T23 screen only shows lines of colors, help please! PIC

[PeteTP]

Hello, I am new here and found this place searching for answers to my problem.

I will really appreciate any help I can get with my Thinkpad T23.

The LCD screen only shows lines of colors from start up, I am not sure if its loading all the way into windows, but everything turns on and I can hear the fan.

The screen was working fine until it went black, then I restarted the laptop and all it shows now is lines of colors.

Two days before I received a 0x000000ed error and fixed it through the repair console and the laptop was working fine until the picture was gone. I have read that one can replace the LCD Inverter but I don't know if thats the real problem.

Here is a picture of what it looks like now:



Thanks in advance.

Moderator edit: Thanks for posting a small image. Please also make a note of any inline images in your original subject line for those people who are browsing this site via handhelds by including "PIC".

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

The inverter's purpose is to supply the high voltage needed to fire up the backlight and keep it lit. If you can see bright images on the screen, then the inverter is working. From your picture, my first impression is that it appears you have a problem with the video graphics chip on the motherboard, a problem with the ribbon cable going to the LCD or a problem with the LCD itself. To try to figure out what's wrong without spending a lot (or any) money, try the following:

- does the system display the IBM "splash" screen normally but then as Windows starts to load, go to this type of display? If so, you may have a problem with the software on the disk (more on this later). You might also try accessing the BIOS at startup and see if that display is normal.
- connect an external monitor to the VGA port on the back of the T23. If you see a normal display, then that means that at least the portion of the video subsystem which supplies the signal to the VGA port is okay. You still may have a problem on the motherboard (one that only affects the LCD). On the other hand, if you see the same type of display on an external monitor that you see on the LCD, then you've got a motherboard issue for sure.
- re-seat the LCD ribbon cable on the motherboard. You could also try doing the same on the opposite end of the cable where it plugs into the back of the LCD, but that's harder to get to. While you are re-seating the connector on the motherboard, look for any obvious signs of distress on the cable itself (cracks, tears, etc.).
- assuming that you have tried the first two suggestions without any relief, then you may have to spend some money to eliminate the display or the motherboard as being the source of the problem. This can be done by swapping out the entire lid assembly with another compatible T23 display OR swapping out the base assembly and using your existing lid.

That you got an unmountable boot volume error code (the 0x000000ED) before the video started acting up, you may be having some issues with either the files on the disk drive or a general motherboard problem. If you can boot another OS, say a Linux live CD, see what that does. If you get the same sort of display, then the problem is on your motherboard.

To assist in opening up the system, refer to the Hardware Maintenance Manual:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... UYM3F.html

[Robbyrobot]

In similar cases I've read about, the culprit was generally the LCD panel. On the other hand, and this being a T23, I wonder if it could be possible that the "loose inductor" issue is playing a role... can't remember having seen this kind of an effect due to that before - Ray might, however - but resoldering the inductords isn't a huge job and micht be useful.

[PeteTP]

Thank you for responding to the thread.

The IBM splash screen doesn't show up, its all blank and those color lines come up.

I connected an external monitor and nothing but a blank screen.

I was going to open up the laptop and take a look at the ribbon connector but I keep getting a "The Page You Requested Cannot be Displayed" from the link. It worked the first time when I clicked on it. Hopefully the manual will be back soon.

[PeteTP]

Sorry for the double post.

I just found another link for the hardware maintenance manual

http://linuxfocus.org/~guido/gentoo-tpt ... manual.pdf

Well, I opened it up and checked the ribbon cable and found no apparent stress or damage and unplugged it and plugged it back in.

The laptop is till the same. I'm going to open up the LCD and take a look at that side.

[gator]

PeteP, you have to press Fn-F7 to switch from laptop's LCD panel to the external display.

[PeteTP]

PeteP, you have to press Fn-F7 to switch from laptop's LCD panel to the external display.

Yeah I know, still a blank screen.

This problem seems to be very rare from what people have posted.

[PeteTP]

Sorry again for double posting.

Well, I am pretty sure it has to be a motherboard problem now. There seems to be no problem with the LCD and I get a blank screen when connecting another monitor to the laptop.

Where in the motherboard should I start looking for the loose inductors?

[rkawakami]

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=37956

Click on the "Bottom side w/legend" link and you will find the two on the bottom which usually cause general non-power symptoms at locations at D9 and E8.

[PeteTP]

Well I found the problem.

It was one of the inductors, it had broken off.



I resoldered the inductor and put everything back together and the laptop boot up just fine.

I highly appreciate your help. Thank you very much for replying.

This is the only place I would have found out the answers to this problem, thanks again.

[Robbyrobot]

Well I found the problem. It was one of the inductors, it had broken off.

Wonderful to hear! Thanks for the feedback. Incidentally, this is the same one that was missing on a board I bought, but in that case, I had to replace the inductor before the board would show any reaction at all when the power button was pushed.

[SMA]

Very good finding you has done there.
I am sure it will help others.
Thanks for posting.