Background
After about three years or more of laptop use, one of the components that is likely to break is something in the LCD assembly. The LCD assembly is a collection of components that allows the laptop to display things on the screen. The following is a list of the primary components and their purpose:
- LCD Panel – the part of the assembly that displays the images and is what people are looking at when using the laptop
- CCFL Tube/Lamp – provides the light on the display. The LCD panel provides the image, and the lamp provides the light required to see the image.
- LCD Inverter – transfers power to the CCFL lamp
The following instructions are general and do not pertain to one specific model of laptops. The theory still applies however.
Problem Symptoms
In problems regarding a laptop display, these are the common problems among others that are quite prevalent among laptop users.
- Black corner – on one corner of the screen, a black triangle can be seen. The mouse can be moved under it, which shows that the LCD is just not displaying that part of the screen. The black corner is also hot to the touch. In some cases, the black triangle can change size over time (on the order of a few minutes or hours).
- Dim screen – the LCD is still displaying a picture, but it cannot be seen because there is no backlight. Shining a bright light (such as a desk lamp) illuminates the screen slightly, but not to the brightness that the screen was at before.
The first problem tends to lead to the second one. The CCFL tube burns out and leaves a dim display.
Determining the Cause
In general, if one experiences at least one of the problems above, there is a clear hardware issue. Some exceptions are when one has turned the brightness all the way down, but this usually isn’t the case for people.
If one simply sees a dim display, it is due to either the CCFL tube or the Inverter. It is not possible to to determine which part is the culprit without opening up the laptop. Refer to instructions specific to the laptop in question to open up the screen assembly. During disassembly, take note of what screws go where. Different sized screws get used for different places and it is very easy to forget which ones go where.
The first image shows the laptop with the cover taken off. The second image shows the disassembled LCD assembly with the CCFL tube lying on top.
CCFL Tube
Finding the CCFL Tube on the laptop is a lot more involved than finding the Inverter. It involves opening the LCD panel (see this website for instructions for a Dell Inspiron 1520). Visual inspection of this part can sometimes show clear signs of damage. Burn marks should be apparent.
If burn marks are not apparent, then the cause is likely due to the Inverter. One can also test the CCFL Tube, by turning on the computer with everything still plugged in (but disassembled). If the CCFL Tube lights up, then there is nothing wrong with the CCFL Tube.
LCD Inverter
It isn’t possible to test this part directly without the proper tools. However, if one has a dim display but has checked whether the CCFL works, one can be more certain that the Inverter is the culprit by process of elimination.
The Inverter is the part in orange in the top photo. The bottom picture shows the Inverter by itself.
Solution
Once the cause has been determined, the next step is to replace the part. However, one has a choice:
- Replace the entire LCD assembly – costs more (~$100), but the labour is easier
- Replace the problematic parts individually – costs less (~$5 – $20), but more difficult labour
One source for parts is Ebay, but it might take around three weeks for the part to arrive. This is cheaper than the $300 that Dell charges for shipping the laptop, buying the components and the labour. Replacing these parts is an involved process will take at least one hour.
Here are some things to watch out for when replacing the CCFL Tube:
- It is difficult to take the part out of the LCD panel
- Watch out for dust that could get in between the layers in the LCD (will show up as black specs under the screen
- It is hard to lay out the layers flat again when the CCFL Tube is replaced so there might be some uneven lighting after the CCFL Tube is replaced
After replacing the parts, turn on the computer again and the screen should be bright again.
Matthew 2011-12-28
Will keep this in mind next time I rage-hammer my LCD.
hp 2011-12-28
You might still need the sledgehammer lol…Taking out the screws is actually very frustrating lol
Chris 2012-12-15
My problem with my laptop started out with that small black spot on the display screen like the top picture above but a day or two after that developed the screen is no longer alive at all, just blank. Can I still troubleshoot using the methods above?
hp 2012-12-15
If you saw that black spot like my picture, then chances are that this is the same problem. When you say that your screen is blank, are you sure that it isn’t just super dim? How dim the screen is might vary depending on the make of the computer. You could always try to fix it yourself and it might cost you $5-$20. If you took the computer to a specialist, they’d likely charge you upwards of a $100. If you aren’t able to fix it, it was already broken anyway and you can take it to a specialist. Good luck with the computer!
nenad 2014-09-15
Buy nothing! LCD is working, neon light is working, but with dark and very hot spot …I had the same problem and FIXED IT. How? Dark triangle right of the screen is very very hot from the point where thin wire from inverter is soldered to neon bulb . The contact become bad and wire become very thin and burned . My solution: Deansembled LCD frame, find the spot where is connection of red wire from inverter to neon bulb (he plastic frame around were already melted), clean the place, cut the wire,cut the bad peace of the wire (10mm prox) clean everything around and solder again to the neon bulb . The contact is now new. Using my laptop again for weeks with no hot and black spots. Greetings from Serbia
hp 2014-09-15
That is a good fix! I never thought about doing that! Was it just one wire?
Tanu 2017-04-16
My problem is slightly different. When I turn on my laptop, the lower left corner turns black but if I keep re-starting, it gradually goes away for the time being but then when I dim the display of my laptop, it appears again. Could you please help me figure out the problem and guide if it would be better to replace the problematic part or buy a new laptop..?
henrypoon 2017-04-16 — Post Author
Not sure if that is a different problem entirely. Could very well be the same problem, but hasn’t manifested as badly as mine.
Phal 2021-12-01
How do i prevent it from getting bigger or happening at all?
henrypoon 2021-12-02 — Post Author
Not much really, this is pretty much just wear and tear