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X201 works but display is now black (very faint)

X200/X201/X220 (including equivalent tablet models) and X300/X301 Series
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angeleyes
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Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:13 am

X201 works but display is now black (very faint)

#1 Post by angeleyes » Tue Jun 28, 2022 4:44 pm

The display has now turned completely black. I can however see (for example on the ThinkPad boot logo) that it is actually extremely faint, so it does display but it is so dark that it is unviewable.

I opened the X201 and tried to check if the display connector became loose. This did not fix it, so I thought that the video cable needs replacement. I bought a new one (part no. 44C9991) but it did not fix it, the display is still black/faint with the new cable.

If the cable is not the issue then I would guess that the display is dead? Or is there anything else that could be the problem? (The computer itself still works and I can use it with an external monitor)
Last edited by angeleyes on Fri Nov 01, 2024 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

RealBlackStuff
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Re: X201 works but display is now black (very faint)

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:56 pm

You have blown the backlight fuse F1 (3A/32V/Fast) near the LCD-connector on the motherboard.
(Probably coloured green, marked with letter P)
Piggyback solder a new one on top of it, but remove the main battery and AC first.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
But I actually prefer Murphy's from Cork!

angeleyes
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:13 am

Re: X201 works but display is now black (very faint)

#3 Post by angeleyes » Thu Jun 30, 2022 5:04 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:
Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:56 pm
You have blown the backlight fuse F1 (3A/32V/Fast) near the LCD-connector on the motherboard.
(Probably coloured green, marked with letter P)
Piggyback solder a new one on top of it, but remove the main battery and AC first.
I have located the F1 (coloured black with letter d). I need to solder a new fuse then. But what does piggyback solder mean?

Where can I source the fuse for this? Am I also able to source another X201 motherboard with a working fuse and take that and solder it into my exiting motherboard?

RealBlackStuff
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Re: X201 works but display is now black (very faint)

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Jun 30, 2022 7:44 am

Fuses are all marked with capital letters.
You looked at your fuse upside-down, it is a capital letter P(not a small letter d).
The 0.25A fuse has capital letter D).
Piggyback solder = solder the new fuse on top of the old one (rather than try and desolder the old one first).
Look for 0494003.NR fuses from Digikey, Mouser, Aliexpress, eBay, whatever is available for your country.
Maybe buy 5 or 10 pieces?
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
But I actually prefer Murphy's from Cork!

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