Thinkpads Forum

I've been having the same problem with my LCD display going black like so many other posters on this forum. I've done a search and read all the previous replies on the subject, but would like to see if I can get a bit more information or suggestions from someone. When this first started happening I learned here that it was most likely the inverter card and that they are fairly inexpensive, available, and easy to replace. That sounded good to me and I replaced the card, no problem, and the display worked perfectly again... for awhile. It wasn't too long after replacing the inverter card that the symptoms started to return with more and more frequency, just like the first time. So, I went ahead and ordered a second replacement inverter card. This one worked perfectly ONLY the first time I booted up. After that I was pretty much back to where I was before, never knowing if or when the display will be on. My question is, do I have another problem? Is there something that is causing the inverter cards to go bad? Should I just start buying inverter cards by the dozen? The other thing I am noticing since putting in this latest inverter card is that if I close the top much more beyond 90 degrees, the screen goes black too. I should be able to close it almost all the way and still see that it is on, at least that's the way it used to work. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. TIA

You may have another problem.

There is a small tab next to the IBM logo on the keyboard. This tab is supposed to be pushed down by a nub on the display to cause the computer to go into standby. The tab is connected to a microswitch. It could be that the tab is jammed, or misaligned. Or the switch could be going bad. The switch is on the DC/DC card under the keyboard.

Try making sure the keyboard is properly installed and the switch is free to operate properly.

Hope this helps.

Well... no, that isn't it. I can see the switch and it operates freely. When I press it with a pen it goes into stand by, which is very different than the screen going black. When I close the top a little beyond 90 degrees, like I described above, the screen goes black, it does not go into stand by mode.

Then it sounds like the ribbon cable from the base to the display has a problem.