Dropped my X32-UPDATE

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proaudioguy · #1 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:36 pm

Yea, so I tripped over my own feet and dropped my X32 with dock installed and it kind of landed on the LCD. With a quick look I can't see any noticeable cosmetic issues but the screen doesn't work, and I wasn't able with a quick try, to get video to an external monitor. I was able to remote desktop into the machine, and I'm using it to type this message now from the remote computer. I'm running PC-Doctor now to see if I can find the issue.

Any advice as to what would cause the screen to quite working after a computer flips end over end starting with the screen onto a tile floor from slightly lower than chest height? I'm hoping it's the CCFL tube, but I have no way to really check without tearing it all apart.

UPDATE: I put a flashlight up to the LCD and it's shattered in many locations. There are no visible external cracks which is odd to me.

I just want to add, that if my son and I had not just won the local Pinewood Derby (he won out of 37 scouts and I won out of 18 adults/ siblings), I would be crying right now! It's not the money to fix it that bothers me. It's the idea that I dropped my prized X32.

#2 Post by **gator** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:42 pm

If I were you the first thing I'd do is to try reseating the LCD cables on the backside of the panel ... those things are notoriously easy to get disconnected even with regular use on some models. If that does not work, I 'd check the following:

1. The LCD cable itself
2. Connections to and from the Inverter card
3. CCFL lamp (last option, since it is not easy to reach/replace).

You can look at the X32 Hardware Maintanence Manual for instructions as to doing all of the above.

Good luck getting it working again, please update as to what happens.

jamiphar · #3 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:15 pm

If you're not able to get video by using an external monitor, the video chip is probably one of the problems. It may have gotten knocked loose when it hit.

You can try pressing on the video chip to see if that makes it work on the external monitor.

proaudioguy · #4 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:20 pm

jamiphar wrote:If you're not able to get video by using an external monitor, the video chip is probably one of the problems. It may have gotten knocked loose when it hit.

You can try pressing on the video chip to see if that makes it work on the external monitor.

I really hope tha tis not the issue. I believe when I press the hot keys, it comes up wiht the choice of screens instead of scrolling throug the choices. Since I can't see anything I can't choose. Either way the screen is shattered really bad (held a flashlight up to it). I just really don't want to replace the system board too.

Which is the BEST LCD to get given the choice?

LCD panel, 12.1 XGA (LG)
All models 11P8224 N
LCD panel, 12.1 XGA (DBU)
All models 11P8225 N
LCD panel, 12.1 XGA (Hydis) for X32
All models 13N7008 N

jamiphar · #5 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:24 pm

proaudioguy wrote:I really hope tha tis not the issue. I believe when I press the hot keys, it comes up wiht the choice of screens instead of scrolling throug the choices. Since I can't see anything I can't choose. Either way the screen is shattered really bad (held a flashlight up to it). I just really don't want to replace the system board too.

Ah, ok. Can you use the remote desktop to change the display settings?

proaudioguy · #6 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:28 pm

jamiphar wrote:
proaudioguy wrote:I really hope tha tis not the issue. I believe when I press the hot keys, it comes up wiht the choice of screens instead of scrolling throug the choices. Since I can't see anything I can't choose. Either way the screen is shattered really bad (held a flashlight up to it). I just really don't want to replace the system board too.
Ah, ok. Can you use the remote desktop to change the display settings?

Unfortunately, no. RDP uses it's own display settings, and does not utilize the on board video or at least not much.

I was thinking if I restarted it with the monitor plugged in, maybe it would work?

jamiphar · #7 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:30 pm

proaudioguy wrote:I was thinking if I restarted it with the monitor plugged in, maybe it would work?

It could, it's definitely worth a shot.

proaudioguy · #8 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:57 pm

jamiphar wrote:
proaudioguy wrote:I was thinking if I restarted it with the monitor plugged in, maybe it would work?
It could, it's definitely worth a shot.

OK I had a heck of a time getting it to restart, so I finally just held the power button down. I wish there was a hot key to shut down, where you didn't need to SEE the screen.

I restarted with the monitor plugged in and IT WORKS! I was able to run the VIDEO TESTS for monitor (irrelevant) and graphics and they passed. I'm hoping and praying the system board is OK.

So LG, DBU, or Hydis?

Also, I have warrantee until July. Would they fix this for free? I feel wierd about sending it in (if that's the type of warrantee it has).

jamiphar · #9 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:19 pm

proaudioguy wrote:OK I had a heck of a time getting it to restart, so I finally just held the power button down. I wish there was a hot key to shut down, where you didn't need to SEE the screen.

I restarted with the monitor plugged in and IT WORKS! I was able to run the VIDEO TESTS for monitor (irrelevant) and graphics and they passed. I'm hoping and praying the system board is OK.

So LG, DBU, or Hydis?

Also, I have warrantee until July. Would they fix this for free? I feel wierd about sending it in (if that's the type of warrantee it has).

Great, it sounds like the motherboard is all right.

As far as which screen to use; I don't have any personal experience with the different screens, but Hydis seems to be a good manufacturer (Boe-Hydis made many of the T4x flexviews).

You can call to see if they'd fix this. You'd have to have accident protection coverage (or a really nice rep

).

proaudioguy · #10 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:26 pm

jamiphar wrote:Great, it sounds like the motherboard is all right.

As far as which screen to use; I don't have any personal experience with the different screens, but Hydis seems to be a good manufacturer (Boe-Hydis made many of the T4x flexviews).

You can call to see if they'd fix this. You'd have to have accident protection coverage (or a really nice rep ).

I was thinking about upgrading the warrantee coverage.

jamiphar · #11 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:11 pm

proaudioguy wrote:I was thinking about upgrading the warrantee coverage.

Oh, upgrading to accident coverage and then sending it in? I don't think they would appreciate that. The warranties are supposed to be in case of future damage, not to be bought as a discounted repair after the fact.

proaudioguy · #12 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:26 pm

jamiphar wrote:
proaudioguy wrote:I was thinking about upgrading the warrantee coverage.
Oh, upgrading to accident coverage and then sending it in? I don't think they would appreciate that. The warranties are supposed to be in case of future damage, not to be bought as a discounted repair after the fact.

Well it was planned to happen in the next few weeks since the warranty expires in August, but it may already have that coverage.
I see your point though. If someone would tell me which screen is best I would buy it right now. I really don't like the idea of someone else touching my Thinkpad.

proaudioguy · #13 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:18 pm

I ordered a new lcd on ebay. It arrived while I was out of town.

The backlight does NOT work. With a flashlight I can see the IBM and XP logos, then the lcd shuts off before the login screen.

Is there a possibility the invertor was damaged from being powered into a shattered lcd?

Or what else might be wrong?

I am writing this message using RDP so the system board still appears to be OK.

proaudioguy · #14 Post by **proaudioguy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:13 am

I changed out the inverter (another $33. with overnight shipping) and it's no different. Perhaps the CCFL tube on the new LCD is bad? I just can't understand why the video is up at first, then gone. If it at least stayed there I would feel confident the CCFL tube was bad.

Any ideas?

Raceboy · #15 Post by **Raceboy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:11 pm

Boot up using F8 key on booting and choose VGA mode. In windows just go to display settings and choose proper display resolution and check that dual display settings are ok.

proaudioguy · #16 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:19 am

proaudioguy wrote:I changed out the inverter (another $33. with overnight shipping) and it's no different. Perhaps the CCFL tube on the new LCD is bad? I just can't understand why the video is up at first, then gone. If it at least stayed there I would feel confident the CCFL tube was bad.

Any ideas?

Well I guess no one wanted to come to my aid on this. I thank the ones that at least tried to make suggestions, but I'm really disappointed on the whole.

Turns out the button that turns off the LCD was jammed. I popped it up and the new LCD works fine. Such a simple solution. Hopefully someone else can learn from this. The symptom said it all.

Dropped my X32-UPDATE

Dropped my X32-UPDATE

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