Notebook display problem

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My Dell Vostro 1700 notebook display is OK on startup, but after a few minutes a dark shadow, or lack of illumination develops from the left edge to nearly the center of the screen, making the left half very difficult to read. How do I fix this? Thanks. JRD

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As far as I know, the Backlight or Inverter either work or they don’t, but as this takes a few minutes to manifest – Heat comes to mind.

Possibly a high resistance reducing the power to the screen ?

Does moving the screen backward and forwards have any effect on the illumination ?

Unless anyone else has any ideas, I think you’re going to have take this in for repair unless you are adept at opening it up and checking connections.

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As far as I know, the Backlight or Inverter either work or they don’t, but as this takes a few minutes to manifest – Heat comes to mind.

Possibly a high resistance reducing the power to the screen ?

Does moving the screen backward and forwards have any effect on the illumination ?

Unless anyone else has any ideas, I think you’re going to have take this in for repair unless you are adept at opening it up and checking connections.

Answer: Moving the display back and forth temporarily somewhat improved the illumination. I suppose I could (should) remove the hinge cover and look for resistance problems?

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That sounds like the inverter cable could have become damaged or the connection is coming loose, but it’s the first I’ve heard of a delayed screen problem – usually the screen has problems from the get go.

It has been reported as a common problem on some laptops with the screen being opened and closed over time.

Here is the Service Manual if it will help http://www.manualslib.com/manual/553428/Dell-Vostro-1700.html

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That sounds like the inverter cable could have become damaged or the connection is coming loose, but it’s the first I’ve heard of a delayed screen problem – usually the screen has problems from the get go.

It has been reported as a common problem on some laptops with the screen being opened and closed over time.

Here is the Service Manual if it will help http://www.manualslib.com/manual/553428/Dell-Vostro-1700.html

Thanks for the link to the service manual: difficult to read in Chrome. The Dell chat guy said to replace the display, but then phoned to say it is out of stock. The service manual makes it look to be a rather daunting procedure. Could not find the inverter cable in the manual. Hate to give up on a notebook that is only 7 1/2 years old with factory XP, especially after upgrading with 4 G of memory and a SSD. Thanks again for the help.

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I’m not sure this guy in the video knows quite what he’s doing but he’s getting there

It’s a slightly different set up to what I’ve seen before for screen and inverter replacement, but there are a few connectors you could check first before renewing the Display.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXJMWOIx80g

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He gets the job done, doesn’t he. Is the inverter part of the display screen, or a separate part?

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He gets the job done, doesn’t he. Is the inverter part of the display screen, or a separate part?

From the video I didn’t see anything like http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-1521-Inverter-Board/dp/B005KPCAJ4 but this is one for your model http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=category&id=145&subid=252&refine=inverter

It’s knowing what to invest in – when the inverter goes you just normally get a black screen from start or it could go while you are using it, but as things are initially okay, it could well need a screen replacement.

Sometimes techs give a generic repair, but you are the one that is footing the bill, although there would be no harm in changing the inverter with the screen – it depends upon how much you are prepared to spend, but you could just change one or the other just to find it is the other….

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I think from what I remember from Google links, the inverter is at the base of the screen so the cable can’t be far away.

I’ll have a look in IE 11…..

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Worst case scenario, you could plug in an external monitor. That will help if you are using it at home, but not if you want to take it on the road.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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Worst case scenario, you could plug in an external monitor. That will help if you are using it at home, but not if you want to take it on the road.

Bought a 24″ Samsung monitor. Beautiful. Should have done this 7 years ago. Also ordered a new laptop screen to keep the unit portable.

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Worst case scenario, you could plug in an external monitor. That will help if you are using it at home, but not if you want to take it on the road.

Bought a 24″ Samsung monitor. Beautiful. Should have done this 7 years ago. Also ordered a new laptop screen to keep the unit portable.

Put a mouse and keyboard on it, and you’re good to go.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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Hate to give up on a notebook that is only 7 1/2 years old…

My rule in these cases is that you should give up. Immediately.

The notebook is old and nearing the end of any reasonable service life. The risk here is, you spend significant time and money on this device. Best case scenario, you fix it but you’ve still got an old notebook and it has old software on it. What if something else goes next? Old PCs are like old cars, at a certain point it makes no sense to repair their broken parts.

It’s better to invest your time and money on a new device. You’ll get a faster processor, better graphics, better wireless networking, faster USB ports, more memory, and so on. And get a new, or at least newer OS while you’re at it.

What if the rule needs to be broken though? When does it make sense to ignore the “normal” course of action?

– there’s no money available for an entire new PC;
– you enjoy tinkering and it’s a challenge;
– there’s some obscure need for a very old system;
– you have multiple identical units and can cannibalize parts from different systems to assemble one working system.

Otherwise, go with a new computer.

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– there’s no money available for an entire new PC;
– you enjoy tinkering and it’s a challenge;
– there’s some obscure need for a very old system;
– you have multiple identical units and can cannibalize parts from different systems to assemble one working system.

And if such is the case often old laptops can be found cheap on Ebay with something ELSE broken!

And if not laptops are cheap these days. I remember in the 90’s it always seemed like it took 2 grand to buy one. The old ones would sell out before the price came down!:D

:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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One I agree the laptop is not worth putting money into because it is already 2.5 years past its end of life, but you clearly disagree and it is your property and money so:

I too suspect the inverter. If true then the laptop’s screen is still functioning perfectly and replacing it won’t matter. The inverter is a long thin circuit board along one of the edges of the laptop’s lid. You will see it when you remove the screen. Usually there is a wider asymmetry to the positioning/placement of the screen with the lid that hides the inverter and backlight; not necessarily in the same location. I suppose it could also be the backlight (florescent tube) if it somehow came lose. Both parts are dirt cheap compared to the screen. And both can be purchased from a 3rd party vendor online as you have found for the screen at a lot less than Dell would have sold you one if they still had any parts in stock.

Since moving the screen around (I’m not sure what “Moving the display back and forth” exactly means you are doing) effects the function, moving the inverter once it becomes accessible if you can reconnect the screen and running the laptop on may confirm the defective part. Or just a loose part. It could even be a cable. Or the layers of the laptop screen could be separating on one end.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/vostro-1700/diagnose

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