T41 Video Blanking: Help?

[elray]

"Captain, Captain! All the stars have gone out!"
"No you fool, you've leaned on the button."

I picked up what I thought was a good deal on a T41 (2379-DJU) some months back.

Everything worked well in the beginning, except for the screen occasionally going blank, which seemed to be fixed by opening and closing the lid 60 degrees or so.

But today, the blanking isn't so intermittent, and moving the lid doesn't cause it to recover.

Are these symptoms of a specific fault, like a ribbon connector, and if so, is it repairable without a soldering iron and precision handling? (I can do crude/basic board/part swaps, but I don't have the finesse or dexterity to neatly change an LCD panel).

[billp117]

Sounds like the video chip. You can either replace the motherboard or get it repaired. There are companies that will reflow the video chip...one is located in the Chicago area. I myself have one that needs repair and I may just take my own advice.

You might want to add your location.

[GomJabbar]

I disagree that it is the video chip. Sounds more like the display backlight (CCFL cold cathode fluorescent lamp) is going out. Has happened to me a couple of times already.

Options:
* Replace CCFL backlight yourself - about a $10 part (I personally don't recommend this).
* Replace the display lid with a used one.
* Replace the LCD display panel.
* Send your computer in to a shop to have the backlight replaced (check out monoserve).

[elray]

I disagree that it is the video chip. Sounds more like the display backlight (CCFL cold cathode fluorescent lamp) is going out. Has happened to me a couple of times already.

Upon further examination and testing, it would seem that the backlight is intact - stays on half the time when the screen blanks; the trouble is echoed on the external monitor port; applying pressure near the COA sticker on the center-right seems to stimulate a response of fuzzy graphics followed by clarity.

Reading this forum, it is unclear whether there actually are any cost-effective quality repair services available for the GPU affliction. Haven't heard of "mono serve", wasn't able to find them. Could you give us a link and a review?

[GomJabbar]

In that case, billp177 is probably correct in his diagnosis.

[billp117]

http://www.gpumedics.com/

I have not used them and do not know how reliable they are...but I will give them a try.

[billp117]

So where are you located?