Thinkpads Forum

So my T40 has started to experience strange display behavior - it dims to the point of being unreadable shortly after powering up. If I power off the display (Fn+F3) and power it back on the display warms up again -- but then promptly dims. Some folks here suggested the problem might be with the inverter, but I switched that out and there was no change.

Anyone know of a lap-top trade in that would take a machine in this condition? Strictly speaking I suppose its "not working" but I suspect someone truly familiar with the hardware could get it up to speed rather easily and all the rest of the components are in perfect condition. [Indeed, if it was still under warranty I suspect IBM could have fixed it quite quickly].

lavinbuk wrote:So my T40 has started to experience strange display behavior - it dims to the point of being unreadable shortly after powering up. If I power off the display (Fn+F3) and power it back on the display warms up again -- but then promptly dims. Some folks here suggested the problem might be with the inverter, but I switched that out and there was no change.

Anyone know of a lap-top trade in that would take a machine in this condition? Strictly speaking I suppose its "not working" but I suspect someone truly familiar with the hardware could get it up to speed rather easily and all the rest of the components are in perfect condition. [Indeed, if it was still under warranty I suspect IBM could have fixed it quite quickly].

I spilled a glass of wine on the screen of an X31, and in spite of my best efforts at the time, ended up with bad screen artifacts. At that time I had the opportunity to get a good price on a faster X32, and decided to ebay the X31 as a working but damaged system, either for use as is or for parts. I posted pictures of the damaged screen in the listing.

I was surprised at how many bids the damaged laptop got. It sold for a couple of hundred dollars more than I thought it was worth.

If you list the T40 on ebay and give a description of the problem, a picture or two if you can get a worthwhile picture, and then see what happens, I bet you will get several hundred dollars for it if it is in otherwise usable condition.

The other option would be to donate it to a thrift store or libray.

T40 got a problem like this. It is the motherboard problem. you can hook it to an external monitor to see if this problem persists. If true, then it is motherboard problem for sure. If I were you, I would either sell it as is on eBay or buy a T41/T42 motherboard to fix it.

Hi Folks, I to have the T 40 Blues.

Mine is a 2681-F9U T-40,the display works fine with a remote LCD and I tried to fix it with the Inverter purchased from E-Bay seller with no luck.

I need help !!!! Is there a Light tube // Backlite ?

maybe somthing else short of the Motherbord.

Thanks, Kurt

Yes, there is a backlight. The second link below is a company that will repair your LCD for a flat rate. Just to let you know - it is possible that your problem is not in the display itself. I have not used either company, I just happened to run across their website awhile back.

LCD CCFL Replacement Lamps

Backlight Replacement Service

I suspect it might be somthing else, any advise Please advise.

Thanks, Kurt

I have bought a few replacement bulbs from Moniserv. Fast delivery, good price and very bright bulbs. Almost too bright.
Some of the bulbs are a real bi*ch to replace and some are easy. Depends on who manufactured the display.

Looks like these folks have what I need and they are listing several other supplies that I might need.

http://lcdpart.com/Products/ms20290.html

So what is hard about it

The parts are apx 9.oo Backlight extras 9.00 and ship 9.00 so 27.00 ish

the display is someware about 130-175.00 I think

KK

carbon_unit, I have a 11P8352 (supposedly Samsung) 14.1" XGA display in my T42. How would you rate the difficulty of replacing the backlight in it (if you happen to know)? I haven't had the need to open my T42 yet, but I do see pink when the brightness is turned down. My T42 is nearly 2 years old, so I don't know how much longer it is going to work with the existing backlight.

FTR, I have opened a 600E and replaced the CPU and the entire display lid successfully. Never tried to replace a backlight though.

I replaced the cracked display (with a used one I bought on ebay) in the 600E at the same time that I received my brand new T42. The 600E does not have any pink like my T42. I suspect the reason for this is that the backlight is a larger tube in the 600E.

Wow, I must have missed these replies.

I have never done a T42 yet. I've done a 570, a 600 and a T22. The 570 was fairly easy, the 600 tougher and the T22..... I swore i would never do another one again after that.
The difficulty lies in how hard it is to get the bulb out and back in. All work is done with the display panel removed from the laptop display housing.

On the 570 all I had to do was cut some tape, remove a shield and pull the bulb out, solder on the leads and put it back in.
On the 600 I had to remove the entire back panel from the display, pull the bulb out, solder on the leads and put it back in.
On the T22 I had to completely disassemble the LCD assembly including the glass, polarizing sheets, reflectors, everything, pull the bulb out, solder on the leads and put it back in. Apparently the bulb was the first part to go in the assembly. Oh yeah, don't get any dust or hair in there when you reassemble it.

Don't be fooled by Moniserv's instructions. I have yet to see one where the bulb slides out the side of the panel with no disassembly. Maybe on a Desktop LDC monitor.

That being said. If you are adventureous enough you can fix your display for about $20.00.

turkman99 wrote:Looks like these folks have what I need and they are listing several other supplies that I might need.

http://lcdpart.com/Products/ms20290.html

So what is hard about it

The parts are apx 9.oo Backlight extras 9.00 and ship 9.00 so 27.00 ish

the display is someware about 130-175.00 I think

KK

For the record....Moniserv is now LCDpart.com...hence the part numbers still beginning with MS.

I don't think that I will ever attempt to replace a backlight again after the three attempts on a T20...

Thanks for the reply carbon_unit!

With my luck, I'll have your T22 experience.
I probably brave it though when the time comes. I can always send it to moniserv if I get in over my head. I just hope I don't wait too long and my backlight quits completely when I am out of town for several weeks - I would be lost.

I believe I got a dead backlight in my newest T23 SXGA+ panel. Tried a couple of known good inverters and no light. Plugged in a spare XGA panel (well, whole lid assembly) into the motherboard socket of the T23 and it worked fine. Now waiting for a replacement SXGA+ LCD ribbon cable to arrive, hoping that's the real problem. If that doesn't work then maybe moniserv.com will have another customer!

Thanks for all the replies. I will bookmark this thread in case I need to replace any LCD.