LCD problem on T23 - need advice

[awolfe63]

The backlight on my T23 (SXGA+) is only going on sometimes. Any good way to tell if it is the inverter (easy to replace) or the bulb (hard to replace)?

[rkawakami]

Replace the inverter, since it's easy and fairly cheap. However, most likely the problem is with the backlight. Has there been any reddish tint to it when first turned on? Also, you might want to try jiggling the lid switch just in front of the right hinge; it's the semi-circular plunger. That can prevent the backlight from turning on.

[awolfe63]

Thanks. No reddish tint. Not now or before. Jiggling the machine fixed it - but I don't know for how long. I don't think it is the lid switch since the machine was set to sleep on close.

[rkawakami]

True, but if the switch is stuck down as the system is turned on then the laptop will power up "normally" but not activate power to the inverter/backlight. If the system is running with the display operating normally and then the switch decides to hiccup, then yes, it should go into sleep mode. It's also possible that there's simply a loose connection somewhere between the motherboard and the connector to the backlight. That could be the LCD ribbon cable connector to the motherboard, the ribbon cable itself, the connection of the inverter board to the LCD ribbon cable and finally the connector to the backlight.