My Laptop monitor only works at certain angles?

Question

this morning my laptop monitor stopped working correctly. when you open it, it comes on until you get to a certain angle,then it goes black. but if you open it all the way flat it comes back on. help! Is it cheaper to replace the laptop, or the monitor attached to it? Could it be a pinched wire?

Thanks Terryrow! It was a loose backlight cable. Thanks to everyone for all of your responses and suggestions.

i jiggled the pink cables and it came on and now it wont come back on?????? any ideas

Answer 1

There are 3 possibilites.

Option 1 the cable connector to the motherboard has worked loose. This is normally just under the bezel next to the hinge or slightly further in under the keyboard. Some are just push fit, others have 1 or 2 screws holding the plug in place.

Option 2 is the ribbon cable that runs between the mobo and the display is cracked. Only a new cable from the manufacturer will cure this.

Option 3. Look very carefully at the screen when it is black to see if you can see the normal display. If you can then you have a backlight connection problem. This will involve taking apart the display and reseating the usually pink & white connectors.

Try squeezing the front and back edges together at different points around the display bezel.

Safety for your laptop:
Make sure the charger and battery are removed before working on the display. Try and discharge any static from you to earth before touching any electronic componants.

If you have a standard monitor, you can always that instead of the built in display.

Answer 2

It's *not* a pinched wire. Almost certainly it's one (or more) wires in the bundle that connects the screen (lid) bit to the base bit.

It shouldn't be too expensive or difficult to repair. If you can buy the right wiring on eBay or somewhere similar from someone who is selling bits from a laptop with a broken screen you may even be able to do it yourself.

Otherwise, reckon on about 30-60 mins of a shop time plus parts...

This may be cheaper than buying another laptop like yours but will be cheaper than buying a current model laptop. It all depends how old yours is.

Answer 3

Most likely a pinched wire at the hinge - some laptops have a replacable ribbon cable that goes from the screen to the base - I would open it up and see if that is the case.

Answer 4

You either have a short in it or something is coating the electrical contacts like soda pop or something that was spilled in that area of the laptop...try to take the monitor off and clean the contacts with alcohol and a cu tip or leave it on and try it but make sure the power is turned off before you do this...

Answer 5

There should be a button or switch at the base of the LCD that tells the laptop when the screen is closed. Most laptops dim the screen or turn it off when the panel is shut. See if you can find the switch and press it or get it lose if it's jammed down.