Laptop display

[Stephen C]

Hey,

Having some problems with my laptops display,
Every time I boot it up, the display comes on for around 10-15 seconds, after that the lights in the display turn off, I can still see the images on the screen (barely) but there's no backlight.

I've tried removing all non-essential components but to no avail.

I can't for love nor money figure out what's up with it, I've stripped the whole thing down, screen and all to find loose components or dodgey wires but can't find anything.

It's a fairly old laptop, Toshiba Satellite S1000-Z2.

Edit:
Just had a thought, could the problem be down to the little switch that gets turned on/off when the lid's closed? The small component switch that the lid hits when down is pretty much broken from what I can see, would that affect it?

Possible that I could remove that small component from the circuit board comepletely if so?

[this_is_gav]

You've not accidentally turned down the brightness/contrast with the function key?

[Stephen C]

Nope, it boots for around 10-15 seconds, sometimes long enough to see Windows load then the backlights just turn completely off.

[finlay666]

maybe the backlight has got a faulty connection

tried it with an external monitor aswell?

[jamin]

Its possible that the backlight invertor is shutting down. Possibly due to age, or a fault, overload etc.. These high voltage invertors can be a bit tetchey when they get old, they are designed to shut down in the event of a fault to prevent damage to other components.

Does it seem excessivly bright when it does work? Any flicker, no matter how faint? Can you hear a high pitched whine when the backlight is on? Any pops/clicks when the backlight switches off?

I doubt its the lid switch mate, that would normally power not only the invertor down but the TFT screen too (To prevent pixel damage on the TFT)

[Stephen C]

Yeah if I listen very closely I can hear a faint high pitched noise until the lights go off.

[GoNz0]

its the inverter or the backlight, backlight will normally have a red tinge at some stage, normally to start with if thats the culprit, either way the high pitch should be the inverter, tbh start with the inverter as thats the easy fix, if that fails then the hard job is changing the backlight in the LCD, it can be done but its a pain in the ass. if your in the UK i can hook you up with the backlight as we have a pile of smashed LCD's to use for spare lamps.

ebay the part number off the inverter, should get one sub £50

[jamin]

^^ GoNzO has nailed it mate, start by swapping the invertor as it shouldn't be too hard to get to.

IMO it is the invertor, the high pitched whine indicates component breakdown in the HF driver circuit. Replace it. If that dont work its prob the Cathode behind the screen which is not an easy or cheap fix normally.

Ebay is always a good source of cheap components..

Keep us posted!

[Stephen C]

Yep, has a red tinge.. thanks guys, been a real help.
Scanning Ebay for a replacement, think I've found one.

Thanks again