A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

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cybercorsair
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A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#1 Post by cybercorsair » Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:11 pm

I have a A31 2652 M3U SXGA+ with dead screen (backlights) I first thought it was the inverter abut after replacing it it is still dead . Idid a search on Backlights and get ton of ones listing for the A31 15" but none tell me if the will work for the SXGA+ screen .
So are the Back light all the same or is the difference in them and are there model # i need to find that are not in the book as clear as they can be?
I know seem to asking this question in more ways but I need to get this Laptop working for my work soon as I am getting to where i need bot working and my search time if limited right now to work and not getting parts(that why it took me 3 month to find an inverter) time is money and I spend my time on more to bring in money than spend it on wasting time.
So posting for help on this is the easy way for me to see what you are know and not spend it searching dead leads.

Thank you and now back to your normality

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ajkula66
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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#2 Post by ajkula66 » Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:32 pm

They're all the same. Cables and inverters are different between IPS and non-IPS SXGA+ panels, though.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#3 Post by cybercorsair » Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:17 pm

ajkula66 wrote:They're all the same. Cables and inverters are different between IPS and non-IPS SXGA+ panels, though.

So would any of these work?
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=IBM+Th ... &_osacat=0

I look at how all is put together and feel good i can install the lights but need to see someone do it on video maybe then again a step by step would work as well.


thanks

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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#4 Post by ajkula66 » Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:44 pm

A step by step...?????????????????????????????

First of all, I'd trust Moniserv to know what a proper backlight is for a ThinkPad.

Secondly, I've performed a backlight replacement (once) and will tell you that it's NOT a walk in the park...

You may want to follow Harry's instructions found in this thread, it's for a R51, but there are no major differences...

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 51+project

Good luck.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF

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PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

cybercorsair
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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#5 Post by cybercorsair » Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:05 pm

ajkula66 wrote:A step by step...?????????????????????????????

First of all, I'd trust Moniserv to know what a proper backlight is for a ThinkPad.

Secondly, I've performed a backlight replacement (once) and will tell you that it's NOT a walk in the park...

You may want to follow Harry's instructions found in this thread, it's for a R51, but there are no major differences...

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 51+project

Good luck.
Well gee thank for vote of confidence I think if I can work as tech on the line of major computer company and as Tech there had to work system that had no manual as they are brand new computer never put yet.

I think taking apart the screen backlight system I can do .. never said it would be easy or a walk in the park but some detail would be good lol.

thank for the info will make sure I don't just get the light I may see if i can find dead system with good screen or the back light with the mounting bracket. Just need the part numbers
as the cost for lights vs the whole screen is what working on here.

Thanks

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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#6 Post by ajkula66 » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:56 pm

If you're confident that you can properly replace a backlight, you're better off doing that...all of the applicable LCDs are pushing five years or so now, so their backlights will likely be weaker than a new one...

It's not about me not trusting your abilities, but about knowing what a job-well-done entails. I've seen quite a few repair shops who have replaced backlights, and only one or two who have done it properly more than once. Being perfectly serious here.

Good luck.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF

Abused daily: T61p

PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

cybercorsair
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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#7 Post by cybercorsair » Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:59 am

ajkula66 wrote:If you're confident that you can properly replace a backlight, you're better off doing that...all of the applicable LCDs are pushing five years or so now, so their backlights will likely be weaker than a new one...

It's not about me not trusting your abilities, but about knowing what a job-well-done entails. I've seen quite a few repair shops who have replaced backlights, and only one or two who have done it properly more than once. Being perfectly serious here.

Good luck.
I have no drought the job isn't easy I just been doing electronics since I was like 7(I'll be 49 in Sept) plus I have lot of people close by if I get in too deep. I do plan more to find an easy way to do this more than stripping out the old backlights but if that is the only cheap way with spend tons more on find a unit with that may have the same screen still working and then I have to deal with an unknown amount of time left on that one as well. I was really hoping the inverter was the problem but no luck on that.

I will find some junk system first and practice first but one I am one that likes doing thing step by step. I was fixing TVs at 10 and make money off junk sets in allies when most kid were haling beer cans and Pop bottles to get money I was re-selling TV's i fixed to the Pawn and Appliance store and Tubes to the repair shop I found were still good. I know i haven't done much of that work in some time and computer are far from working old tube sets but it just matter of looking at what need to be done and taking your time to do it right.

If some has done this work and done it right or wrong I just like to hear what you found out and set up a way to document it .. we all at one time working something blindly and we made it work or it blew up .. If you good you take all apart to see what went wrong and to see how not to do that again

I need to have both laptops running so fixing them my self is the best thing if I can see that taking apart the whole LCD backlight system isn't good them my next buy would be a while screen with lights but new vs used again and the cost look around $100 to $150 or more vs light at $15 to $20 It also for the record not that cheap its due to as many I not really loaded with funds or I just drop it at a shop and have it fixed and done.

Ok well Thanks for the info and help I post more when i know more as to what i will do to fix the system and if i go for it well i turn on the video camera and make a video of it all so other can see me make it work or blow up really cool lol.

Late all

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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#8 Post by Harryc » Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:09 am

I've done it several times .... dust is the enemy in that world. At the end of the day you can replace the backlight perfectly and still get a speck of dirt that you didn't even see on reassembly that will look like a gigantic black blob under the new bright backlight. It's been discussed on this forum that a clean room is needed for this work. The problem is that even if you had a clean room to work in, years of dirt and dust have already collected in the crack at the bottom and sides of the LCD....now think about where that dirt and dust is going to go when you crack open the sealed LCD. The actual physical work is not bad, but the key is to find a way to get into the LCD without disturbing the diffuser management films/layers and circuitry any more than necessary. If things don't line up 100% on reassembly you will get noticeable backlight bleed. The backlight is in a tiny channel sealed by tape at the bottom of the panel. Access is often under some diffuser layers, depending on the LCD. It is also very easy to damage the reflector channel so be careful there too. I think what George is saying is that it is a job that is entirely doable, but to do it right is another thing. These LCD panels were not designed to be taken apart and repaired. (period) If they were, the manufacturers would have included a backlight access panel in the design. Good luck.

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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#9 Post by cybercorsair » Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:41 am

Harryc wrote:I've done it several times .... dust is the enemy in that world. At the end of the day you can replace the backlight perfectly and still get a speck of dirt that you didn't even see on reassembly that will look like a gigantic black blob under the new bright backlight. It's been discussed on this forum that a clean room is needed for this work. The problem is that even if you had a clean room to work in, years of dirt and dust have already collected in the crack at the bottom and sides of the LCD....now think about where that dirt and dust is going to go when you crack open the sealed LCD. The actual physical work is not bad, but the key is to find a way to get into the LCD without disturbing the diffuser management films/layers and circuitry any more than necessary. If things don't line up 100% on reassembly you will get noticeable backlight bleed. The backlight is in a tiny channel sealed by tape at the bottom of the panel. Access is often under some diffuser layers, depending on the LCD. It is also very easy to damage the reflector channel so be careful there too. I think what George is saying is that it is a job that is entirely doable, but to do it right is another thing. These LCD panels were not designed to be taken apart and repaired. (period) If they were, the manufacturers would have included a backlight access panel in the design. Good luck.

Yes dust bad .. trust me I worked with clean rooms and I know how dust can keep a project like this. I made on time a vac-box with Plexiglas I set it to work on hard drives it work very well i could do it again much better I think (filters and all are much better than 25 years ago)
And 100% of the old drive i worked are still working even after i was told what did wouldn't work..I seem to work really well when people tell me "YOU CAN'T DO THAT NO ONE HAS!!"

Looking over a lot stuff iIgetting to more think it would be better to get new screen just will have to save up..wonder if they make touch screens that would work ?? loll

anyway its going to be weeks if not month or two before i have the funds to get the backlight or the screen (will need the right model# if any has that ) this is and Thinkpad A31 2652 M3U SXGA+

Harry if you have some good detail please just PM me the info will look it over as well.
the nice thing I like about this one unit is it is very very clean inside i mean it look new so who ever had it took great care but much have used it a lot for the screen to die as it young get than other one by 3 month and that screen is doing great.

Ok thanks again for info and support on this project.

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ajkula66
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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#10 Post by ajkula66 » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:55 pm

No touchscreen will work on an A3X unit...

Your panel is FRU 11P8206 and was made by DBU which is long gone...

With some luck you'll be able to fit an ID Tech panel from T42/43 or R51

Having said that, a well-preserved ID Tech is $100 or so...may want to get a $10 backlight from Moniserv and give that a shot first...

Good luck.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF

Abused daily: T61p

PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

cybercorsair
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Re: A31 15" LCD screen backlights Are they all the same?

#11 Post by cybercorsair » Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:51 pm

ajkula66 wrote:No touchscreen will work on an A3X unit...

Your panel is FRU 11P8206 and was made by DBU which is long gone...

With some luck you'll be able to fit an ID Tech panel from T42/43 or R51

Having said that, a well-preserved ID Tech is $100 or so...may want to get a $10 backlight from Moniserv and give that a shot first...

Good luck.

Ok thanks for the info.. I think heck if some can put touch screen in a ASUS EEE PC netbook(it on You-Tube it would be work as shot. but knowing we have older tech I understand why not.

Ok will look up the places you talk of here.

CC

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