Video problems with dropped T30

[EdipisReks]

i dropped my T30 a month or so ago, and i finally got around to taking it apart today. the issue is that the only video output i get on the LCD (it still works fine with an external monitor) is a brief flash of the BIOS splash screen, and then intermittent colors when the screen is moved. based on previous experiences with dropped Thinkpads, i figured that the issue was a loose video connector, but it doesn't appear to be.

I checked all of the connections (ribbon to mainboard, ribbon to the back of the panel, and both inverter board connections). everything seems solid. the problem persists, it may even be slightly worse now, as i get a flash of video on start up, then nothing. the backlight stays on, so my guess is that the inverter is ok. there appear to be diagnostic LEDs on the ribbon cable and inverter that could probably tell me what the issue is, but i can't find a guide. anyone have any suggestions?

it's not super imperative that i get this laptop working soon (i have a 2.33GHz MacBook Pro as my main computer), but i would like to keep using this machine, which has been an absolute work horse up to this point.

[rkawakami]

Taking your last question first; the LEDs are probably the ones that show through the keyboard and are status lights for the disk drive, caps lock, num lock, power, etc. As far as I know, there are no diagnostic capabilities built into the cable. Since you are still getting the backlight but not any video signals on the LCD, and you have checked the cable as best you can, my assumption is that something has worked itself loose from the motherboard. Specifically, one or more of the soldered connections on the video graphics chip may have broken. This is solely based upon your comment of dropping the system.

As you are seeing some video activity (the BIOS splash screen), that would seem to indicate that the cable itself is okay. Same goes for the LCD. The only way of proving that the problem is or is not with those two pieces is to replace them with a totally new (and known working) display and cable.

You may also want to try using the Fn+F7 key combination to see if you can cycle the video between the external monitor and LCD.

[EdipisReks]

you know what, i bet that the LEDs are the ones that show through the keyboard. i haven't put the machine back together since, so i didn't make the connection. the machine works fine with an external monitor. i'm thinking that it's probably easiest to just buy a full LCD assembly when one comes up for cheap on ebay.