Dell Laptop LCD Repair--Part way there?

[Iain E. Davis]

I've been working on a Dell Inspiron 8100. The LCD was remaining
dark, after bootup, but I could get a clear picture on an external
CRT.

I determined the problem was mostly likely to be the CCFL tube, so I
ordered a replacement from JKL. The tube replacement went without a
hitch, and now the display lights up when booting.

However...the display is still unusable. I can see that output from
the video card is reaching the display, because as the computer
software boots, I can see the display change, for example when its at
the "windows xp loading screen" I can see vertical lines running the
full height of the screen approximately in the right place
(horizontally) for the progress meter that XP displays at that stage.

I checked to make sure the flex/ribbon cable had firm connections with
the LCD and the video card...without any appreciable improvement.

My working theory is that I need to replace the ribbon cable, that it
has developed a flaw.

Does the inverter simply serve the same role as a the ballast in a
traditional office or shop light? Or does it play other roles in the
LCD operation?

Iain

 

[Michael Kennedy]

The inverter only powers the cfl tube. The LCD should function without it,
well it wouldn't light up but you could see something in the right light.
When people make LCD projectors out of these things you usually remove the
inverter board.

- Mike

 

[[email protected]]

The inverter does not serve exactly the same role as a ballast in a
shop light.
Most laptop displays have 2 back light lamps, does yours have one ore
two and did both get replaced if it has two (top and bottom)???

The inverter generates the start up for the lamps and then monitors
that there is not problem. If it detects any problem all the inverters
shut down. Typically there is an inverter for each lamp controlled by
one ic. Each inverter output has its own surface mount fuse and if one
lamp went bad, the fuse may have opened up. If one of the inverters
does not come up, you will get a single flash on power up or screen
resolution change, then blank. Very common symptom, especially if all
of the lamps were not replaced at the same time.

In the units with a single lamp and inverter, it is common for the
capacitors on the inverter board to go bad and cause same symptom.

 

[Iain E. Davis]

The inverter does not serve exactly the same role as a ballast in a
shop light.
Most laptop displays have 2 back light lamps, does yours have one ore
two and did both get replaced if it has two (top and bottom)???

There is only one CCFL in the LCD. Which I replaced. The new CCFL
lights the screen and stays lit. It also appears to respond correctly
to contrast/brightness controls (which are on the laptop keyboard).
However, my current issue is that what is displayed is significantly
distorted, to the point that if I didn't know what was normally
displayed at those points, I'd have no idea what was going on. I can
clearly see the typical 'flicker' that changing video modes causes,
etc.

My question about the inverter was to eliminate it as the cause of the
distortion, which your explanation indicates to me that I can do: If
the CCFL is lighting display and staying lit, I can assume that the
inverter is operating properly.

Which by my estimation leaves me 2 or 3 points of failure:

1) The ribbon/flex cable (which dell calls a video harness) has a
problem between the video card and the LCD...I couldn't see any
_visible_ signs of damage to the cable, but doesn't mean anything.
Replacement cost is going to be around $53.

2) The LCD itself is damaged in some fashion that I wasn't able to
see, which means I'd need to order a completely new LCD module
($503!).

3) The video card is damaged in some fashion (I currently regard this
as the least likely explanation).


Thank you for your explanation, it helped clarify my understanding of
the role the inverter. I was feeling rather tentative about what I
knew.

Now if I could only conclusively identify where my "new" point of
failure is before I go order a $500 (or even the $50) part...

Iain

 

[[email protected]]

I had an intermittent similar problem with my IBM laptop. Turned out
the surface mount connector on the motherboard with video had poor
solder connections. This connector fed the video to the lcd display
though the mylar cable. If you can run the thing with the case all
apart, very carefully prod and push on the cable and connector.

Also do not forget if the cable had an insulator on one side of it
where the bend is located, to make sure you did not lose it. One side
of those cables sometimes is not insulated and they put an insulator to
keep it from touching the grounded/conductive case.

 

[Iain E. Davis]

I had an intermittent similar problem with my IBM laptop. Turned out
the surface mount connector on the motherboard with video had poor
solder connections. This connector fed the video to the lcd display
though the mylar cable. If you can run the thing with the case all
apart, very carefully prod and push on the cable and connector.

Also do not forget if the cable had an insulator on one side of it
where the bend is located, to make sure you did not lose it. One side
of those cables sometimes is not insulated and they put an insulator to
keep it from touching the grounded/conductive case.

Hmm. It hadn't occurred to me that those pieces of tape served any
particular purpose. However, I made an effort to put everything back
exactly where I found it when I took it apart, and I'm pretty certain
I put them back in place.

As you suggested, I took it apart far enough that I could access the
cable while the machine was running and gently shifted the cable at
various points along its path. At no point did the display change in
any way.

Just for fun, I took a digital picture of what's going on and put it
on my personal website:

http://www.kemenel.org/462.jpg

This has certainly turned into more of a project than I anticipated!

Iain.