Fixing a backlight on a toshiba laptop?

[BusbyUK]

I'm thinking about buying a Toshiba sattelite pro 4200 for £250 but the seller says their is a problem with the baclight as 95% of the time the screen goes pretty much black but you can still barely see windows/backrounds etc.

So has anyone get any experience in fixing this type of problem, any websites where the backlight can be bought and just any advice really, is it a good buy?

Thanks

 

[CZroe]

My Compaq has the same problem. I have had it "repaired" 4 times and guess where it is again? Yes, being repaired for the same !@#! problem. It is my third 1800T model Presario and it is the only one. Whatever is causing it to develop a short obviously isn't being fixed because none of the other 1800T's ever did it. In mine, I must apply pressure somewhere near the middle of the laptop to get it to cut on. This usually involves opening the screen, grasping the left-rear and front-right side of the base, and twisting. I haven't seen any wires going to the display from this area (I have been inside), so I assume that traces on the motherboard that supply power to the backlight are breaking. The fact that they always replace the motherboard seems to confirm this...

 

[DeschutesCore]

Busby,
If it's truely the CCT (Cold Cathode) then it's a fairly easy (yet still dangerous) fix in most Toshibas. 2 screws for the bezel, 4 for the LCD, and then maybe two micro screws for the top of the LCD. It should hinge open and allow you to slide out the CCT. Once the tube is out, simply slide in the replacement (anywhere from $5 - $100) and connect it to the inverter. This is a dangerous procedure and should be done with great care. CCT's can explode when bent too far and inverters carry a great deal of voltage.

I've replaced about 30 backlights and maybe 100+ LCD's without any real incidents, but I always wear gloves and discharge any inverter, battery, etc. to be safe.

DC

 

[BusbyUK]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Looks like I might go for this then as it does sound like simply teh backlight is gone.

Any advice on where I can buy the tube from DeschutesCore?

Thanks again, much appreciated.

 

[DeschutesCore]

Unfortunately due to the various lengths of the tubes found in LCD's (a 14.4" LCD usually uses a 13" backlight, etc.) I've always hunted out matching dead LCD's on eBay or places like http://www.laptopking.com and http://www.buylcds.com. There are many other sources. Once I found an online classified ad through Google for 50 pieces for 100 bucks. It's a hunt and peck thing.

DC