R32 with intermittent display problem

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rhz · #1 Post by **rhz** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:18 am

Hi.

I have an R32 which seems to suffer from an intermittent problem where, after power up, the display is simply blank. It seems like the computer is actually booting up, but the screen is totally blank. In such a situation I powerdown by pressing and holding the power button and restart.
I go through this cycle upwards of 20 times (sometimes more, sometimes less) before the screen comes on at bootup, and everything appears normal.

Thought about updating the ATI driver, but I got back a response saying that the driver is up to date.

Any other ideas, or is it the end of the road for this laptop?

Thanks,

rhz.

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:15 am

Open it up and reseat the LCD cable.
Check the micro-switch that controls the LCD if you close the lid when Windows is still running. Try an push it manually a couple of times.
You may also want to open the LCD-lid to make sure all connections there are OK.

fuzzypup · #3 Post by **fuzzypup** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:27 am

I have an R31 with the same problem. I can press Fn-Home or Fn-End after the computer boots to a dark screen and the screen will display and operate ok. Those key combinations will then raise and lower screen brightness once display shows but display is dark each time the computer is booted.

broncus · #4 Post by **broncus** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:58 am

does the laptop continue to boot i.e can you hear the hard drive and have you tried to plug a external monitor into the back of the laptop. if this is ok then it is probably the cable as has already been suggested just thought i would point out ways to check hope it helps.

rhz · #5 Post by **rhz** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:23 pm

I've never opened up the laptop. Does anyone know where I would be able to find the LCD cable?

Thanks.

lparsons · #6 Post by **lparsons** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:58 pm

I've never opened up the laptop. Does anyone know where I would be able to find the LCD cable?

You can download the hardware maintenance manual (HMM) here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-42939
It will tell you how you can find the cable that connects the system to the LCD.
Though I would start by connecting an external monitor to the system and see if anything shows up there first, it is a lot less work than opening up your system.

msnyder101 · #7 Post by **msnyder101** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:56 am

I've had a similar problem with an A31, which was resolved here.
It's screen would go blank if the computer was moved or bumped, after forcing a reset, the screen would stay blank and the computer would not boot. Only after continuosly restarting the computer would it boot up and work.
It was actually a problem with the ATI video card not be seated properly.
If yours doesn't boot, it may be a similar problem.
-Mike

R32 with intermittent display problem

R32 with intermittent display problem

thanks for the responses.

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