A21m LCD not working right.

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Dontknow · #1 Post by **Dontknow** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:30 pm

I just bought for a small price a working A21m.
It works perfectly with an external screen, but the internal LCD doesn't work at all.

I also have a defective A31 with working screen. Can I use the parts from the A31 to repair the A21m?

Thanks !

Moderator edit: Moved from the T2x/T30 conference

ajkula66 · #2 Post by **ajkula66** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:34 pm

You can't use a screen from an A3x in A2x.

And, your "new" A2x may have a motherboard problem and not a LCD issue. Many machines with defective mobos will work on external LCD but not with internal one.

Good luck.

Dontknow · #3 Post by **Dontknow** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:50 am

Thank you very much for your answer.
Carlo

Dontknow · #4 Post by **Dontknow** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:28 pm

I'm back with this problem.

After replacing the inverter card my A21m still doesn't show anything on the screen, but if I connect an external screen and start up I get a normal image on this last and a faint image on the LCD.
This doesn't happen when I start the laptop without external screen, in this case the LCD stays dark.

I was thinking, could this be caused by a defective sub card? I almost buyed a new screen in his case, with cable, inverter and everything, but then I thought I'd better wait before doing this.

Has anyone a tip for solving this problem?
How can I check which part is defective?

Thanks in advance,
Carlo

#5 Post by **Harryc** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:40 pm

If you see a faint image on the LCD the most likely cause is a defective CCFL (backlight).

ajkula66 · #6 Post by **ajkula66** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:24 pm

I'm also aware of the cases where you could see the faint image on LCD, but it was motherboard that was defective...and the external LCD was fine...

sjthinkpader · #7 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:59 pm

I just repaired an A31 with faint image on the LCD. It was a defective inverter.

Dontknow · #8 Post by **Dontknow** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:09 am

I already replaced the inverter, but nothing changes.

I only see the faint image on the LCD when I start up with a connected external CRT screen.
If I start the laptop without connecting the external screen there is no image at all on the LCD, not even if I connect the external screen after starting up the laptop.

I read somewhere that if the backlight is defective then I should see an image if I shine a flashlight on the screen; well, this is not my case.
Thath's why I thought about a defective sub card, if the motherboard should be defective then I think it wouldn't work even with an external screen, or am I wrong?

#9 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:52 am

With an external LCD connected, hit fn-f7 to cycle through the display configs. One of them should be both internal and external LCD's active, one of them should be the internal LCD only active. I think you're confusing the issue because you see a faint image on the internal LCD (with the external connected), and you don't see a faint image if the external is not connected. I am telling you that could be normal depending on the fn-f7 setting at the time. Try all of them. Do it on your T21 to see what I am talking about.

Dontknow · #10 Post by **Dontknow** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:41 am

Harryc wrote:...that could be normal depending on the fn-f7 setting at the time...

I started the laptop without external screen, no faint image on LCD.
I followed your tip, pushed Fn+F7, faint image appeared on LCD.

That should mean that the screen is good but the backlight is not working.

I replaced the inverter, the faint image remains.

As the backlight is inside the LCD screen, I should replace the whole, but as I noticed the cover switch is missing (there is only a hole where the switch should be), I ordered a sub card to check if the problem doesn't lie there, before looking farther (as I don't think the motherboard is defective).

I'll keep you informed of the developments of the situation. In the meantime my thanks to everyone who answered this post.

Dontknow · #11 Post by **Dontknow** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:29 pm

Ok, I replaced the sub card and the screen is working again.

Only when I start the laptop or when it comes out of sleep the screen looks kind of pink, colour that in a few seconds gives way to normal colours.

For the rest no more problems, everything works.

What could be wrong now? As you already know I already replaced the inverter.

ajkula66 · #12 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:56 pm

Your backlight is on its way out, that's where the pink colour on the boot comes from.

If it clears within 15 seconds or so you likely have a year or so before it finally drops dead.

thuur · #13 Post by **thuur** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:18 pm

I currently have a perfect A20m screen for sale on eBay, I don't know if that is an option for you?

Search for seller thuur850.

HTH

Dontknow · #14 Post by **Dontknow** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:34 am

thuur wrote:I currently have a perfect A20m screen for sale on eBay, I don't know if that is an option for you?

Search for seller thuur850.

HTH

I found your ad on eBay, but the screen is too small, mine is as big as the cover, I don't think it would work.
Thanks anyway.

A21m LCD not working right.

A21m LCD not working right.

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