[Ham-Computers] RE: Laptop video problems

[Philip, KO6BB]

Hi Aaron,

Thank you for the tips.  I delayed answering this until I had a chance to 
take a closer look at it.  This laptop doesn't have a ribbon cable from main 
board to the display.  It uses a small circular cable "bundle", apparently 
with copper strand shielding to connect the two.  It appears to be routed in 
such a way, parallel to the back of the main unit so as to minimize flexing 
when opening.  The cable connects with a small plug.

Although there MUST be a way to get into the LCD display, short of using 
some "C4" it isn't at all apparent.  Just possibly NEC intended the display 
to be replaced as an entire unit.  I'm afraid that if I "force" anything I 
may end up with a doorstop that isn't usable at all.  Even if it were 
available, from NEC, I hardly think that an 11 year old Win95 system (it's a 
1996 model) is worth it.

There also may be a switching matrix of some sort to switch between the 
external and internal displays, perhaps an IC, that failed. It does switch 
the external display on/off as well as the backlight, but I suppose there 
could be a "data gate" of some sort inoperative.  But most likely it's in 
the LCD display itself, at least that's my humble opinion.  Working without 
a "roadmap" (schematic) makes these things difficult to diagnose.

By the way, I've eliminated the URL's to my webpage and QSL site from my 
signature because SBC/Yahoo was dumping all my Emails in the "bulk" folder 
as spam and I had to go to the web site to see them.  It was caused by the 
"links" in my signature.  ODD since there were no commercial aspects to the 
sites.

73 de Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!

Ten Meter CW Beacon KO6BB/B, 20 Watts 24/7 on 28.248MCs.
Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh


----- Original Message ----- 

Hi Phil,

One of the most common failures in earlier laptops is a break in the ribbon 
cable connecting the video adapter to the LCD itself.  Being that you have 
video when connected to an external monitor, this might be your issue.  A 
busted backlight is also a common problem, but not the case in this 
situation.

Crack open the case and check the ribbon cable from the m/b to the TFT 
panel.  These things are subjected to a lot of flexing and are known to 
either open or come "pinched".

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O