A31p: strong red tinge when first powered on:

[Carchidi]

My A31p UXGA screen has a strong red tinge when the computer is switched on; the tinge disappears after 20 - 30 seconds. I don't notice any tinge at all after warm-up, even on large white areas. Screen is otherwise flawless.

Is this normal? Is it a back-light issue? Can the back-light be easily replaced? Does it indicate an approaching failure?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Usually with first-timers, we ask that you send us your laptop since there's no hope for it at all. Especially UXGA screens. <---- Note: very non-serious statements!

Is it normal for your screen to have a reddish tint? Yes, sort of. You are correct to assume it's your backlight. When they reach the end of their life, the backlight (aka CCFL) starts turning on pink/red. Your description on how it slowly turns white is spot on. Can it easily be replaced? Yes, again, sort of. You can buy a replacement CCFL from moniserv.com OR have a member here who has been doing this for several months:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=48458

Will it totally fail soon? I have been using a T23 for the past 16 months which has this same problem. It does not seem to have gotten any worse and I power it up at least three times a day. It WILL fail at some point but your guess is as good as mine.

There is a very slim chance that the inverter board is the root of the problem. That part is easily replaceable (and fairly cheap; ~$15) but if the backlight remains steadily on, and doesn't not dim or flicker, then my money is on the replacement light.

BTW, you can use the forum's search function at the top of the page to find other posts on this subject. If you entering multiple search terms, then be sure to click on the "search for all terms" option.

[sjthinkpader]

Since CCF have a definitive life span, conserving this life time is critical. Screen saver does nothing for the CCF since it is still on. Set the LCD off timer to the shortest length you can tolerate.

Generally, newer computers have CCF with longer life.

[Carchidi]

I'll surrender the A31p immediately; do you want my X and T computers too; how about the docks and other stuff?

I'm pleased to hear it's a common problem. I'll tolerate it until it fails, but can't help wondering if the display would look even better/brighter with a new and whiter back-light; subjectively, it looks great as is.

Thanks again!

[sjthinkpader]

This IAUX14x LCD is readily available and the A31p display assembly is very easy to work on as compare to some of the later models.

[ajkula66]

OK, let me jump in here real quick...

I'll agree with everything that Ray has said, and just add a couple of empirical observations here...I'm not a scientist like he is, just a very serious A31p addict...

a) Most of these machines have hit the age of five, or will do so this year. That is the expected longevity of an average LCD.

b) I have no scientific data to back this one up, but in my experience, FlexView LCDs put more pressure on the backlight and tend to have a shorter lifespan. Out of four working A31p units that I currently own, three have had the LCD or the backlight replaced while in my care.

c) Thirty seconds is a lot of time for the red tint to go away on an A31p. Your backlight is one very sick puppy.

d) You can replace the backlight yourself, but it's a real pain in the neck if you've never done it before. I've done it once myself and have sworn afterwards that I'd never do it again unless the very survival of my family depended on it.

e) If you PM me you email address, I'll be glad to send you pictures showing how new backlight installed by James (jamiphar) compares to a standard one in the machine of the same type. I'm certain you'll be amazed.

f) If you plan to keep that A31p, send it over to James, and it will be money well spent, although you may consider doing a couple of other things while you're at it. If you're intent on selling it, do so in its present condition.

Just trying to help a fellow A31p owner...and of course, feel free to ask any additional questions that you might have....

[rkawakami]

I'll surrender the A31p immediately; do you want my X and T computers too; how about the docks and other stuff?

Nah, just the A31p

I'm pleased to hear it's a common problem.

I don't know of it's all that common, but it is indicative of a backlight that is reaching end-of-life.

I'll tolerate it until it fails, <snip>

Which is why I haven't done anything to my T23 yet .

Set the LCD off timer to the shortest length you can tolerate.

Excessive on-off cycles is known to shorten the life of standard fluorescent lamps. I would think that it would also apply to the ones used as LCD backlights.

With my daily T23 (the one with the reddish screen at power up and an SXGA+), the screen is on for at least eight hours every weekday; in the morning for a few hours, hibernated and taken to work, on for 6 or 7 hours, hibernated again and brought home where it is turned on for another hour or so. After these many months, I don't think that it has really degraded too much. It might not be as bright as it first was when I got it, it does turn red and get dark corners if the intensity is turned down to minimum but it has never failed to light up. There IS a video scrambling problem; a loose connection in the ribbon cable is what I suspect. When it finally gives up then I'll consider replacing the CCFL.

edit: I just timed my T23 from turn on until what I would consider a stable white screen. It took about 25 seconds before the dark corners and reddish tint was not noticeable. I did not time it before but it seems to take about as long to clear up as when I first got the system (coincidentally, from ajkula66 ). Turned down to half-brightness, the lower corners get slightly pink but the center is fine. Lowering the brightness to the minimum makes the entire left side of the screen red. The right corner is slightly rosy. I'll try to remember this thread and post back here in a couple of months to see if anything has changed.

edit 5/5/2010: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 53#p573153

[sjthinkpader]

...
Excessive on-off cycles is known to shorten the life of standard fluorescent lamps. I would think that it would also apply to the ones used as LCD backlights....

Its been awhile since I worked on LCDs so I can't remember whether there were on/off cycle limitations or ratings. Household fluorescent lamps are hot cathode fluorescent lights (HCF). In the mid-nighties, the LCD CCFs were rated for 2-3,000 hours. I've heard TV backlights today are good for 10,000 hours plus. So our A31p UXGA LCD should be rated around 5-6,000 hour or so. Given a 7 hours typical day, it will last 1000 days or so on the average. I just check my setting in the Thinkpad Battery Maximizer and I had Turn Off Monitor timer set to 10 mnutes while on AC.

Higher resolution displays use higher output CCF mainly due to the smaller windows in the color filter. The old Silicon Graphics 1600W LCD monitor used 4 CCFs to get high brightness. My Garmin Streetpilot 2610 use 2 CCF for a tiny LCD.

[Carchidi]

I'm still amazed at the speed and quality of responses. Thank you all!

Just curious; any chance the new LED back-lights will become available for retrofit?

This A31p is a keeper; someday, I'll buy a second A31p; I'd go for the "museum quality" unit George has available, but can't afford it right now. Have a T60p on the way, so will send this one to James for new back-light when the T60p is fully in place. BTW: I run this computer 24x7, but the screen is off most of the time.

George,

As a former mainframe field engineer, I can relate to your enthusiasm for these brutes; there's something about the build quality that resonates with me. I'm anxious to see those pictures you offered. My email is below; do I still need to PM you?

[ajkula66]

Joe,

No need for PM. You've got pictures from tataslonataoldotcom...so check your spam filter if you can't find them...

If your new T60p is a 15" model I'm sure you'll love it...I've just bought one and am very pleased with it....

No retrofit LCDs for A31p machines I'm afraid...

Any questions-just let me know.

[Carchidi]

Your pictures make the difference quite clear; my A31p screen is sharp, but not very bright.

In a previous post, you mentioned I might have a few other things done to the A31p in addition to the back light; I'm curious what you had in mind?

The anticipated T60p is 15" Type 2008-CTO; hopefully arriving tomorrow. How do you like your T60p relative to your A31p collection? Any feeling for the build quality? Am I correct that the UltraBay components are not interchangeable?

[ajkula66]

I'd suggest that you read a thread on GPU cooling on A31p and have the sponges around it replaced...the whole set is $45 from IBM, and is still available...

The LCD on my T60p is definitely better than any other FlexView I've had-and I've had most of them. Deeper, and slightly brighter. However, brightness is still lower than on A31p with new backlight...

And no, none of the components are intechangeable.

Hope this helps.

[SaberX]

Joe,

No need for PM. You've got pictures from tataslonataoldotcom...so check your spam filter if you can't find them...

If your new T60p is a 15" model I'm sure you'll love it...I've just bought one and am very pleased with it....

No retrofit LCDs for A31p machines I'm afraid...

Any questions-just let me know.

Hey George.
Wondering if you could e-mail me those pic's also?
The A31P i just picked up has a nice screen,brighter then any thinkpad i have had.BUT i would have thought it would be just alittle brighter.I guess its where it's 5 years old now.
My e-mail is billwheeler@gmail"DOT"com

[beeblebrox]

...
Excessive on-off cycles is known to shorten the life of standard fluorescent lamps. I would think that it would also apply to the ones used as LCD backlights....

Its been awhile since I worked on LCDs so I can't remember whether there were on/off cycle limitations or ratings. Household fluorescent lamps are hot cathode fluorescent lights (HCF). In the mid-nighties, the LCD CCFs were rated for 2-3,000 hours. I've heard TV backlights today are good for 10,000 hours plus. So our A31p UXGA LCD should be rated around 5-6,000 hour or so. Given a 7 hours typical day, it will last 1000 days or so on the average. I just check my setting in the Thinkpad Battery Maximizer and I had Turn Off Monitor timer set to 10 mnutes while on AC.

Higher resolution displays use higher output CCF mainly due to the smaller windows in the color filter. The old Silicon Graphics 1600W LCD monitor used 4 CCFs to get high brightness. My Garmin Streetpilot 2610 use 2 CCF for a tiny LCD.

I posted another thread with excellent description on LCD workings and their common problems.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=57303

The flexviews are just suckers. Too many transistors and lines, so you need a much stronger backlight. Because there is only one CCFL it is driven with much higher current to achieve higher brightness. Higher current - > much shorter life span.

New Highbrite displays use 2x CCFL, which is the way to go and way cheaper than LEDs at the moment.

[sjthinkpader]

This is a good find. CCF has a small amount of mercury and is considered hazardous waste. LEDs are safer and will last longer. Callphones and iPODs are already using LEDs for backlight.