Toshiba satellite A350 screen problem

[seedy21]

Hello people my girlfriend is having a problem with her Toshiba Satellite A350 laptop. The screen has to at one angle if the screen is moved the screen goes off. I let PC World have a look (for a laugh and there didn't disappoint me) there said it was going to be 230 pounds. I think it just needs a VGA cable replaced in the case. I do have experience in PC maintenance and repair so what do you guys think and anybody know where to get a replacement

 

All the Best and hope PC World made you laugh as hard there made me :)

 

Seedy21

[Armageddon]

Hi Seedy I know a shop in Castleford will repair for 80 mysellf I dont play with laptop monitors too scared I guess lol

[Dalo Harkin]

When you say that it only works at one angle, there is a ribbon that connects the monitor to the MOBO in the lappy, these can come loose, but chances are that the screen is shot

[Synapse]

A few thoughts on this one...

 

Try hooking your laptop up to an external monitor. When the screen goes off, swap over to the external, just to make sure all is ok with the video. Probably is, but before spending any cash I'd do a quick check.

 

Its worth taking the front bezel off the screen surround, and removing the LCD panel to check the cabling and make sure the plugs are fully home in the sockets. They always have a piece of special tape securing the plugs into the sockets, if it has come away it may be loose for some reason. Also, I'd remove the laptop upper panel and check the same on the cabling at the video out from the board.

 

So its basically a stripdown and check I reckon, and it will give you chance to get the cable part number which will help with finding spares.

 

Not wishing to knock anyone elses advice, but I'd be surprised if the panel is faulty. Faults normally show up with inverters, or vertical lines on the panel due to the minute connections in the panel edges failing.

 

There's dissasembly guide here btw

 

How to disassemble Toshiba Satellite A355/A355D or Satellite A350/A350D laptops

[seedy21]

Thanks for all your advice i thought it may just be the cabling in the laptop so am going to strip it down tonight and Synapse it works perfect with it in a external monitor.

 

Still PC world still made me laugh with that price to get it fix

 

Seedy21

[seedy21]

OK I toke the laptop apart of the cables was correctly in so i toke them out and put them back in and its still doing it so i think its going to need a new screen :( there about 80 pounds so cheaper than PC world :D

 

 

Seedy21

[Synapse]

If its the screen then fair enough, but I do wonder if the cabling is faulty. Did PC World tell you what is wrong in their opinion?

 

If you do a screen swap come back and let us know how it goes.

[seedy21]

If its the screen then fair enough, but I do wonder if the cabling is faulty. Did PC World tell you what is wrong in their opinion?

 

If you do a screen swap come back and let us know how it goes.

 

 

Nope PC World have set prices and say any laptop issue is going to cost 230 pounds . I think I will replace the screen but the cables look to be ok, but cant test it on another computer really

 

 

 

Seedy21

[PseFrank]

Many things have been mentioned in this thread, and of course the problem could be one or more of several things. Although it does sound like it could be broken/failing cabling.

 

Here's another ten cents worth....

 

Problem: No picture on screen but computer seems to boot up correctly

 

Before anything else, check all cables are plugged in correctly.

 

1) Boot the computer (Speakers/Volume ON).

 

Do you here the Windows intro music?

 

2) Shine a bright torch directly at your screen.

 

Can you see an unlit version of the Windows welcome screen, or your desktop icons?

 

If the answer is yes to the above two questions, then it is almost certainly a screen problem (As apposed to a computer problem).

 

3) Connect an external monitor to your laptop to see if it works correctly.

 

Note: After connecting an external monitor to a laptop it probably will not work straight off. If this is the case then you need to press a Function Key. Look for a key that has CRT/LCD or similar on it. Quite often this will be the F8 key.

 

While holding down the Fn key press the CRT/LCD a couple of times to toggle different modes.

Tip: Hold it down for a couple of seconds each time.

 

Ok...so now you've proved beyond any doubt that it is your Laptop screen that is at fault.

 

Now assuming that you cannot see any visible damage to your screen it will almost certainly be one of three things that is causing the problem.

 

Depending on your fixing ability and experience you may decide to call the PC repair man at this point.

 

Possible problem 1...Loose internal connection or damaged cable

 

Note: Sometimes you cannot see that a cable is damaged. They need to be tested!

 

Possible problem 2...The laptop Inverter has developed a fault or has died.

 

Note: The Inverter controls the power that goes to the screens Backlight. The backlight is a very small version of a tube light (Same as on your kitchen ceiling).

 

Possible problem 3...The screen Backlight tube has blown/died.

 

Fixing difficulty: Zero to ten.........Ten being hardest

 

Problem 1...If you have the correct testing equipment and some no how: Six

 

Problem 2...Cost of new Inverter= About £20 (£10 for secondhand) Fitting: Eight

 

Problem 3...Cost of new Backlight tube= Under £10....Fitting: Eleven

 

Hope this helps some of you out....

[Dalo Harkin]

I have seen this issue on many Toshiba lappys, The screen is off until you reach about a 45 degree angle and then it comes on, I have repaired 3 or 4 where it has just been the ribbon, but around 10 that are the screen.

[seedy21]

I have seen this issue on many Toshiba lappys, The screen is off until you reach about a 45 degree angle and then it comes on, I have repaired 3 or 4 where it has just been the ribbon, but around 10 that are the screen.

 

 

Thats what happening to this computer. The computer works to am external monitor and you can see the screen in the sun light but if you dont have the right angle on the screen the backlight doesnt work

 

 

Seedy21

[key_man10]

Toshiba Laptop Screen

 

My daughters laptop screen works for about one minute but then goes very dim. She says she can just about make out what is on the screen if she tilts it at an angle.

 

She says that an IT "expert" where she works changed the light source but that made no difference. Until I actually see the laptop I can't even say if the source is working.

 

Any thoughts until then please?

 

Thanks.

[key_man10]

sorry, somehow my last message got attached to someone elses problem. I'll post it as a new one

:(