A30 display problem/question - lines on LCD

[ravensju]

So here is the problem: when the thinkpad boots up, there are a bunch of thin vertical blue stripes on the screen. I can see it test the memory and identify the drives/mouse/etc. If I try to load up PC doctor in DOS (or any other DOS text screen) I get exclamation points all over the screen, with a few unrecognizable characters where the text should be. Now, I've read on these forums that the LCD cable can come loose/crack/etc. So I took the thinkpad apart and reseated the LCD cable. The lines are still there and are acutally a little bit worse. Now the display will not work with windows, but looks perfectly normal under linux (SUSE to be exact) i.e. there are no vertical lines and everything is as it should be.

Here is my question: Does this problem sound like a faulty LCD cable or is there a larger problem here that I am missing? I am trying to get a feel for whether I should spend the $75 on a new (not from IBM) lcd cable or just sell the machine as is and get something else.

Oh, the machine is an A30 (2652-3BU) Thanks.

[ravensju]

I finally got around to testing my A30 with an external monitor and it will not work. I find this weird since the LCD screen appears to be working (not perfectly but working, see above). I've pressed Fn-F7 a bunch of times and see nothing. I've even set my bios to show the boot-up screens on both the LCD and CRT and still nothing. Any ideas of what is going on? I've read about people not getting an external monitor to work, but they usually don't see anything on the LCD either. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Alan Jones]

I have found that Fn-F7 doesn't always work. If it doesn't, look for an Intel icon on the lower right taskbar. See if it allows you to support the LCD, external monitor, or both. If you can't find it or it doesn't work, use the IBM ThinkPad Presentation Director which should be on the same taskbar.

Alan

[timbuk2]

I think you will find that this appears when there is no video driver loaded. Most dos apps/utlities do not use a driverso these lines appear and the text is garbled. In other dos based applications like Drive Image and Partition Magic, that use video drivers, the text/screen is ledgible.

I have the same problem with my A30 and have used PC Doctor to identify some bad video ram. I suspect you would find similar results too Bios updates have failed to resolve the issue...i fear the worst !

Lately I have noticed that the screen quality fluctuates with physical movement of the LCD panel, and the quality is degrading. I would like to ask the forum if it would be wise to replace the LCD inverter before purchasing a new system board?

Cheers...

Tim

[ravensju]

Here's an update:

I have replaced the LCD cable with a brand new one and replaced the inverter with a working one I purchased off of ebay. Neither one has fixed my problem so I am thinking the system board has a problem. It is either that or the cables that run from the inverter to the LCD are bad. The insulation on these wire is visibly cracked, but the strands inside do not look broken at all so I hesitate to say that is the problem. Anyway, I do not have money for a new system board, so this laptop will be posted in the for sale section.

[dvsDave]

have the same issue! I just got an email for a post-warrenty sevice plan for my laptop and I hope they will fix it once I purchase the plan.

[timbuk2]

I am curious as to what model of motherboard they use for replacement. I have been pricing out 26P8287 Planar board, but one of the suppliers said IBM has released a newer replacement model , but I neglected to write the number down, and having a tough time tracking it down...