddyback the backlight onto it rofl

That's what I'm looking for. I just don't know where the connector to the backlight is and where to connect it to...