Laptop Backlight Failure, ARRGGH

[Septih]

I'm typing this whilst having to shine a torch on my laptop screen in order to see anything, so excuse the typos

Basically, about an hour ago my laptop started making funny noises and the screen was flickering. It carried on for a while before stopping, it then started up again but this time when it stopped, the backlight on the laptop screen went off completely.

Restarting hasn't helped, nor has taking the battery, etc out. Anyone had anything similar happen and know any quickfixes?

 

[giant384]

I'm typing this whilst having to shine a torch on my laptop screen in order to see anything, so excuse the typos

Basically, about an hour ago my laptop started making funny noises and the screen was flickering. It carried on for a while before stopping, it then started up again but this time when it stopped, the backlight on the laptop screen went off completely.

Restarting hasn't helped, nor has taking the battery, etc out. Anyone had anything similar happen and know any quickfixes?

warranty???

 

[Dog--]

Maybe the gerbils got tired of running on the wheel?

 

[Adabiviak]

We repair LCDs at work, and over 90% of the time it's a blown fuse. (They're surface mount fuses too - what's up with that, anyway?). Are you willing to gut your laptop with the slim chance that you may be able to fix it yourself? How crafty are you with a soldering gun?

 

[Barney Fife]

Rma?

 

[Septih]

Well the major problem is that the Laptop is a bloody old one that my Dad has lent me while I'm at uni, so whatever warrenty is still on it means it has to go all the way back to my dad first to sort out, which'll end up taking weeks. The problem with that? Computer Science Exams next week ¬¬

Oh and i don't have a soldering iron, nor a brilliantly steady hand

oh i should mention that when i turn the laptop on, it has normal brightness for a second then goes

 

[Chris D]

Hmm, if it comes on and then goes off that sounds like it could be the invertor, but I may be wrong.

Invertors are very cheap, but they're often specific to the laptop model. So although they're relatively easy to fit, actually finding the part you need is the hard bit.

What's the make and model of the laptop?

As a temporary solution, I'd suggest attaching a standard PC monitor to the laptop while you're using it at home/uni. Obviously reduces the portability of the laptop a considerable amount, however at least it'll save you a fortune on batteries for that torch