Thinkpads Forum

I suspect my 4 yo may have stepped on it, but into it's 3,5 year operation yesterday for the first time I noticed screen acting up strangely. When I touch the screen cover on the back side or open/close the lid slowly I notice 1/4th of the screen starting about 1 inch from left ending about after 5 inches, it gets bunch of lines/colors. It doesn't look like an LCD damage, but possibly connector damage towards the hinge. It disappears after I push a certain stop on the back and then moving the screen doesn't cause the problem.

Any suggestions? I found this screen online btw, in case I need to replace it, is this a good choice?
http://www.amazon.com/X220-IPS-LP125WH2 ... SQL9O0VS6G

It looks like this:

http://i.gyazo.com/735045262521e4662515c3fcbb54abb0.png

Hello Hyde,

have you checked the LCD cable, between screen and motherboard ?

Unscrew the keyboard, turn on your thinkpad, then 'play' with the LCD cable, and check if the problem appear.

Regards,
33!mporT

Thank you so much for the suggestion, I will definitely try this tomorrow in the office.
It's really strange, it comes and goes and I can't replicate it always by moving the lid up and down, and sometimes when it returns it's hard to get rid of it unless I press a certain stop on the back side of the LCD screen (cover).

the LCD cable is attached to a board on the back of the screen. This board is then attached to the lcd panel by a film from top (sometimes bottom) of the glass panel of the screen. The film has the width of the whole screen. When this film is damaged or under pressure you see vertical lines like in the picture.

From my experience there are two options:
1. the film is damaged permanently. In such case you can do nothing but replacing the lcd.
2. the film got pressurized (something moved inside the screen case). When machine works the physical conditions are changing based on the position, temperature, lid angle and this pressure comes and goes. That is why the effect is not permanent.

I think it is most probably the case 2. You need to take the screen assembly apart. Try the screen without its case (backpanel and bazel). If it works fine just put it back accurately and add some rubber spacers to make sure the film is not being affected when the screen assembly is pressurized.

vavet wrote:the LCD cable is attached to a board on the back of the screen. This board is then attached to the lcd panel by a film from top (sometimes bottom) of the glass panel of the screen. The film has the width of the whole screen. When this film is damaged or under pressure you see vertical lines like in the picture.

From my experience there are two options:
1. the film is damaged permanently. In such case you can do nothing but replacing the lcd.
2. the film got pressurized (something moved inside the screen case). When machine works the physical conditions are changing based on the position, temperature, lid angle and this pressure comes and goes. That is why the effect is not permanent.

I think it is most probably the case 2. You need to take the screen assembly apart. Try the screen without its case (backpanel and bazel). If it works fine just put it back accurately and add some rubber spacers to make sure the film is not being affected when the screen assembly is pressurized.

I have been traveling a lot and I didn't want to be without my thinkpad in case I mess anything up, so I finally got around to trying this.
I removed the bezel and unscrewed the LCD (IPS) and I still can't tell if it's the film or pressurization that's causing the damage. Is it OK to handle the panel while it's on? I was afraid I might damage something or electrocute myself so I just flipped the computer upside down to see if it works then put it back. (This was after I unscrewed, removed the LCD from it's housing/back with no battery on laptop). How do I check if something can help? Only thing I can say is that, with LCD off it's mounting holes, sitting partially on thinkvantage bar, when I tap the same area it still comes and goes like I pictured and I got a video.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9twve541r3b6x ... 2.mp4?dl=0

Can I have the correct part number for IPS, I think I just need to replace the screen, this is getting to be extremely frustrating.

hyde wrote:Can I have the correct part number for IPS, I think I just need to replace the screen, this is getting to be extremely frustrating.

LCD panel, 12.5-in. HD LED backlight premium FRU #93P5675

Consider looking for a used working complete lid - perhaps on ebay. That should be much easier to replace than the display by itself. I have done that before with my T42.

04W3462 is the updated IPS FRU for the X220. The panel is LG LP125WH2-SLB1.

The IPS FRU for the X230, which is fully compatible, is 04W3919. The panel is LG LP125WH2-SLB3. Based on my limited experience, and some comments by others - this panel is preferred. It has less image retention issues (which is sometimes referred to as ghosting).

There is also a newer AH-IPS LP125WH2-SLT1, which should be compatible, but is not an official FRU. I think some folks tried it.

On these laptops it is actually far easier to replace just the panel than the complete lid. Just two screws to remove the front bezel, 6 mounting screws for the panel and a single connector. Nothing else needs to be disassembled.