IBM A31p 2653-R4U- Video problem-laptop was dropped.

[david_thinkpad]

Yep, the title says it all, I was getting ready for work and I had the laptop bag open on my desk and I stepped away for a brief second to put my shoes on and I heard a thump while the bag was open (it was inside the bag but not secured) so it had a little padding. However the damage was done. The screen shows an image but it's just about so dark you just about can't see it. I do see the "thinkpad" in the screen but I really have to be close to see it.

According to the IBM manual the first thing was to seat the cable, next is the monitor replacement and if that's not it, the system board has to be changed.

Thoughts?

[ocin]

Hi it Sounds like the Backlight was Damage due to the impact...........backlight are 8 bucks on ebay if you want to do it yourself .... or go to the Marketplace on this forum ... and look for jamipahr .if you dont want to do it yourself .....Goodluck ..

[ajkula66]

You should definitely send the machine to James (jamiphar), who is quite well-versed with A31p units. Apart from the possible backlight damage (let's all pray for that one) there's a possibility that the board is damaged as well...

Good luck and let us know.

[david_thinkpad]

The other thought I had as well was possibly replacing the laptop anyway. I had been wanting to do it for a while now and I think the good lord finally pushed me right along.

What I thought of doing was just keeping the docking station and port replicator I had and just buy a unit that was compatible with them both and go that route.

The Docking station is a 2631, and I am not sure on the port replicator. But none the less if it can be a backlight how hard would it be to change? I can already take the machine apart. The main thing I am looking at is if it's going to be $200+ I can just buy a new laptop and really not be out anymore.

If it is the backlight what would the part number be? I just did a generic search for "laptop backlight" and saw some for sony, dell, a IBM T30 and a few others.

[sjthinkpader]

Replacing the LCD alone or the entire top assembly is pretty easy on the A31/A31p since you don't have wireless antennae for your model.

If you can see an image, the computer should be ok.

[jamiphar]

If you want to replace the backlight yourself, you got the help of the A31p being a bit easier to work on (backlight-wise) than most laptops. The backlight you would need is this one: http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail1.asp ... NOVOIBM15R

If you had me replace it, I could do it for $150 (shipping is included in the price). If you decided to drop it off yourself (Granite City is about 25 miles from us), I can do it for $115. The repair comes with a one-year warranty, which means that I'll fix it again for free if it fails within that period.

[david_thinkpad]

Final question.

Someone suggested to me via e-mail it might be best to plug in an external monitor and see if the video port (db15) on the back is working and I am guessing if that is a success that would prove the system board is good and I am looking at the monitor right?


I also failed to mention, that the video card works if I plug it into the port replicator or the docking station.

Will this information help any in knowing at all?

[ajkula66]

The fact that you're able to see the picture on external monitor doesn't prove that the board is good.

These are separate outputs, analog for outside monitor, and digital for the internal LCD. I've seen one too many ThinkPads where the failure of the motherboard had occurred, yet they were able to power on the external LCD.

[sjthinkpader]

Since you can see an faint image on the screen and on an external monitor; your video function is ok. Should just be the backlight is out.

[fasterbybike]

These are separate outputs, analog for outside monitor, and digital for the internal LCD. I've seen one too many ThinkPads where the failure of the motherboard had occurred, yet they were able to power on the external LCD.

What about an external monitor connected via the digital output on a dock/port replicator ? I'd assume that would be a pure digital output.