LCD screens

Chris A

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,431
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Ok I know that most people here are system builders and there are a few repair techs out there..

Any way I have a HP Touch smart IQ 770. Recently after running about a hour the screen will flicker. Go from dim to bright.. After a few minutes of that the screen will just go black. If I reboot it will come back up for a short time but goes out again.

Trying to figure out if this is a monitor problem or a Video card problem. Recently Microsoft was loged in remotely trying to resolve a virus problem. The screen went black but they were able to keep working on it.

In researching this computer I have seen a common problem with Video cards and the Inverter going bad for the touch screen. Any one know how to get the cover off the back of the screen and how to check the voltage off the inverter.

Please if you know anything about LCD scrrens please reply as I will have learned something as I know nothing about them.. There is no bad replys :)

I have other computers but I want to figure this one out badly....
 

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
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If you have a spare monitor, maybe you can hook that up to see if you can still get video? That should tell you if the video card is still working or not. Opening the screen will void the warranty.
 

mpilchfamily

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2007
3,559
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Trying to think if the Touch Smart line are old enough to be out of warenty yet. You may want to contact HP about this first. Even if its out of warenty, if its a common problem there may be a recall on the unit and you may be able to get it fixed for as little as the cost of shipping.
 

Chris A

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,431
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76
Trying to think if the Touch Smart line are old enough to be out of warenty yet. You may want to contact HP about this first. Even if its out of warenty, if its a common problem there may be a recall on the unit and you may be able to get it fixed for as little as the cost of shipping.

I Did and it is only one year warranty. They offered no help.
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,781
1,233
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start with blackmage's suggestion.

if it works, check the actual hp lcd with a flashlight and see if it is still displaying anything. if the panel still works then it is the backlight, most likely the ccfl inverter. If it's not the backlight then you'll have to replace the whole panel.

replacing it is where the risk comes. finding a new inverter usually means going on ebay and gambling on how sellers list the part name(sometimes by serial #, product #, product name, oem panel id, etc)

then opening up the touchsmart and disassembling it to get to the inverter can be a bit involved and can risk damaging the whole system. back up the harddrive beforehand.
 

Chris A

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,431
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76
the only way I can see to hook up a monitor is with a Mini VGA cable?? Good grief I have hundreds of cables laying around but not a single one of those :)

Right now I will try to see if it happens in safe mode and try the flaslight trick. Forgot about that one.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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yup absolute first thing to do is use an external monitor and shine the flashlight on the screen.
 

Exodist

Senior member
Dec 1, 2009
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With a flashlight I can still see the image.

Ditto what Chris just mentioned. If you can see the image the flouresent bulbs may be going out or the regulator that controls them. Those should not be that expensive to have fixed.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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Ditto what Chris just mentioned. If you can see the image the flouresent bulbs may be going out or the regulator that controls them. Those should not be that expensive to have fixed.

as long as you supply the labor...
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,781
1,233
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it's the inverter if you can reboot and actually get the backlight to come back on. if one bulb failed a section of the screen(top/bottom/left/right) would be darker. that means you need to find a replacement inverter on ebay and do the swap.