Laptop Screen is very Dark, suspected graphics chip fault?

JaseUK

JaseUK

JaseUK

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Joined
10 Jun 2006
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Location
Northumberland
Hi guys,
I am currently trying to repair a Sony Vaio VGN-N38E laptop where the screen is very dim. The laptop boots up fine and does not display any warning beeps so I know everything is fine that end.

The problem lies with the screen being very dark. I can just about make out what is on the screen but it is far to dark to work on. I have tried the Fn + brightness keys but no joy.

I have tried plugging an external monitor into the laptop and I get nothing.

I have stripped laptop down to the motherboard and plugged an external monitor in and again nothing.

I have unplugged the screen inverter and plugged it back in again but no joy.

It has to be the onboard graphics chip on the motherboard right?
 
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JaseUK said:
How does that explain why it wont work using an external monitor?
Click to expand...

laptops don't always automatically display onto an externally connected monitor ... there's normally a Fn key combination that you have to do to switch output from LCD to the external monitor port - are you doing this?
 
deshepherd said:
laptops don't always automatically display onto an externally connected monitor ... there's normally a Fn key combination that you have to do to switch output from LCD to the external monitor port - are you doing this?
Click to expand...

Yeah I have tried this but no joy.

MikeHunt79 said:
Does the laptop use an LED or CCFL backlight?
Click to expand...

No idea, how would I find out?
 
i have had similar issues in the past which turned out to be an inverter board, i managed to fix mine which was a lose fitting connection on one of the wires on the inverter board. i managed to fix this then wrapped the wires in insulation tape to protect them.

i believe it is the constant opening and closing of the laptop lid that caused my problem. and the symptoms i first started experiencing before it went totally dark was that the screen used to start flickering light and dark, and then i found i'd often have to open the lid right back and then slowly close it up to a working level to keep the screen from going dark. it might be worth trying to open the screen up as much as it can go and see if it makes any difference?

if it is inverter board, they can be picked up usually quite cheap on the auction site, about £20 if i remember correctly.

also as above, you should be able to connect a monitor but usually you may have to hold a fn key down and while held down you may have to tap a key such as f3 or f4?(can differ between laptops) you may have to tap a few times to cycle through different output settings such as tft, monitor, clone displays.

have you tried connecting the monitor up before booting cuz i have seem some laptops auto pick up external monitors from boot.
 
thanks for all the replies guys

I have tried connecting an external monitor prior to booting with no joy I'm afraid.

I have ordered an inverter from auction site and will see if that fixes the problem

will keep you posted
 
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I have fitted a new inverter today and its fixed the problem :)

cheers guys
 
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