Screen / Inverter problem?? - Dell Inspiron 6400

[Vivvy]

Hello Everyone,

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 and basically the screen is black. Connected to an external monitor, all is fine - just no display on the laptop screen. I've tried shining a bright light on the screen and can see nothing - it's just black. I've also tried the 'draining excess power' trick which didn't work.

The sequence of events was that, having been working fine, one day, after switching it on, the screen was blank. Sounded like it was booting up ok, so connected to an external monitor which was fine. Spent an hour or so trying to troubleshoot, then noticed the display on the laptop had appeared, but was very faint. Shut down the laptop, disconnected external monitor, rebooted it, and everything fine - screen working as if nothing had happened. All was good for about a week, when it happened again - black screen. This time, after about another week and many reboots, it hasn't come back. Still working fine connected to external monitor.

So what I'd like to ask you guys is - from the above information, does it seem more likely that's its the LCD inverter, the screen itself, or something else? Is there anything else I could try?

Any advice / tips would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

 

[reedo_43]

Sounds like the inverter. Try that first...cheap. If it was the backlight in the lcd, you would be able to see an image with a flashlight.

 

[Vivvy]

Sounds like the inverter. Try that first...cheap. If it was the backlight in the lcd, you would be able to see an image with a flashlight.

Thanks a lot for the reply. Sorry if this a stupid question - but is there any way of testing if it's the inverter short of replacing it?

 

[reedo_43]

No there is not. Less than $2.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Laptop-LCD-Screen-Inverter-for-Dell-Inspiron-6400-1501-E1405-E1505-/351128276196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51c0e04ce4

 

[Vivvy]

No there is not. Less than $2.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Laptop-LCD-Screen-Inverter-for-Dell-Inspiron-6400-1501-E1405-E1505-/351128276196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51c0e04ce4

Thanks so much for your help - and the link. For some reason, on our Ebay (I'm in the UK) the exact same item is £5.40 (about $9) - we Brits always get ripped off!! Still, as you say, cheap fix if it works, and well worth a try. Thanks again.

 

[Vivvy]

No there is not. Less than $2.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Laptop-LCD-Screen-Inverter-for-Dell-Inspiron-6400-1501-E1405-E1505-/351128276196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51c0e04ce4

Waiting for new inverter board to be delivered. Meanwhile an update - after a couple of weeks, laptop screen suddenly working again. Firstly came on very dim (and brightness control not working). Rebooted, and at the moment it's working fine - and brightness control is working. Not for long I'd guess. Obviously something intermittent. Does this still fit in with it being the inverter?? Or maybe suggest something else?

Thanks a lot.

Viv

 

[reedo_43]

Inverters can be intermittent but I do find that odd.

 

[Vivvy]

Inverters can be intermittent but I do find that odd.

It does seem odd doesn't it. Anything else I could try? Or diagnostics I could run or something?

Thanks, Viv.

 

[reedo_43]

Well there are only 3 possibilities. The inverter, the LCD cable (which usually has multiple vertical lines) or the screen itself. Because of the age, it is cheap as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Inspiron-6000-6400-E1505-1501-Complete-15-4-LCD-Screen-Assembly-Glossy-A-/191275227753?pt=US_Laptop_Screens_LCD_Panels&hash=item2c88e45a69