Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

Im having a few issues with my Thinkpad T420 at the moment. I decided to upgrade my screen res from 1366x768 to 1600x900. I researched online a bit and found a few people had done it. I messaged several users on ebay about purchasing a new screen and the comparability with my system. In the end i purchased a LG replacement that the user said would work without any extra equipment.

After receiving it the other day i plugged it in and it came up very bright, thought it was a bit strange (as it was the first time i had replaced a laptop screen) I turned it off, wiggled the connector again and turned it on, although it had the same brightness. I tired a few more times until the screen was very dark, i then tried my old screen and it had the same issue.

After researching some more i discovered that my inverter had most likely blown. I had also setup a desk lamp behind my new screen trying to use it and also discovered a white line on every second pixel going vertical.

I have contracted the seller, he is happy to swap it over but his english is very bad and is quite unhelpful with my troubleshooting, as sending it back would be a last resort for me.

Just wondering if there is anything to do or i needed to purchase a new inverter before installing the screen.

I have attached some pictures below.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8899/ankg.jpg

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6320/dzuf.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3261/s82p.jpg

Thanks, John

T420 uses LED displays; it doesn't have an inverter. From what you describe, the cable got damaged. It could also be that the new screen is damaged as garbled image is a symptom.

I'd try with a new cable first.

Did you ever end up figuring out if this was a cable problem? I want to put a 1600x900 in mine sooner or later.

edit I'm planning to do this to my T420 and saw this. Maybe you're not using the right cable http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... ost8949653

It is almost certainly a motherboard fuse. The fuses on this model are easy to burn

banhammer420k wrote:Did you ever end up figuring out if this was a cable problem? I want to put a 1600x900 in mine sooner or later.

edit I'm planning to do this to my T420 and saw this. Maybe you're not using the right cable http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... ost8949653

I did the same mod recently and I can confirm that you will need a different LCD cable. Using the stock LCD cable made for the lower resolution will result in the display artefacts shown from the second picture of the OP post.

manteiv wrote:

banhammer420k wrote:Did you ever end up figuring out if this was a cable problem? I want to put a 1600x900 in mine sooner or later.

edit I'm planning to do this to my T420 and saw this. Maybe you're not using the right cable http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... ost8949653

I did the same mod recently and I can confirm that you will need a different LCD cable. Using the stock LCD cable made for the lower resolution will result in the display artefacts shown from the second picture of the OP post.

Is there any chance you could provide part/FRU numbers ? I'd also like to upgrade the screen on a T420.