A31 Screen Upgrade

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spedlio · #1 Post by **spedlio** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:47 pm

I picked up a cheap a31 thinkpad off of craigslist for $50. When I got it, I knew it needed the DC jack replaced. Ordered one off of ebay, installed it, and started to put it back together. Got it part way, hooked everything up, and turned it on. At first I thought the power supply was bad, turned out I had the plug backwards. Got that figured out, and it powered up. First thing I see is a redish screen. Thinking oh great, computer is shot. Do some research, find out the backlight for the screen is bad. I plugged it into an external monitor, and it works fine. So I look on ebay for a new monitor, and find a few. It has a 14.1" screen. I found a 15" screen on ebay for a a31, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264402880. My question is, will the 15" work in place of the 14.1", or do I need to stay with the same size? Can I upgrade the screen size? I dont want to spend the money on the 15" and have it not work. Dont want to sink to much money into this. Sorry for the long post, trying to elminate obvious questions. I have not taken the screen apart and do not have any part/fru numbers of what it is, if needed, I will do so. Thanks for any help!

Specs on the laptop:
1.6 Pentium M
512 RAM
30 Gb HD
14.1" Screen
CD-RW/DVD Optical Drive
Good deal for $50?

Thanks for the help

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:32 pm

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Yes, it's obviously safer (and easier) to stick with the same exact display. I don't have too much experience with A3x systems when it comes to swapping around LCDs. I do know that you would have to use the matching ribbon cable with each specific display panel. Since the eBay auction you referenced appears to be a complete lid assembly, then it would depend on exactly what resolution that display is. Given the low price, I'd assume it's an XGA panel (like your existing 14.1" version). There would be definite issues if it's a UXGA display (among which would be an eBay seller who doesn't know what s/he has

) as it appears that you can't do this kind of swap.

Here's a thread out of the archives which deals with one person's attempt at an upgrade:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21740

You can also grab a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual which documents all of the pieces inside your system (and other A30/A31 versions):

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39796

Hang around for a little while and I'm sure one of the A3x experts will be along shortly...

P.S. Yes, excellent deal for $50 as long as the reverse voltage application didn't do any permanent damage.

spedlio · #3 Post by **spedlio** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:08 pm

Thanks for the reply. Be nice for an upgrade, be even nicer for a 100% working laptop. The reverse voltage had no affect, I had a multimeter hooked up and was getting 0 voltage, AC and DC. The laptop has been on and running for about 24 hrs as of now with no problems. Have it hooked up to my kvm and even remote desktoped into it with no issues. Would anyone recommend just trying the backlight replacement, or try to find an entire assembly? Thanks

#4 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:26 pm

I'm going to be starting on a long-delayed A31p project in a few days. Symptoms include no backlight. I'm hoping that it's just an inverter or cable issue but odds are the CCFL went out in the nice UXGA display. Worst case would be a motherboard problem causing the lack of power to the lamp/inverter.

I intend to try my neon lamp check: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=48910 and see if this might shed any light on the inverter or CCFL.

sjthinkpader · #5 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:31 pm

I have a A30p UXGA complete display unit mounted on my A31. Because the resolution select is on the cable, as long as you have matched LCD and cable; any resolution will work on A31 and A31p.

There are several versions of GPU with different amount of VRAM on board. But I have not found any limitations in using XGA, SXGA+ and UXGA LCDs on any version MB.

spedlio · #6 Post by **spedlio** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:07 pm

sjthinkpader wrote:I have a A30p UXGA complete display unit mounted on my A31. Because the resolution select is on the cable, as long as you have matched LCD and cable; any resolution will work on A31 and A31p.

There are several versions of GPU with different amount of VRAM on board. But I have not found any limitations in using XGA, SXGA+ and UXGA LCDs on any version MB.

So your saying it might work? The picture from the auction looks to be the exact same cable and cable end that I have on my screen. If that is really the only thing to worry about, then it should work?

#7 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:45 pm

Look into this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=67779
They are 'operating' on reviving an A31P with loads of pictures.
You may get some good ideas from that thread.

#8 Post by **schen** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:19 pm

I did an A31 project a year or so ago that had a 14" screen, where I swapped it for a 15" screen, then replaced the lid with one that had antennas in it so I could do built-in wireless on that machine.

It turned out fine. It was a bit of a hassle, essentially taking the screen apart twice, but not too hard.

If you decide to just stay with the 14" screen, let me know, I think I still have the original in a box someplace and I'd be happy to get rid of it cheap.

spedlio · #9 Post by **spedlio** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:47 am

schen wrote:I did an A31 project a year or so ago that had a 14" screen, where I swapped it for a 15" screen, then replaced the lid with one that had antennas in it so I could do built-in wireless on that machine.

It turned out fine. It was a bit of a hassle, essentially taking the screen apart twice, but not too hard.

If you decide to just stay with the 14" screen, let me know, I think I still have the original in a box someplace and I'd be happy to get rid of it cheap.

Why did you have to take the lid apart twice? I see once to put the antenna in, but what about the other? Thanks

spedlio · #10 Post by **spedlio** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:31 pm

Awww man, just lost a e-bay bid on a 15" A31 screen for around $33. At the last minute I got the FRU number from the seller, wanted to make sure it wasn't one of the sxvga strad what ever the "fancy" screens are. I get back: 27L0651. Funny, there isn't any FRU listed on the site with that FRU. I'm thinking it was supposed to be an 8 instead of a 5, considering the location on the keypad, that from the quick look be the closest. Oh well, might just stick with the same size 14.1" screen. Wanted this to be a budget system, and not a gamble. Still 14.1" is a huge upgrade from my 12.1" laptop screen size. Maybe i'll gamble another day when I have a few more bucks to play with.

#11 Post by **schen** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:26 pm

spedlio wrote:Why did you have to take the lid apart twice? I see once to put the antenna in, but what about the other? Thanks

Once to do the 15" screen, then when I got a lid with antennas I had to move everything over to the new one.

spedlio · #12 Post by **spedlio** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:59 pm

schen, I tried to send you a PM, but e-mail isn't working. Let me know if you have the screen, and would you also happen to have a a31 keyboard? Thanks

spedlio · #13 Post by **spedlio** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:28 pm

Quick question, are the physical outside dimensions of the a31 14.1" and 15" the same? The guy selling the 15" relisted a second one, I asked if it would work and he said it wouldn't fit. I'm thinking the physical dimensions are the same. This is the listing= http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 2759.l1259 Says is a XGA, which is the same as mine. Thanks

spedlio · #14 Post by **spedlio** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:08 pm

rkawakami wrote:Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Yes, it's obviously safer (and easier) to stick with the same exact display. I don't have too much experience with A3x systems when it comes to swapping around LCDs. I do know that you would have to use the matching ribbon cable with each specific display panel. Since the eBay auction you referenced appears to be a complete lid assembly, then it would depend on exactly what resolution that display is. Given the low price, I'd assume it's an XGA panel (like your existing 14.1" version). There would be definite issues if it's a UXGA display (among which would be an eBay seller who doesn't know what s/he has ) as it appears that you can't do this kind of swap.

Here's a thread out of the archives which deals with one person's attempt at an upgrade:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21740

You can also grab a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual which documents all of the pieces inside your system (and other A30/A31 versions):

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39796

Hang around for a little while and I'm sure one of the A3x experts will be along shortly...

P.S. Yes, excellent deal for $50 as long as the reverse voltage application didn't do any permanent damage.

Ok, finally read the post about the guy that tried this before.

Seems like the monitor will work. E-mailed him about a keyboard, after that answer, I'm gonna order it. Thanks for the help!

spedlio · #15 Post by **spedlio** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:04 pm

Ok, I bought the 15" off of e-bay for a grand total of 33.50. I also needed a keyboard, and he sold that for 10 with no additional shipping. Im hoping like h3ll the screen will work. Thanks for the help and i'll post results!

spedlio · #16 Post by **spedlio** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:46 pm

Just for an update, I got the screen already, installed it and its working just fine. Excellent upgrade. It was a 15" xga screen, and its working fine in place of the 14.1 screen I had on here before. Thanks for the help everyone

A31 Screen Upgrade

A31 Screen Upgrade

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