My T42 is going dark

[rustyh3]

I have a t42p that I use a lot every day.
It has served me well.
I want it to continue to do so.
I use the laptop in a docking station at work and at home. I use the laptop on battery when I travel and at the coffee shop on weekends.

The problem: Today I went to my first meeting after booting up and checking email. When I returned the computer would not recover from screen saver (blank screen). So I thought. I closed the screen and waited for system to sleep. I then opened screen and the LCD lit up but with a slight red tint and a little wavy shimmy. It got brighter and the red dimished. A few minutes later before the screen saver should have activated it went blank again. I knew something was wrong. I could see the image on the screen but with no brightness at all.

Note: I keep the brightness at 100% when on AC power.

Tried to decrease the brightness and then increase to bring the brightness back up. No luck. I closed lid and waited for sleep mode then opened back up and it worked. Even more redness that gradually diminished as screen brightened.

This happened a few more times as I tried to only use the screen as necessary.

So my question:

I have read a number of posts and think I have bad backlight.

What is level of difficulty to replace one?

I am pretty handy and can take anything apart and most work when I rebuild them.

Any recommendations on specs for replacement bulb?

I do not believe this is a power supply problem but could be convinced otherwise.

Opinions and feedback please.
Thanks,
rusty

[RealBlackStuff]

You got a dying CCFL.
Check this: http://www.lcdpart.com/doc/ccflinstallation.html
Ca. $17.- incl. shipping for the parts, plus ca. 20-40 minutes to replace it if you are handy.
If not, send it in to them to do it for you.

[rustyh3]

Thanks.
Did IBM use standard lamps or do I need to take mine out to measure for correct size?
rusty

[RealBlackStuff]

You have a standard 15" screen, so this is what you need:
http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx ... NOVOIBM15R.
You have an expensive UXGA panel, so be very careful with it!
They (moniserv = lcdparts) will do it for you for $75.- incl. parts!
http://www.moniserv.com/lcdpartsnet/panelnet.htm

[rustyh3]

I now have a new "bulb" in my laptop.

Golly that was tedious.

If I did not need this thing tomorrow I would have had it done by someone or at least bought a kit instead of just a "bulb".

Recommendations for the next intrepid soul.

Be rested.
take pictures
check your parts left to be installed regularly.
read read read
Do not fight with wife right before starting

thanks to all those that had posted in the past and those that pointed me in the right direction.

It works for now.....

a tired and happy rusty