Fn + F7 keys ThinkPad A31

[Steven1953]

When booting up my ThinkPad A31, the screen is now dark (external monitor mode). This just started happening on its own. I did nothing. Laptop is about 4 years old, bought it from a friend.
Here's the problem: When I press Fn + F7 key, the monitor comes back up (viewable) on the laptop, but only for a few seconds then goes dark again. It's only by several presses of Fn and F7 that I MIGHT get the monitor back up (viewable). This is (obviously) very frustrating. Is there some way I can resolve this (disable) the external monitor option or ????).
I look forward to expert advice and information soon!
Thank you.

[tomh009]

When booting up my ThinkPad A31, the screen is now dark (external monitor mode). This just started happening on its own. I did nothing. Laptop is about 4 years old, bought it from a friend.
Here's the problem: When I press Fn + F7 key, the monitor comes back up (viewable) on the laptop, but only for a few seconds then goes dark again. It's only by several presses of Fn and F7 that I MIGHT get the monitor back up (viewable). This is (obviously) very frustrating. Is there some way I can resolve this (disable) the external monitor option or ????).

I had a similar problem on my old Dell C400 ... but it wasn't actually switching to the external monitor. Rather, the backlight on the LCD was dying, and the effect is pretty much a dark screen when it goes off.

When you hit Fn+F7 to turn the screen, how many times do you need to hit that combination? Sometimes once, sometimes twice? Basically that combo turns off the screen and then turns it back on.

The way to find out if the backlight is the problem is to take you handy maglite (or another flashlight) and hold it close to the screen. Can you see the screen now, where the flashlight is shining? If you can, your backlight needs replacing ...

[Steven1953]

tomh009:
Thanks for replying, but I'm not sure it's the LCD backlight that needs replacing.
I have to press Fn + F7 MANY times (20-30 or more) and HOPE that the monitor eventually stays lit and viewable (I can see a faint image when the screen is dark). So far, it's come back up, but I have a feeling it's dying a slow death. So again, I hope that someone can help in resolving this problem so that my monitor stays up and running an viewable, otherwise the laptop will be of no use to me. (Also, why would the monitor come up eventually if the backlight was not functioning? And, how would I replace the backlight IF that is the problem?).

Moderator edit: deleted two duplicate posts

[tomh009]

tomh009:
Thanks for replying, but I'm not sure it's the LCD backlight that needs replacing.
I have to press Fn + F7 MANY times (20-30 or more) and HOPE that the monitor eventually stays lit and viewable (I can see a faint image when the screen is dark). So far, it's come back up, but I have a feeling it's dying a slow death. So again, I hope that someone can help in resolving this problem so that my monitor stays up and running an viewable, otherwise the laptop will be of no use to me. (Also, why would the monitor come up eventually if the backlight was not functioning? And, how would I replace the backlight IF that is the problem?).

It definitely looks like a backlight problem -- faint image, and the backlight usually doesn't stay lit. You may get a little bit better Fn+F7 results in the short term if you turn down the LCD brightness, but that's not a long-term cure.

Now, two possible causes: the easy one is an inverter (you can buy a replacement one for under $10 on eBay; look for FRU 26P8132). The hardware maintenance manual will give you instructions for replacing it:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39796

However, it could be the backlight itself, which is integrated into the LCD. Here is the question: when the backlight works (and worked before), is it always the normal bright white light? Or does/did the screen have a reddish/pinkish hue when you first turn it on, and then only go white after maybe 10-30 seconds? If that's the case you would need an LCD replacement, which will likely cost you between $100 and $250 for the part (depending on the screen type and the vendor), plus the work of replacing it (the HMM should be able to help you here, again).

[Steven1953]

There was never a reddish/pinkish tint to the screen, so it sounds like it's not the more expensive problem of LCD replacement. As for the inverter, I pulled up the HMM manual pdf file but in sifting though the table of contents (192 page manual) I could not locate the exact page that tells me how to replace the inverter. Can you help? (I will check Ebay for this under $10 item and hope this resolves the problem).
Thank you.

[tomh009]

There was never a reddish/pinkish tint to the screen, so it sounds like it's not the more expensive problem of LCD replacement. As for the inverter, I pulled up the HMM manual pdf file but in sifting though the table of contents (192 page manual) I could not locate the exact page that tells me how to replace the inverter. Can you help? (I will check Ebay for this under $10 item and hope this resolves the problem).
Thank you.

You can find the inverter replacement instructions on page 131 of the PDF. If you don't have the pinkish tint, it's a good chance it's the inverter, and at $10 or so, it's worth trying that first.

[Steven1953]

Weird thing, computers.
It seems to be operating okay right now. I've shut down and re-booted a few times and the monitor comes up viewable.
I ran a full system virus scan (found nothing) and while I was attempting to get the monitor up yesterday (pressing Fn + F7 several times) I do remembe clicking on the icon at the bottom of the screen (two tiny icons, color green, one showed a LCD monitor and the one next to it showed a screen with a line coming off it --- which I took to be a simulation of an external screen -- these appeared at bootom of screen as I pressed Fn/F7, as I said, I managed to click on the 'LCD monitor' icon, so I may have 'selected' "monitor only" and resolved the problem, but I'm not sure. All I know, for now, the laptop monitor is back-up and viewable. Stay tuned to this post for updates.
Thank again.

[drwho]

this sounds like what i had, my problem was 100% the same. i thought it was the inverter....but it turns out to be the CCFL bulb. well, if you are not good at sodering and want another option, pm basscleff and he is the man....repaired mine for a good price and it works great now.

[Steven1953]

drwho:
An inverter for the ThinkPad A31 is part # FRU 26P8132 which I bought on Ebay ($8) but has not arrived yet. You are saying it may be the CCFL bulb and not the inverter (you had the same problem).
I now have to press Fn + F7 some 50-100 times and it's only by chance that the monitor stays lit/viewable one of those times! I am hoping I can repair this (CCFL bulb or inverter problem) on my own. Who fixed yours?
I may just get a new laptop if the fix becomes too tedious or expensive.
Please write back. Thank you.

[tomh009]

Hang in until the inverter arrives ... and avoid turning your ThinkPad off once you get the screen to turn on!