Acer Laptop Screen Problem-Inverter or Backlight

[Shook]

Acer Laptop Screen Problem*Updated* w/ Video

Sooooo.... I'm working on a free hand-me-down laptop. Had a hard drive problem, which I fixed and happened to find 4GB of RAM to toss into it... and what do ya know, the screen starts messing up as soon as I fixed it...

The laptop is not very old so I would like to fix it... onto my problem.

The screen sort of "flickers" and "moves around" and also has a pink tint to it every once in awhile. The screen is this way as soon as I power on the laptop, and having it plugged into the wall proves no difference. Another strange thing is, if I leave it on, after about 5-10 minutes its works perfect, but only for about 15 seconds, then back to like the picture above.

- Tried hooking it up to my desktop monitor, works great.
- Took this thing apart, checked the all of the wire connections, seem to be solid and fooling with them with the lappy on did no justice. I'm stumped basically.

So now I'm wondering, backlight or inverter?

EDIT: Oops forgot the laptop info
Acer Aspire 7520-5071
17" Dual-Core 4GB RAM
Any comments/help?

Thanks in advance,
-Shook
--------------UPDATE----------
So I tried an inverter.... no fix
Noticed that while messing with the video cable to the LCD made the screen go in and out.....
Ordered a new LCD cable.... no fix


Sooo I made a short video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9vAGRl3ewc

 

[Trembyle]

Normally when the backlight goes out, it will affect the full screen. It can flicker or go out completely. This can be checked with a flashlight held up to a text area on screen and looking for the contrasting image on the LCD. From the way you describe the working then stopping, it sounds to me like the inverter is building up a charge then letting go.

 

[NoN]

If it happens the inverter to be messed-up, those Acer computers are easy to unmount. Try to find the inverter on *bay or amazon

 

[Shook]

it sounds to me like the inverter is building up a charge then letting go.

So your money is on the inverter?

Yea I've found an inverter for around $20-$30 on eBay. Very easy to change, have had it open already. Just hoping someone knowledgeable with LCD screens, would be able to tell me if it was in fact the inverter or the CFL bulb(which I would contemplate changing myself, but sounds like quite the pain in the ass)

 

[Trembyle]

After looking at your screen shot again, I looks more like a video cable issue on the LCD. If you can inspect the ribbon cables around the LCD and look for any place there is a sharp bend, it could be a broken trace in the ribbon cable, or a loose /unseated connector.

 

[Carl Lawrence]

I would say it is a loose connection, so do have a look.

 

[rbeldua]

yeah..it may have been a loose connection with the LCD..happened to me before with the same brand but different model...

 

[Shook]

I have had the whole thing apart, checking the cable for loose connection, checking the insulation of the wires, but nothing looked suspect to me. I have the whole screen apart at the hinges and the body of the laptop down to the motherboard.

 

[NoN]

I have had the whole thing apart, checking the cable for loose connection, checking the insulation of the wires, but nothing looked suspect to me. I have the whole screen apart at the hinges and the body of the laptop down to the motherboard.

What's about this piece...behind the Lcd, is it well plugged? :

 

[NoN]

Could be here aswell...move it or try to unplug and replug carefully:

 

[Shook]

That is a different style laptop, BUT

Yes both connections of the video cable are secure. Removing some of the wrap that goes around it, shows a bare wire, but it looks like its supposed to be that way. I think anyways.

Tore the whole thing apart this morning in frustration.

But I found an inverter on ebay for $7 shipped and ordered it. Once that arrives I will try it, and if that doesn't fix it, I'm going to attempt to replace the cfl bulb/backlight.

 

[NoN]

That is a different style laptop, BUT

Yes both connections of the video cable are secure. Removing some of the wrap that goes around it, shows a bare wire, but it looks like its supposed to be that way. I think anyways.

Tore the whole thing apart this morning in frustration.

But I found an inverter on ebay for $7 shipped and ordered it. Once that arrives I will try it, and if that doesn't fix it, I'm going to attempt to replace the cfl bulb/backlight.

Yes it is different Acer Laptop (my brand), but though it could help better.

Good luck with the replacement part!

 

[Aphelion]

While you're no doubt on the right track.... did you try it with the original RAM.

Ap

 

[PeteC]

I hate to say it, but it does not sound, or act like an inverter at all, nor does it sound like a backlight issue. I am more suspicious of a mainboard issue with the gpu. I hope that it IS the inverter, but every bad inverter that I've ever seen simply resulted in the LCD panel going dark, while you could view, very, very dimly, an otherwise normal desktop

 

[A Guy]

You screenshot doesn't look like backlight/inverter issue at all. Neither will cause video distortion like that. You would have a mostly normal picture flickering, or off (can see w/ flashlight). It's a video signal problem of some sort. Either the display itself, or the GPU.

A Guy

 

[Shook]

Well since it displays just fine on an external monitor, does that not rule out the problem being in the GPU?

And trying it with the old RAM was the very first thing I did, to no avail.

 

[rbeldua]

have you tried this; turn the laptop ON and swivel the LCD back and forth (like as if you're closing and opening the LCD) and see if some changes going on........loose connection cant be barely seen by just looking at it....mostly loose connections are the wires passing through the hinges...what I did before was take out the cover of the LCD...while it is turn ON but be careful....try holding and putting pressure on those wires which has splice in it and those wires which have insulations(joint connections)...as you know some connections tend to loose with the motion of closing and opening of the LCD..and two splices of wires even though it seems they are connected if you look at it, if they are loose they just barely touching each other. well it did worked for me because as in my in case I saw some changes while closing and opening the lid partially.

Hope this helps

 

[Shook]

UPDATE-

Tried inverter, no luck
Tried video cable, no luck


Check out my video of the problem, sorry for poor quality
YouTube - Laptop Screen Issue