Thinkpads Forum

I have just started getting vertical lines on the bottom third of the LCD panel 15.4in WSXGA+ (1680x1050). The machine ID is: 8744-5BU. Here is a picture of the LCD http://warmgear.com/ThinkPad/DisplayProblem.jpg I did a print screen and when the image is pasted into MS Paint there are no vertical lines at the botttom.

If I susupend the machine, put it in the Advanced Mini Dock there are no vertical lines on the external display. The output looks fine. I might also ad that the right hinge has been a bit loose for the last year. I am the original owner and have been very careful with the machine (purchased in Feb 2007). I have no reason to suspect any direct damage to the LCD.

I am speculating that the LCD is bad and the graphics card is fine. Thoughts?

You speculations are right on the money... but don't forget about the cable from the video to the lcd, I would start by checking this out. Do the lines change at all when the angle of the lid is changed (i.e. 10° to past 90°)?

Could be as simple as a bad connection or a bad trace in the ribbon cable.

Those symptoms are almost always a bad panel

Thanks for the bad panel diagnosis. I tried moving the lid back and forth from the upright position and it did not change the bad bottom third of the display's appearance.

So yea then, my money would also be on a bad panel... it is how I would in reality vote with my $$$

Yes, it was the LCD panel. As I only plan on keeping the machine for another 6 to 12 months I decided to gamble and get a $99 LCD. Along with a YouTube video for instruction I was able to put in the new panel and it works fine. It also seems to be brighter. Is the CFL unit in the screen or somewhere else in the laptop?

CCFL is in the screen itself.

And you can salvage the CCFL from the bad screen, there are some howto's on the net... quite possible to use a CCFL from one machine in another if the dimensions are correct/close....


http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2 ... ccfl-lamp/

EXCELLENT, info . . . I was about to throw out the old panel but now I know that the CFL unit is what I am going to call the green circuit board. Rather than risking pulling it off of the panel I will keep the entire unit as long as I still have my T60. Many thanks to this forum and those specifically who took their time and share their knowlege with me. Because of you and this resource I fixed the problem with and expenditure of less time and money (at least a $200 savings).

mdclow wrote:EXCELLENT, info . . . I was about to throw out the old panel but now I know that the CFL unit is what I am going to call the green circuit board.

Actually the CCFL is a long and thin florescent bulb that is housed is a reflector channel in the bottom of the LCD. You can't see it because there are plugs covering the holes there, but you can see the wires attached, at least on one end.
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/images/re ... t-bulb.jpg

Thanks, again, more reason for me just keeping the entire panel.