laptop screen problems

[jim76]

Question for the IT guys on here.

The Mrs switched on the laptop yesterday, but the screen wouldn't come on. It makes the windows boot up noises, but no picture.
I think the screen has a tiny flicker when turned on, as if the back light flashes for a split second.

I'm not sure if there is some kind of keyboard short cut to deactivate the screen, or if the graphics card has gone, or the screen knackered.

It's about 4 years old, a Dell inspiron 1520.

Probably needs updating anyway, but don't want to bin it if not necessary.

any ideas?

Ta

[Robbiejuk]

Could be the connection between the motherboard and the screen, sometimes they get loose over time or just break with the constant opening and closing.

Have you tried opening and closing the screen slowly and seeing if it comes on? I had one at work where the screen was coming on upside down, by moving the angle of the screen a bit it went back to normal. Replaced the screen with one purchased off e-bay and it was fine afterwards.

[discostu]

Well jim

The only thing for it

as your wife broke it get her to buy a new one and for compensation get her to buy you lots of Rc stuff

Win win I say

Stu

[jim76]

2 hopes there Stu, Bob Hope and no hope!!

[jim76]

Is there an easy way to test the graphics card on a laptop? Can i simply plug it into an external monitor to see the desktop, or would it need some setting activating to output an image? (obviously that is a no go as i can;t see anything to activate it!)

If it should output an image but doesn't then i guess the graphics card is dead? But if it does give an image then i take it the laptop screen is dead?

cheers

[JCJC]

Jim, just plugged a monitor into my HP win7 lappy, get desktop on the monitor & lappy same, 'just worked' - did think I would need to click an alert on lappy first , but no.

Have changed the screen on this lappy myself a few years ago, not too difficult, eBay, I think there is a little driver thingy for the screens that sometimes go's, mine was cracked so easy fault spotting

Hope this is helpful, regards Mick

[jim76]

cheers Mick
i'll try and plug it into a monitor at work sometime to diagnose it. Happy to try changing it myself, i just want to pinpoint what is wrong first.

[jim76]

Ok, plugged into work screen this morning and managed to get a desktop up, so i guess that means the graphics card is working fine.

Anyone know what the remaining options are?
1 - LCD panel up the spout?
2 - LCD inverter thing - on ebay for about £5 - far cheaper than the monitor but no idea what it does!
3 - loose cable somewhere?

obviously i don;t want to fork out £60 for a new screen if it's only a £5 invertor needed. Any idea how i would test this?

ta
J

[JCJC]

Just gaffa tape the monitor onto the back of the lappy, pass it off as an upgrade.

Cannot really help, are there voltages to be careful of with the inverter if you decide to play.