laptop repair(screen flicker)?

[IHateMyJob2004]

I have a decent laptop right now. It is an i5 processor and for me that is very good.

It's 1-2 years old and the screen flickers. Some diagnostics. Usually flickers but when open as far as possible the screen doesn't flicker. So, it is not a video card/mobo problem. I think the interconnects near the hinge are messed up.

So, what do I need to do to fix this? I don't know if the screen needs replacement? The hinged area? Both?

It's a Dell 7737. Or Dell Inspiron 17.

Looking at this:
http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=18417&gclid=cl-kylsuxskcfqeuhwodl9wdvw
Could it just be that I need to reseat the connections? If so, I'll give that a whirl.

Thanks!

 

[Blain]

I would give reseating the cables a shot before spending any $$ on it.
These Videos can walk you through just about any disassembly you might need to do.

 

[boomerang]

Those connectors aren't really in the vicinity of the hinge. Yes, I would try disconnecting them and reconnecting but I doubt that's the problem.

I think a better way to diagnose it would be free up the harnesses as much as is possible such that you can wiggle them while the screen remains in a fixed position while watching to see if you can reproduce in this case, not the problem but the fix. The connector with two wires is the antenna for the wireless so you don't need to be concerned about that one. I would think of the remaining two, one is power and the other is video. I'm not 100% sure on what harness handles what but one or the other I believe is your problem.

When you lean the screen back as far as it will go, the wires get straightened out a bit. There should be no tension on them, but that is evidently enough to establish better contact. If you can reproduce the fix by wiggling a harness, then I'd be trying to unwrap it to see if there is a wire that is compromised in some manner. I'm going to guess that they are really small gauge wires so the repair may be a chore.

Edit: Just wanted to add that that there may be enough slack in the harnesses to actually disconnect the screen from the base of the laptop. It would still have to be very close to the base but it may be helpful to your diagnostic process if the problem is where the harness enters the screen.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Ya, replacement screens are $250-$300. I'll go that route if I have to but I think that diagnosing is my first attempt. With my luck, I'll replace hte screeen and find out that it was not the screen.