dim & yellowed screen on x61 tablet: REPLACE?

[sacket]

just got an x61 tablet with a screen that appears to be near the end of its life span:

see here: http://m.1asphost.com/chaotico/P80100614.jpg

the screen on the left is my ancient 180-nit gateway lcd. the one on the right is the thinkpad's lcd. it's a non-mv/mt xga screen, so i know it SHOULD also measure 180 nits, or close to it (it was advertised as "like new"). but i'm pulling 130 nits on this thing, tops.

question: replacing the screen is a given, but should i also replace the inverter? what about the backlights?

never done this kind of thing before.

thanks much.

[RealBlackStuff]

When you replace the LCD, the backlight/CCFL is included (small tube on the inside, along the bottom of the LCD).
The inverter is rather cheap at around $15.- so replace that too with a new one.

[mariol90]

is it that dim when plugged in? in the bios there's an option for normal/high brightness, change it to high or plug it in and see if it's as dim. I also just got an x61 tablet with the same screen (no touch, XGA), and it actually seems very bright.

[sacket]

thank you both for your replies.

yes, i did change the bios setting to "high brightness," and that was as bright as it got.

i don't know if the inverter is on its way out too, but i will replace it just to be 100% sure, mostly because they are so inexpensive. can't hurt.

hopefully, replacing the screen and inverter will fully address this problem. i will be back soon with an update.

thanks all.

[sacket]

UPDATE:

i received the replacement lcd and the inverter. i also got a new front cover because the existing one was covered in scratches. all was going swimmingly with the replacement until, a couple hours later, it came time to power up the laptop and test the new screen. in a classically anticlimactic moment, nothing showed up on the screen. well, not NOTHING. i could make out "ThinkPad" on the BIOS screen, but not much else. i thought maybe the new screen was broken, or that the backlight wasn't functioning, but then i hooked up the old screen and old inverter just to be sure, and, sure enough, same exact problem.

so, by deduction, i know it's not the screen that's messed up. it must be that the backlight is not receiving power or something. either i have damaged a wire or connector, or something is not seated properly. maybe somethig came disconnected that wasn't supposed to. not sure.

looks like i must now take it into a repair shop, which is exactly what i wanted NOT to do.

in case anybody is interested, i was following this video tutorial and referencing this manual:

http://vimeo.com/3933798?utm_source=fee ... ite+Links)

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 551_02.pdf

[RealBlackStuff]

It is possible to insert the CCFL cable the wrong way around into the inverter, so check that.
The LCD cable may have been damaged already before you even did the swap.
Was your replacement LCD used or new, and from a reputable seller? Any warranty?

[sacket]

i ended up sending the system in to my local repair shop for a second look.

they hooked up the OLD lcd screen (the one that i was attempting to replace because it was dim and yellow) to a testing laptop (non-IBM, fitted with its own lcd cable and inverter and what-not). and, according to them, the screen produced an EXCELLENT image with plenty of brightness and NO color cast. so, it seems the screen is NOT actually bad.

they tested the NEW screen, and it is apparently total junk. it was dead on arrival. i am working on procuring a hasty refund on that piece of crud.

SO, it looks like the problem is MOST LIKELY a bad LCD cable. it must have been on its way out before (hence the dim and yellow), and something i must have done when i was disconnecting everything and replacing parts must have sealed its total demise (hence the total lack of light on the screen).

it's nice to have somebody else handle these problems. too bad i am moving out-of-state next week and will be completely COMPUTERLESS until it is mailed to me at what will probably be an outrageous cost.

[X61-Stand]

I know it's a little off-topic, but, I wanted to try forcing the X201 or X220 lcd backlight into an X61. Can anyone see any reason that wouldn't work?

[sacket]

WHAT THE FRICK?!?

so the pc repair place calls me and tells me that the motherboard is bad...? um...well it was working before i replaced the lcd screen. so since when does replacing an lcd screen destroy a motherboard!? i didn't even touch the motherboard!!!

can a motherboard be replaced?! this is a fricking money pit!

[sacket]

okay. so i am doing more sleuthing. a blown motherboard fuse MAY BE a possibility, based on the symptoms, which are:

1. black lcd, even after the SCREEN AND INVERTER AND LCD CABLE are replaced and tested out fine when hooked up to another system
2. laptop functions perfectly with external monitor (no display issues on external monitor, but the built-in lcd remains black)

if not a blown fuse, then just the entire fricking motherboard is bad.

is there anybody on this forum located in the new york city area that is good with this kind of thing? any recommendations on who to consult in the nyc area for repairs? i ask because i am now leaving for college there and do not have a functioning laptop to use.

[RealBlackStuff]

X60 and X61 mobos are very similar.
There's a very informative "X60 fuse list" post at the top of this page.
For LCD concentrate on F3/F4/F5 fuses.