Can anyone solve this LCD puzzle?..... *PICS*

[smw6230]

Finished an a31 mobo swap and all (seemingly) went well. Seemingly because while the lights on the mobo light up at the start, and the fan runs, I'm getting no display at all.

To back up a minute in preparation for this project I also wanted to upgrade the LCD from a 15" 1024x768 to a 15" SXGA. To that end I purchased a new Thinkpad A31 Samsung 15" LCD (LTN150P4-L01).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v171/ ... CT0022.jpg

To match that I also purchased a 15" SXGA flex cable (27L0682) and inverter (26P8132).

http://i.ebayimg.com/11/!BtIB8WwEGk~$(K ... I!~~_3.JPG

First problem is that the flex cable is too short. Despite using the 15" IBM FRU numbers I can't close the lid, or fit the palmrest on, because the tension from the connection point on the LCD to the connector on the mobo has no give in it. If I move the lid in the slightest the connector decouples from the LCD.

Curiously, I don't know how they measure the length of the cable but when I measured the cable from the natural top (right hand side of the picture above) to the connector that plugs into the mobo (left), laid flat it measured out a shade under 14". An extra inch (15") would create some give and allow the lid to open and close correctly?

Also the SXGA cable that I purchased says SXGA +IPS (if that makes a difference)

Can anyone see what my error is?

Have I seated the cable correctly? How can I get that extra inch?

Second problem, and this one is fundamental, I'm not getting any image. Even when I loosen the tension and make the LCD, inverter, and mobo connection I just get a blank screen.

I tested 2 inverters and that didn't help.

One thing I would point out is that when I tested it on the old mobo, it didn't always work. What I mean by that is I'd have to power the computer on 2/3 times in order to get it to catch (so to speak) to bring up the Thinkpad screen.

As I said the LCD is new, I tested it with two different inverters, two different mother boards, and I checked all connections.

I'm thinking its got to be a faulty cable as that's the only constant in my trial and error. Does that sound like a logical choice? One final thing and I'm not sure if this is significant but perhaps this will trigger the problem for someone. Originally when I got the thinkpad and used it with the 1024 X 768 screen it functioned perfectly. When I connected the SXGA screen I noticed that graphics would slide off the screen. For instance originally in the X 768 the startup Thinkpad logo would just fade off the screen. When I used the new LCD, cable, inverter, I noticed that the logo would sort of get pulled off the screen to the left. I don't know if this is normal but I figured I'm mention it to see if it helps.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I'm open to them as this is quite vexing.

[RealBlackStuff]

Warning: your pictures are way bigger than the Forum rules allow!

The LCD is the correct standard SXGA+ model for the A31/A31p.
However, your LCD cable *seems* to be for the IPS SXGA+, although the part number is for the standard SXGA+
P/N std SXGA+ 27L0682
P/N IPS SXGA+ 27L0714

As to no display: A31/A31p are notorious for GPUs conking out due to flexing (few) and/or hot-cold cycles (most).
Your manipulating the mobo may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Do you still get a picture on an external monitor?

Wait until our A31p Guru ajkula66 (George) chimes in.

PS: found a picture of the 27L0682
Compare this with what you have.

[Harryc]

Your first mistake was that you should never do more than one thing at a time while performing electronic upgrades, repairs, or replacements. It introduces too many variables and makes it very difficult to troubleshoot if the results are not as predicted.

LCD panel, 15in SXGA+ (Samsung) V2 11P8298 (Non-IPS)
You need to use LCD cable FRU 27L0682
You need to use Inverter card 26P8132

It appears that you've used the right parts, so one of them is defective. It could be a problem on the systemboard too, including a fuse or a defective GPU. What happens if you swap the old LCD panel, cable, and inverter back?

[smw6230]

Update.

Warning: your pictures are way bigger than the Forum rules allow.

Sorry about that. Should I pull them down?

As to no display: A31/A31p are notorious for GPUs conking out due to flexing (few) and/or hot-cold cycles (most). Your manipulating the mobo may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Do you still get a picture on an external monitor?

Ok, using a standard S-Video cable I connected the a31 S-video out to my plasma. After powering up the computer nothing appeared on the screen. However I do notice that when I turn off the computer, on the TV, you can see the display brightness change for a second as if it had been getting some sort of video signal that ceased. Also when I disconnected the S-cable for a fraction of a second there appeared some white lines on screen.

Would this indicate the GPU and/or hot-cold issue you mentioned?

I didn't think it was a mobo issue as this is a (93P3536) Refurbished IBM ThinkPad A31 Intel Motherboard but its looking like it. What I don't get is I also had intermittent display issues with the old working mobo when I used this LCD, inverter, and cable.

BTW, is it possible that this issue could be the result of something loopy like I didn't house the CPU correctly or something?

Also a point of clarification, what do you mean by my "manipulating" the mobo?

Let me know what you think. The board is still under warranty until next Friday so I can return it for an exchange if you think its the likely cause of the problem.

Also what's confusing is the non IPS LCD cable (27L0682) I ordered and have been using is marked IPS on the cable itself? But since I used an external display in this test the point would appear to be moot.

[RealBlackStuff]

Pictures of up to 50kb are allowed, otherwise put in a link to them, rather than the pic itself.

External monitor: use a monitor via the VGA cable, not a television via S-VGA

You wrote you also tested this out on the old mobo, so you appear have been swapping mobos.
I call that "manipulating" (to move, arrange, operate, or control by the hands).

[smw6230]

Pictures of up to 50kb are allowed, otherwise put in a link to them, rather than the pic itself.

Got it I went with the latter and included links.

External monitor: use a monitor via the VGA cable, not a television via S-VGA

Drat, I tried the VGA cable attached to my HP desktop downstairs and I didn't get any image at all.

Is there anything else I can try before I go about returning the mobo?

Thanks.

[smw6230]

Bumping this back up to the top for a question.

I found this while trying to troubleshoot my problem. Can anyone confirm this?

---------

LTN150P4-L01 NEW IBM Thinkpad A30 15" SXGA+ LCD Screen. I purchased this screen at the same time I was purchasing an IBM A30 with a bad screen. I was told it was compatible, but it is not. I took mine to a certified repair facility to replace the screen and they are the only ones to have touched this screen, so it's still new.

---------

This is the same exact model LCD that I purchased and haven't been able to get to work in my A31. That would explain why I couldn't get any video despite a new mobo, and switching of cable & inverter. What it wouldn't explain is why I can't get any video despite using a VGA connection.

The thing is the ThinkWiki TFT display page & IBM's A3* LCD service parts page both list the Samsung (LTN150P4) as a LCD that works with the A3* line.

Any direction would be appreciated as I'm totally lost.

[RealBlackStuff]

Digging deeper into this mystery, it seems that you have got the wrong LCD after all.
What you need is LTN150PE-L01
What you got is.. LTN150P4-L01 which is for the R40

You need any of these IBM P/N or FRU:
05K9935 / 05K9965, Samsung LTN150PE-L01
11P8301 / 11P8298, Samsung LTN150PE-L01, newer Revision V2
11P8265 / 11P8266, LG Philips LP150E01 (A2M3)

07N2140 / 11P8206, DBU IASX12S (IPS)

[smw6230]

Digging deeper into this mystery, it seems that you have got the wrong LCD after all.
What you need is LTN150PE-L01
What you got is.. LTN150P4-L01 which is for the R40

You need any of these IBM P/N or FRU:
05K9935 / 05K9965, Samsung LTN150PE-L01
11P8301 / 11P8298, Samsung LTN150PE-L01, newer Revision V2
11P8265 / 11P8266, LG Philips LP150E01 (A2M3)

07N2140 / 11P8206, DBU IASX12S (IPS)

Thanks, RealBlack it looks like this is the problem and that I've narrowed down the issue. One question remains though I brought my replacement mobo from the same place where I got the LCD assuming I hooked everything up correctly, and assuming that the LCD won't work with the cable & inverter, what explains why I didn't get any picture/image when I connected everything up via XGA output to my desktop HP working monitor?

Is it possible that I blew a fuse or something when I tried to LTN150P4-L01 LCD.

I'm trying to figure out what to return.

[RealBlackStuff]

Try an external monitor (using VGA cable), without the internal LCD cable plugged in.
If you get a signal, that's half the battle won.
These GPUs give 2 signals, a digital signal going to the LCD, and an analog signal going to the (external) VGA port.
If one works, the other could still be gone...

If possible, I'd return the LCD for the correct one. And you also need to look into that (too short) LCD cable.
Possibly the connector on the back of the LCD is placed lower on IPS screens, than on non-IPS screens.
For argument sake, can you try the old XGA LCD with XGA cable/inverter again on the new mobo?
You don't need to mount them in the lid to try.

[smw6230]

Try an external monitor (using VGA cable), without the internal LCD cable plugged in.
If you get a signal, that's half the battle won.
These GPUs give 2 signals, a digital signal going to the LCD, and an analog signal going to the (external) VGA port.
If one works, the other could still be gone...

If possible, I'd return the LCD for the correct one. And you also need to look into that (too short) LCD cable.
Possibly the connector on the back of the LCD is placed lower on IPS screens, than on non-IPS screens.
For argument sake, can you try the old XGA LCD with XGA cable/inverter again on the new mobo?
You don't need to mount them in the lid to try.

I'm in a world of hurt.

I tried the XGA cable and attached it to the monitor on my desktop computer and got no video.

I suspect you're right about the connection points on the different screens.

My problem is the original a31 came with a cracked screen so I'm unable to try it with a different panel.

I'm screwed.

[RealBlackStuff]

That does hurt!

One more thing to try: lay the XGA and SXGA+ LCD cables on top of each other. From the bottom mobo connector to the top where the Thinklight is, they should have the same height. The height of the LCD connector may vary.
You could also measure the distance between bottom of LCD-connector (on the panel-back) and top of the LCD panel itself.

[smw6230]

That does hurt!

One more thing to try: lay the XGA and SXGA+ LCD cables on top of each other. From the bottom mobo connector to the top where the Thinklight is, they should have the same height. The height of the LCD connector may vary.
You could also measure the distance between bottom of LCD-connector (on the panel-back) and top of the LCD panel itself.

A point of note as I made an error. I don't have a XGA cable. I used a VGA cable from my desktop and connected to the A31 via the VGA out connection on the back of the thinkpad.

Last series of questions as you've been so helpful. I think I know what's going on now, see if this sounds correct.

The LCD is the problem as the cable is too short/and or the LCD is incompatible. I'm going to get one of the LCDs that you mentioned and give that a try.

Could the reason why there is no video from the thinkpad, when I connect via VGA cable to an external monitor, be because I don't have any installed drivers installed on the A31?

As noted in the thread linked below I'm waiting on the A31 recovery disks in order to install the drivers. It seems to me that if my drivers aren't installed properly, or at all, then that might be the reason why there is no video out when I use VGA.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=89258

[Harryc]

You should at least see a boot screen even without drivers on an external LCD. You have another issue with the systemboard.

[Neil]

No drivers are needed to get output on VGA. If everything is working right, you should be able to see the IBM boot splash and the BIOS on the VGA output, just like on the LCD panel.

EDIT: Looks like Harry has faster fingers than I.

[smw6230]

Just an update I got everything fixed. I'm not sure what my error was but I have installed the new mobo and I can see the boot screen via VGA.

Now I just have to get a SXGA LCD that works. A question along this line.

In looking at my options:

05K9935 / 05K9965, Samsung LTN150PE-L01
11P8301 / 11P8298, Samsung LTN150PE-L01, newer Revision V2
11P8265 / 11P8266, LG Philips LP150E01 (A2M3)

07N2140 / 11P8206, DBU IASX12S (IPS)

I've stumbled across several LG Philips LP150E01's but the many of the ones that I've seen are listed (A2M2), as opposed to the 'A2M3' stated above. Would that make a difference? I've purchased 3 LCDs for this computer to date and I really don't want to make another mistake.

[RealBlackStuff]

How's this IPS LCD for $49.99? http://www.getpartsonline.com/11p8206.html
You may need to buy yet another LCD cable, but at that price...