laptop screen problem

Don't know about Dell laptops but inverters & backlights are replaceable on some machines Try searching online for your model and "backlight"

Have a look here for ideas.

Tim

Thanks. I'll follow your link and keep an eye on uk.comp.sys.laptops, uk.d-i-y. Thanks for crossposting.

That sounds like the inverter or the tube might not be working properly. The tube is a rather delicate tube of glass about 18" diameter x the width of the display and placed along the lower edge. You can buy generic or OEM replacements. Obviously the later might prove more straight forward to install. Usually it is a matter of finding and undoing four or more screws holding the two halves of the screen surround together, then simply unplugging the inverter plus tube carefully.

There are specialist parts suppliers and laptop scrap parts dealers on line. Just google for laptop parts.

FWIWwhen my (HP) inverter went, it blacked out the entire screen - not just one corner; so I would suggest you investigate the backlighting rather than the inverter.

You know something very hot can make an area of the screen to go black. Nothing but either the lamp or the inverter is likely to do this.

or leaving in teh sun, or near a kettle, or a fire, or a reading lamp or..or..or..

Well anyway, LCD displays rely on fairly critical polarization to work.

Plenty of ways for that to screw up, like a teeny air leak in one corner.

My mates LCD has a dark patch where a ricochetting bb pellet hit it..don't ask..I didn't!

You get that effect if a) the light gets detached form its proper position relative to the screen b) dc passes through the tube, causing mercury migration. This can be caused by a leaky capacitor in the invertor, or failing tube emission at one end

The way to tell one from the other is to view the tube directly when its lit.

NT

You get that effect if a) the light gets detached form its proper position relative to the screen b) dc passes through the tube, causing mercury migration. This can be caused by a leaky capacitor in the invertor, or failing tube emission at one end

The way to tell one from the other is to view the tube directly when its lit.

NT

I've realised that it is the ambient lighting that has made me think that the patch might be moving. I have now concluded that it does not change and is of even darkness all the way up the left hand side. However, no worse, so repair not imminent.

Possible that he fragged it rather than doing a requested defrag? Send him on a mission to Seattle...