Laptop screen replacement question.

February 4, 2009 7:19 AM

Looking to possibly replace my laptop screen. Confused by the options.

The screen on my Fujitsu Lifebook began flickering occassionally several months ago, but the problem has recently become so frequent that it is nearly unusable and I'm looking at replacement options.

After searching around on the web, it seems like the problem could be in one of two places, the inverter board that the display plugs into, or the display itself.

What I'm trying to figure out is if there is a reliable way of determining which it actually is. I don't want to replace one item only to find out that the problem is actually the other.

posted by hwestiii to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

I used to repair laptops a couple years ago, so might knowledge might be dated.

The board is usually underneath the screen in the body of the laptop. A cable snakes into the laptop through one of the hinges and plugs into this board. Typically, the problem is with the connection it self. The cable has worn thin. Unfortunately the only way to replace that is to replace the whole display (depends on the laptop). And usually, it is in fact the display, so we'd order that first and "try it". For old, out of production, laptops you can find used parts online.

You can try screwing with the cable a bit (moving it around) to see if that is indeed the problem. There's no real way to "test" what element is causing the problem. From experience though, it's almost always the display. I only ever saw one bad inverter board; there's not much that can go wrong with it.

I'm pretty sure you know where I'm going with this... or you wouldn't have asked. The cost to get either of these parts will probably push you to buy a new computer, which I would seriously consider. But you're attached to the laptop and want to fix it yourself, no?

Is the flickering linked to any physical movement of the laptop itself?

In almost all of these cases, the laptop was never paid for, as the cost (parts + labor) was just too much.
posted by teabag at 1:02 PM on February 4, 2009

I have replaced more than a few displays on my laptops and cost has never been a major issue -- eBay usually has what I need for ~$100, considerably less than a new machine. I have never encountered a bad inverter.
posted by Eater at 2:21 PM on February 4, 2009

First things first - plug in a monitor. It could very well be your video card (aka graphics card, or ect.). If the flickering occurs on the external monitor as well then it likely has nothing to do with your screen whatsoever and as a typical worst case scenario you will just need a new video card. (And what better excuse for an upgrade anyway!)

If the monitor works normally then you know the fault definitely lies somewhere with the screen.

Okay so you've determined that yes it is the screen - (remove battery) pop the bezel off and just have a look. Sometimes the problem becomes quite apparent. Pinched wires holding on by a thread? A plug that's not in properly? You know, that kind of thing. Sometimes it's just common sense.

But flickering huh?? Could you go into more detail with that? Sounds a bit strange for a screen issue, so I would think it's probably your video card. More typical screen problems are a redish hue or growing dim (and then getting to the point where it looks like a blackout). Mmm... Like someone already mentioned - is it effected by moving the screen at all?
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 9:10 AM on February 5, 2009