Thinkpads Forum

The backlight on this 15" SXGA+ LCD screen for my T60 that I installed seems to be much worse than the backlight on my other LCD that has a stuck pixel. The two bottom corners are dark on an all white background. And looking at an all black background in the dark, there seems to be a large light patch on the bottom right, and even a dark blue patch in the center. I know light patches are caused by backlight bleed. What about that dark blue patch - would that be a backlight problem or LCD problem?

I wonder if I can't switch the backlights on the 2 LCD screens I have.

IMO, it is somewhat difficult. If you have smaller hands and can work dexteriously, then maybe ok. I have larger hands, and my attempt was a failure. The backlight in my T42 is a glass tube about the diameter of a #2 pencil lead, about 11" long, and quite fragile. I broke the old one removing it. I had to solder thin wires to leads sticking out of each end of the tube (I broke the wires a couple of times and had to find more wire). The silicone insulator caps got damaged and the replacement caps I got were different and kept the backlight from fitting in the display lid until I trimmed them with a razor blade.

After I got it all together, the backlight still didn't light (and I had already replaced the inverter). I ended up buying a used display lid complete on ebay.

Are you talking about the bulb? I was thinking about swapping the backlight panel.

Yes, I am talking about the bulb. If the T60 has a backlight panel, then that's news to me. I've never owned a T60, so there could be a difference.

If you are talking about the LCD panel, then that probably is not so difficult, but maybe you should get someone else's advice before deciding to tackle the job. Personally, I would mostly be concerned about the LCD/cable connection, but it might not be that big a deal. Replacing the display lid as I did is the easiest route.

T60 has a bulb, CCFL. No panel there. And replacement is a PITA.

You need an extremely clean room. And lots of luck.

If the machine is still under warranty, send it in. If not, send it to a professional.

My $0.02...and I have replaced backlights in my days...

Here are instructions on how to do it: http://www.lcdpart.com/doc/ccflinstallation.html
The CCFL itself only costs $9.99 + shipping: http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx ... NOVOIBM15R

If you search further, you'll find that you can send in just your LCD for them to replace the CCFL for $75.-
http://www.moniserv.com/lcdpartsnet/panelnet.htm
(or send in the whole laptop, which costs more).

lcdparts and moniserv are the same company.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Here are instructions on how to do it: http://www.lcdpart.com/doc/ccflinstallation.html
The CCFL itself only costs $9.99 + shipping: http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx ... NOVOIBM15R

That's what I did, using parts bought from them. The biggest problem was that the silicone insulators were different than original and caused me a big headache.

I've done it on a T43. I didn't find it difficult, more tedious than anything.

A clean work environment is a must, and patience. I reused the existing wire and insulators
from the old light.

I have done several T23s, T30s, R52s (all 14"), and a 15" R51, all in all I think about 15 in total.
I have another 4 or 5 sitting here waiting for a rainy day.
The 15" was the easiest, 20 minutes in and out (IDTech SXGA+).
The 14" Hitachi screens give me the most pain with about an hour.
The 14" Samsung screens take me about 35-40 minutes.
I've always used the old wiring and insulators.
Never broke a tube, and goofed only once (LCD was 'bleeding' afterwards, had to redo it).

It's definitely not my favorite job, but this DIY has saved me a bundle!

Just buy a $59 QXGA refurb panel. You'll get a massive screen upgrade, and you'll get what I suspect is a new backlight.

bhtooefr wrote:Just buy a $59 QXGA refurb panel. You'll get a massive screen upgrade, and you'll get what I suspect is a new backlight.

But is it bright?

150 nits is what the QXGA panels are rated at. So, not as bright as your LG (which, AFAICT, is 200 nits.)

Not for me, then.

In your case, the bigger problem would be that it wouldn't fit in a 15.4" chassis, only a 15.0" chassis.