LCD red on bootup

[bobh]

My T60 is over 5 years old. The screen is red at the lower left hand corner on bootup. Then the red goes away in about 30 seconds. This means something is going. Here is what can contribute to it:
1) the backlit lamp is about to go.
2) the circuit that drives the lamp does not have sufficient voltage at startup.

I do not think there is anything wrong with the LCD because it would not regain the color.
Can someone help?
1) how many lamps does the T60 LCD have?
2) Is the power for the lamps come from the inverter board?
3) Has anyone seen this before?

bobh

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

T60 (as well as most other ThinkPads that I can think of) have one CCFL.

Yours is on its last leg. Whether it will take three days or three years before it finally fails is anyone's guess.

Replacing the bulb itself is a pain. Swapping the entire screen is not.

What's the 7-character model number of your T60, located on the same sticker that holds the serial number and production date on the machine's bottom?

[Neil]

Hello bobh! Let me second the welcome to the forum.

To directly answer your questions:

1. Yes...the lamp is going out.
2. Possible, but unusual. Would only dim lamp, not turn it red.

Second set of q:

1. One, as George already wrote.
2. The inverter converts the low voltage signal from motherboard to high voltage for flourescent lamp.
3. Almost all of us have seen this before. Anyone with an aging CCFL will sooner or later see it. Two or three of the ThinkPads I have on hand start with a red tint.

I have replaced a few lamps in my time, and will agree with George 100%. It's a pain! Replacing a LCD panel...not so much.

[bobh]

Thank you both - (Ajkula and Neil) for your advice about the difficulty in replacing the lamp. I am not sure if it is worthwhile to replace the LCD unless it's under $100. I might try to do it myself since I have experience in replacing the fan and bezel on a T40 and T30.

I think the red at the beginning comes from the low intensity at one end of the lamp at bootup because the sputter deposits of the discharge fluorescent tube.

Is it possible for the HV supply to have a slow start which may cause the red?

Thanks again.

bobh

[ajkula66]

Is it possible for the HV supply to have a slow start which may cause the red?

No. You likely have a slight leak on that bulb somewhere.

Without knowing what type of LCD your machine has, it's difficult to price a *proper* replacement since T60 has a "whitelist" of "approved" screens in BIOS and won't boot with just any LCD...

Once again, what is the 7-character model number of your machine?

[bobh]

Model is Type 2623-D6U. Does this help? The max resolution is 1400x1024 and it's a 14" screen.
bobh

[ajkula66]

Nice old machine...

T2400(1.83GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, 64MB ATI Radeon X1300, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

You have a SXGA+ panel in there, which are slightly more difficult to find than the XGA ones.

I suggest posting a WTB (want to buy) ad in forum's marketplace and someone is likely to come to the rescue...it should most definitely be under $100, likely well-under...

Good luck.

[bobh]

Ajkula66, thanks for all your help. I may take it into one of the laptop repair shops here to see what they want before I replace the panel myself.

Maybe you can help. I have a T42. Is the T60 80GB HD compatible with T42 which has a 40GB HD?

Thanks again.

bobh

[ajkula66]

I have a T42. Is the T60 80GB HD compatible with T42 which has a 40GB HD?

Thanks again.

bobh

No.

T42 takes PATA drives, T60 SATA.

I wouldn't trust just any old repair shop to work on a ThinkPad...your money, your call...

[bobh]

Thanks again.