Backlight for 600x screen keeps turning off.

[Justitia]

I have a 6 year old 600x... It's showing its signs of wear and tear.

Edit: Well, I learned on Notebookreview.com that what I am describing is the backlight for the screen flickering off. But the person who told me has the same problem...it is erratic..but right now it is driving me crazy. It starts and then doesn't quit for an hour or so and then suddenly stops for a while. There is a recessed button or switch that gets pressed in when you close the lid. I press that to get the screen to come back on. But the screen often just flickers back off and this goes on for a few minutes until the screen (or backlight) stays on. Which it may for afew minutes or a while, like a few hours.

This just started happening about a week ago and it started getting really bad yesterday.

So anybody have any ideas what I can do? Is this ominous?
Can it be fixed?

I am waiting for a new laptop... I decided to go with ASUS since the new Lenovo products were not what I needed. But I won't get it for another couple of weeks....

And I want to continue using the ThinPad as my bedside laptop. (I listen to internet streaming at night.)

[Justitia]

Noboy has any suggestions? Does this mean my screen is dying? It was replaced by IBM less than a year ago (before the sale to Lenovo) and they charged me even though the machine was still under warranty.

[AlphaKilo470]

Before you start panicking, check the FAQ to see if the issue is there and if not, look for the link to the hardware maintenance manual so you can figure out how to disassemble your ThinkPad. It sounds very much like a loose cable and if that's the problem, it can be fixed simply by unplugging the LCD cable, clearing out any dust then re-inserting the cable firmly into it's place.

[Justitia]

Before you start panicking, check the FAQ to see if the issue is there and if not, look for the link to the hardware maintenance manual so you can figure out how to disassemble your ThinkPad. It sounds very much like a loose cable and if that's the problem, it can be fixed simply by unplugging the LCD cable, clearing out any dust then re-inserting the cable firmly into it's place.

Thanks....

I will follow through on that.

I am nervos about opening my machine. I would rather wait until I get my new one... but this LCD problem is getting nigh onto impossible to deal with...

Love your sig....lol

[AlphaKilo470]

Glad you like the sig, I made it up after a long day at school.

As for taking apart themachine, you're actually rather lucky as the 600 is really easy to work with and service. Just undo the screws listed in the maintenance manual and find the LCD cable and re-attach it firmly. The only thing you need to watch out for are the tight fitting keyboard and trackpoint cables when removing the keyboard. Remove the keyboard carefully and make sure you carefully remove the trackpoint and keyboard cables (located inside near the status lights and microphone) and make sure you don't put too much force on them.

[badi00ab]

Hello,
Does any of u know how to change a display on a thinkpad 600x? If yes, can u plz send me a link or something that shows me how to change the display step-by-step (is it very difficult)? And, does anyone know if a display from an old thinkpad 600 fits to my thinkpad 600X? Thank you...

[tfflivemb2]

Hello,
Does any of u know how to change a display on a thinkpad 600x? If yes, can u plz send me a link or something that shows me how to change the display step-by-step (is it very difficult)? And, does anyone know if a display from an old thinkpad 600 fits to my thinkpad 600X? Thank you...

Try using the Hardware Maintenance Manual:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 9n8608.pdf

It will show you how to remove the Display. If you are going to replace the backlight (as in your other post) this will show you remove the LCD from the display casing, but not how to replace the backlight (CCFL) itself.

[badi00ab]

Thank you for the fast reply, it actually gives me good understanding skills (i hope i'll manage to change it by myself)...
I hope an old display from an normal thinkpad 600 works wtih my 600X. If anyone now in advantage that it a display from the thinkpad 600 doesnt fit with a thinkpad 600X then plz let me know before seperating the whole laptop.

[tfflivemb2]

Thank you for the fast reply, it actually gives me good understanding skills (i hope i'll manage to change it by myself)...
I hope an old display from an normal thinkpad 600 works wtih my 600X. If anyone now in advantage that it a display from the thinkpad 600 doesnt fit with a thinkpad 600X then plz let me know before seperating the whole laptop.

I'm not 100% sure that they will be interchangable. Are they the same size, 13.3"? You might need to combine parts between the two machines to get them to work (ie. LCD cable, Sub-card, etc.)