240X 10.4 SVGA ---> 10.4 XGA straight conversion?

[phool@round]

My 240X's screen is getting somewhat washed out and dimmer and will need to be replaced. Since the Silicon Motion LynxEM+ chip can output 1024X768 externally and virtually I have been looking for a 10.4" XGA screen that can use the stock video cables off either a 240 or 240X. The limitation is the screen. In 1999-2001 I can understand that an XGA would have driven up the price, not in 2007 though.

So far my searching has found several 10.4 screens that are native XGA but I can't be sure since I have little reference to an actual 10.4 XGA 240. I would hope to find a screen that will simply fit with little or no modification aside from possibly needing a different 240 video ribbon cable.

Would anyone like to join me on this quest? The 240Z HMM would be great if I could find it. At least I could compare parts. Neither Lenovo Japan or UK have it. Anyone have a 240Z 82J and a digital camera, it's only six screws and voila' a model number and manufacturer? The S30 screen is a non-player since it has "wings" that don't allow the offset for the 240's bezel, besides they aren't available, I've emailed several warehouses in the States.

After a day of heavy searching I found this isn't the first attempt at this. Several posts to different groups turned up the exact same hope but none found the answer. I'm hoping to do just that, find the elusive, inexpensive screen. Ebay will more than likely become the source for the screen, it's chock full of em. Is this a tall order, it appears so but with more people working on it this might actually happen.

[phool@round]

Eureka!!!! I found it! The 240Z's XGA LCD panel is a Hitachi TX26D20VC1CAA. Google it if you don't believe me.......

In Japan it's not called an HMM, it's called a "Conservative Guide" so I downloaded it and voila' it showed three panels, the "A" for the 240, the "B" for the 240X/Z and the third was the holy grail and not so strangely referred to as a "C" panel.

Now to find a good source to buy the panel and parts from. Ebay didn't pan out, at least not yet. IBM couldn't have been the only source for that panel. Other laptop manufacturer's must have used them as well.

The 240Z's video cable FRU is 27L066, the inverter is 08K3311 and the LCD is 05K9830. The video cable "looks" like the same one on the "B" model LCD which is the 240X's, the part numbers are different though.

I have more work to do. If I can source the parts inexpensively I'll be a very happy camper. I'd like to find a cross reference for the Hitachi but it's as daunting a task as finding the exact panel.

[pianowizard]

Have you upgraded the LCD yet?

[greddy]

hello,

i have now an original thinkpad 240 with xga panel, buy
from tokyo, used machine.

But the display light is defect, i can see the screen, but without light.

The inverter is defect, the number is 08K3311 but i can not
found any address or shop to buy it.

Who can help ?

Cheers

[tim S]

You probably need a new backlight not an inverter. There is a cheap eBay source but the company is located in Canada. They ship very securely using a thick plastic tube with the light tube secured inside, so it can't break. I bought the smallest one for my 240 here in the US, it's not the easiest thing to install, requiring a low watt soldering iron and a lot of patience but it fit just fine. It is a little bluer than the normal IBM backlight, but it's way better than a dark screen.
Tim S

[greddy]

Hello ...

hmmm, when i switched on, the backlight are on. The Bios Screen comes, Windows comes ... and then .. 3-5 minutes later, the backlight goes out ... in two steps. First a little darker, one second later the backlight are 100% off.

You think it is not the inverter ?

cheers

[tim S]

Now I'm not sure, but since you are getting some light the problems points more to the inverter. If I had your 240Z, I would try 10L1431; the inverter for the 'B' screen.
Unfortunately these Japan only models seem very tempting but if they have a problem they become a real nightmare to fix!
I did read, in Japanese/English(!) that the 240Z was available with (up to) a 600Mhz chip but only 198Meg memory. I think the regular 240, even with a celeron and 800X600 is potentially better (320Meg), at least for XP, than the X or Z. I know they have a 4meg video card but that's more for 1024X768 than anything else.
I have been able to get smooth full and wide screen DVD video on my 240 using IBM Mediamatic software with a Targus PCMCIA DVD, so I'm happy.
Anyway, good luck.
Tim S

[greddy]

Hi,

you say it: a real nightmare!

I have now try 3 Inverter from the "B" Display, the same problem!

I'm not think all 3 inverter are defect, so now i don't know what i can do.

thanks for your help.

cheers

[tim S]

If you have tried 3 'B' inverters then I agree, at least one of them must be good. So the back light exchange is the last option.
I don't know if they are available in Europe but if you have good backlight in another 240 screen then try the exchange. Or try the 240Z inverter in a good 240 and see what happens.
The 3rd option is a bad video chip but let's not go there!
Tim S

[greddy]

oh ... extrem curios ...

now i changed the light tube ... the same problem!

in the normal svga 240 the backlight are ok.

I don't think the graphic chip are defect, i can work on the external port without problem, works 100%

also curios:

When i call the "display settings" under windows and when i switch with the buttons the internal screen on and off, the backlight goes 1-2 seconds on, then off.

Behind the tft is also a little bit electronic (where the thin cable are connected) ... is this i.E. an point ?

cheers ...

[tim S]

Make sure all the flat wires are properly seated in their connectors.
That is the mini connector on the motherboard, the other end in the LCD, the thin connector behind the the LCD into the inverter and the two wire connector on top of the inverter. But I'm sure you've done that alredy. I remember reading in the early 240's the main video connector, on the board, could come unsoldered behind the motherboard if the video plug was pushed too hard.
What we know is:
1 The backlight is OK
2 The video chip is OK
3 Changing the inverter, (to the wrong type) does nothing.
I would try connecting the 240Z lid/screen to a regular 240.
If the light still cuts off then the problem is in the lid. I would look at the main video cable and the smaler one very carefully, especially the ends.
If that does nothing then you are back where you started needing the correct inverter!
Tim S

[phool@round]

This is in repsonse to pianowizard on whether I've upgraded or not yet? The short answer is no, not yet.

I was transferred awhile back and am now just getting my personal life back in order with about 90% of my home still in storage. I've not given up but it's taken a back seat for awhile......