Thinkpads Forum

Hi, started up my T60 2007-BN5 laptop this morning and the screen remained entirely black. When I close the screen, the display turns on perfectly fine when the angle is about 45 degrees to the keyboard or less. Opening the screen more than this makes the display blank again.

Seems like a broken wire to the display to me, but wondering what people think?

Any thoughts on a procedure to diagnose? Which part would need replacing? The screen is a 1400x1050 display.

There are no beeps when starting the computer up.

I don't want to throw any red herrings out there, but the VGA output stopped working three years ago - has never been a problem with anything else. Also, all the status lights at the bottom of the screen stopped working about four years ago - again, has never been a problem with anything else.

Thanks!

IMO you need to get LCD Assembly for this TP. Probably cable cracked.

Thanks Monck. More information:

I've just had a more careful look - when the screen is "black", it's not actually black - the backlight has turned off. When I look carefully, I can still see the display and it moves and works, just no backlight.

Is it possible the "screen closed" sensor is messed up somehow? Or there is a plug that's worked itself loose?

It sounds like the sensor, but it is hard to imagine what is wrong. The sensor is a magnetic switch in the inverter (inside the LCD assembly) that is tripped by a magnet in the keyboard bezel.

Try External Monitor and after this move screen more than 45degrees. If monitor go blank you maybe have problem with sensor, if not LCD Assembly.

Thanks for replying guys.

Richk, I agree it does act much like the "closed" sensor magnet. It is the backlight that is turning off - the picture is still being sent successfully to the screen, I assume this is what happens when you close the screen on a laptop?

Monck, unfortunately the VGA output on this laptop stopped working many years ago. I have a USB to VGA converter, the signal continues to operate at all times, whether screen is closed, within 45 degrees, or open to 180 degrees.

More information... it is not always the same angle at which the backlight turns off - sometimes it is nearly 90 degrees, sometimes it's only about 15 degrees. Also, the backlight doesn't turn off when I close the lid - maybe it's always been like that, but perhaps the "lid closed" sensor has come loose and is spinning around out of kilt maybe?

Any advice is appreciated, thank guys. Would be a shame to have to let go of this wonderful laptop due to something so small as this.

What stops you from hunting for this magnet or its receiver-switch?
If you can, borrow the whole lid from another T60/T60p in the same size, and see if that causes the same problem.

Thanks for the reply RealBlackStuff.

Time is stopping me at the moment RealBlackStuff. It is my main work computer and I work 10 to 12 hours a day so I have an old monitor I had laying around attached to it for the moment so I can get things done. On the weekend, I'll have the time to take it apart and do some hunting and problem solving.

Until then, I'm asking if anyone else has had this problem or information about it so I can get some help and be prepared on what the problem could be and what to look for.

I only have one T60, but if opening it up and looking for the problem doesn't yield a result, then I'll be buying another one on eBay so I can swap some parts in and out until I find the problem. It is a good suggestion.

If you have any advice or tips on how the magnet or receiver switch works or any other advice on what the problem could be, I'll be interested in your help RealBlackStuff, thanks!

The switch is built into the inverter. After thinking about it, my guess is a cracked wire in the LCD cable, where it makes contact or not depending on the cable position.

Thanks Richk. I'll make a bee-line for this when I disassemble it on the weekend and have a good poke around the inverter.

Much appreciated!

The switch in the inverter is nothing you can see. As far as the magnet, it is under the keyboard bezel. The inverter switch is right above that magnet when the lid is closed.