Thinkpads Forum

Hi Folks,

I have a T60p 2623-DDU 15" UXGA and it finally has had problems. I had a 3 yr warranty and the warranty is up (last year 2009/5/14). I called Lenovo support and they referred my to the Parts dept. Anyway, the machine is not totally dead yet as I am writing this post on an external display. The display gives a faint image, but not enough to really work with and the system toggles through the 3 settings for the output display--external, LCD (faint) and both displays where the external display works fine and the LCD is faint. I'm using Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat and have been really happy with that OS (upgraded from 9.10 last year.) Anyway, what's the best way to tackle the LCD issue? I have been reading about inverter and backlight bulbs etc. I've increased the memory to 2GB from 1GB and would like to keep the machine a few more years. It's a great laptop..er, now desktop.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Possible causes are inverter and backlight. Inverter I think is a bit more likely if it happened out of the blue (backlight death is usually a longer process - starts with hueing, flickering, etc.)

Inverter is easy and cheap. Bulb is harder and also expensive if you replace the panel like most people. I suggest that you try the inverter first

Thanks RichK and DR_ST.

I was leaning toward replacing the inverter since that's the easiest fix according to some posts. The bulb sounds a bit more in depth. I haven't looked at the LCD replacement as an option, but the guy at Lenovo EasyServe wanted to charge $575 just to send the machine regardless of how much it is to fix. Rats, I wish I would have spent the extra $100-200 to get the 5 year warranty. Oh well, the machine has been solid up to now and will be good again once I get the display back.

dr_st wrote:Possible causes are inverter and backlight. Inverter I think is a bit more likely if it happened out of the blue (backlight death is usually a longer process - starts with hueing, flickering, etc.)

My wife was using the machine when she reported that she couldn't logon. I asked her if she dropped the machine (she said no.) Oh well.. I have been using the machine with the external monitor so it's not too much of an issue at this point.

Where's the best place to buy an inverter? Lenovo Parts?

Thanks again for your posts!

You want FRU# 42T0079. From Lenovo parts it is $22 plus shipping and tax = $38.38
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63637

On EBay it's $30 shipped - http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T60-In ... 4aa64117ad

Thanks HarryC!

I've ordered the part from IBM/Lenovo.

Appreciate the help.

If yo decide to replace the LCD, I found this source on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

Thanks westailor.

Think I'll try the inverter first, but it doesn't hurt to look around at other options. I'm guessing Lenovo wants about 2x the cost of the LCD on Ebay..if they still have them in stock.

Thanks, I'll post more when I get the inverter installed.

Thanks everyone.

The kaput inverter was the problem. It's nice to have the old LCD screen back! Although my wife touched it last, I guess I'll let her borrow it again..in a couple years.

Thanks folks. Nice to know about this forum..especially when you're out of warranty.

Take care!

Great to know that the problem was solved!

I've had exactly the same problem occur on my T60, around about the same time. But... I've changed the invertor and the LCD and neither has fixed the problem. A friend has a T60 so I've borrowed that (under sufferance) and swapped the invertor and the LCD over with his - everything works perfectly on his machine but not on mine.
So... my LCD is completely dark but when the problem started last week it would only cut out intermittently which a jiggle would cure before finally giving up the ghost. I can hook the laptop up to an external monitor and that works perfectly but is less than convenient. As it's not the invertor and neither is it the LCD does anyone have a suggestion what the problem could be? I've still got my friends T60 and I'd really like to find the solution before I have to give it back to him.
All the drivers are up-to-date and working properly, none of the wiring (to the LCD) looks worn or burnt, there were no unusual noises when the screen started playing up and all the connections are solid.
All suggestions gratefully received - thank you.

sixlincoln - Welcome to the forum - As you have changed the inverter & LCD (and assume they are in full working order) and you are getting a display on an ext-monitor - Try re-seating the LCD cable at both ends - Possible that the LCD cable has a break some where within the ribbon and/or the connector on the Planar/motherboard could be at fault (dry joint/HR?).

@sixlincoln

Try putting your entire lid assembly on your friends machine - pretty easy swap if you're already comfortable swapping inverters. If it works there, the GPU in your machine must be suspect. Find the poshgeordie sticky in the Marketplace - he does GPU reflows and is local (to you). Don't know if he does 60-series machines.

Just picked up a 'for parts' T60p that has no LCD display but has a garbled output to an external monitor. Very much like many T42s I've come across. When I have time I'll do the swap with one of my good T60s but I expect the MB/GPU will be the problem.

John

Thanks for the responses - I switched the lids over as suggested but that didn't fix the problem so it looks like I'll be sending the T60 off to Newcastle to see if poshgeordie can help me out.

Just double checking, his lid on your base still failed? Did you try your lid on his base?
Would be good to confirm your assembly is OK while you still have your friends machine.

Did my swap last night and the 14" LCD from the bad T60p works fine on the good 15" T60p. Looked really odd though.
Time to part-out.

Yes - his lid on my machine gave the same issue of a dark screen. My lid on his machine worked fine.