help me get my gateway notebook to work:(

[Gibson486]

I have an old gateway 600x that my mom wants.

The LCD will not show a picture, it is so dim. I initially thought the lamp burnt out. I could not check it because I really do not know how to get to the lamp in the LCD. I bought another LCD (pulled from a working notebook), but the problem is not fixed yet. I then proceeded and bought anotherLCD inverter....no go. I do not want to buy a new Flex Cable and find out it is not the flexcable.

I was hoping 1 of teh following was happenning.

1. The LCD lamp is bad (the new LCD does not work, so I guess that's not the case).

2. the replacement inverter is bad (got another one, but that fixed nothing)

3. The flex cable is bad (how easy can these break?)

1 thing I noticed is that when I put a desktop lamp behind the LCD, the LCD shows an image (I guess that means it's either the inveter or LCD lamp?). I have been trying to fix this for 3 months and I am finally thinking about throwing this thing out the window. I am just hoping nothig is wrong with the motherboard.

For history sake, this all began after I replaced the DC jack on the laptop. before hand, it kept shorting because a piece broke off. Everything worked perfect before the DC jack went south.

 

[MedicBob]

Just a thought... Will it be cheaper for you just to watch Hot Deals for a bit and buy her a new laptop?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: MedicBob
Just a thought... Will it be cheaper for you just to watch Hot Deals for a bit and buy her a new laptop?

Word. You've probably already spent nearly the cost of a new laptop from Hot Deals.

Sell the old one as a headless unit (btw, the backlight is dead, that's the problem) and use what's left to get a Hot Deal.

- M4H

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: MedicBob
Just a thought... Will it be cheaper for you just to watch Hot Deals for a bit and buy her a new laptop?

Word. You've probably already spent nearly the cost of a new laptop from Hot Deals.

Sell the old one as a headless unit (btw, the backlight is dead, that's the problem) and use what's left to get a Hot Deal.

- M4H

Well...i actually only spend $30 thus far ($5.00 for the inverter, $15 for the LCD)....
I thought it was the backlight, but how do you fix this? is this even in the LCD? If so, how come a brand new LCD did not fix the problem?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Well...i actually only spend $30 thus far ($5.00 for the inverter, $15 for the LCD)....
I thought it was the backlight, but how do you fix this? is this even in the LCD? If so, how come a brand new LCD did not fix the problem?

Oh. In that case, definitely cut your losses and run.

For history sake, this all began after I replaced the DC jack on the laptop. before hand, it kept shorting because a piece broke off. Everything worked perfect before the DC jack went south.

I retract the "bad backlight" and go with "backlight's not getting any juice" - the motherboard traces that power the invertor are probably fried.

- M4H

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Well...i actually only spend $30 thus far ($5.00 for the inverter, $15 for the LCD)....
I thought it was the backlight, but how do you fix this? is this even in the LCD? If so, how come a brand new LCD did not fix the problem?

Oh. In that case, definitely cut your losses and run.

For history sake, this all began after I replaced the DC jack on the laptop. before hand, it kept shorting because a piece broke off. Everything worked perfect before the DC jack went south.

I retract the "bad backlight" and go with "backlight's not getting any juice" - the motherboard traces that power the invertor are probably fried.

- M4H

oh well....i guess the end is here for this laptop. Guess it is time to part the hell out of this thing.....Anyone here want to buy a 15.7 in LCD? I have two

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Well...i actually only spend $30 thus far ($5.00 for the inverter, $15 for the LCD)....
I thought it was the backlight, but how do you fix this? is this even in the LCD? If so, how come a brand new LCD did not fix the problem?

Oh. In that case, definitely cut your losses and run.

For history sake, this all began after I replaced the DC jack on the laptop. before hand, it kept shorting because a piece broke off. Everything worked perfect before the DC jack went south.

I retract the "bad backlight" and go with "backlight's not getting any juice" - the motherboard traces that power the invertor are probably fried.

- M4H

oh well....i guess the end is here for this laptop. Guess it is time to part the hell out of this thing.....Anyone here want to buy a 15.7 in LCD? I have two

Just curious, where did you get the $15 LCD from? I have not seen it that low. Thanks

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Well...i actually only spend $30 thus far ($5.00 for the inverter, $15 for the LCD)....
I thought it was the backlight, but how do you fix this? is this even in the LCD? If so, how come a brand new LCD did not fix the problem?

Oh. In that case, definitely cut your losses and run.

For history sake, this all began after I replaced the DC jack on the laptop. before hand, it kept shorting because a piece broke off. Everything worked perfect before the DC jack went south.

I retract the "bad backlight" and go with "backlight's not getting any juice" - the motherboard traces that power the invertor are probably fried.

- M4H

oh well....i guess the end is here for this laptop. Guess it is time to part the hell out of this thing.....Anyone here want to buy a 15.7 in LCD? I have two

Just curious, where did you get the $15 LCD from? I have not seen it that low. Thanks

Ebay. I got it from a new Sager laptop that was being parted and I actually took a chnace on it b/c teh person did not want to verify the LCD part number fo rme. The person claimed it was new and it did look new when it came, but he/she could have cleaned it up very well. However, all that really matters I guess is that it works. It does works and I found out (accidently) that when I short these two pins on the inverter together, the LCD works like a charm (sadly, the other LCD works too). I am thinking about just taking some solder and just shorting these two pins, but i am reserving that for a last resort, whch actually is almost here. Otherwise....the cheapest LCD you will find are around $25 + shipping on ebay. You just have to know the exact part number.