Backlight on Computer

katiemac · Jul 26, 2009

So ... the backlight on my laptop seemed to go out today. The whole screen went black, although I could still see ever so faintly the website I was looking at was still there. I spend a couple minutes fiddling, then managed to shut it down after I figured out where the cursor was.

I haven't turned it back on yet. I'm letting it sit a bit and charge, although I have been having a bit of trouble lately with the computer recognizing the power cord's in. (The battery has long ago not been able to hold more than a couple minutes of charge.)

Anyway, I know I'm probably better off trying to turn the computer back on to see what happens but what can cause the backlight to go out? The power cord not recognizing is what happened to my old computer when the motherboard went, but there's a good chance in this case it's just a bad cord.

If this computer's on its way out the door I'm going to be very not happy.

ETA: It's an HP laptop. Three (?) years old.

Sage · Jul 26, 2009

My HP did that too. And there was nothing I could do but restart it (but a restart took care of the problem).

I found that if I closed my lid, it was more likely to go out, so if I had to carry it around, I left the lid open a little. Very annoying.

When I gave it to my roomie (after getting the new one--a Dell), she took it to a computer place to get it cleared off and reformated for her and to fix any problems, including the backlight issue. Even though I described it, and it was happening a few times a week for me, they couldn't get it to replicate the problem. And I was very incredulous, but they were like "We had it on for hours. No problem." "Well, did you try closing it and opening it again?" "We tried lots of things. We didn't juggle it or anything..." implying that I was either lying or mistreating my laptop. It was about three weeks before it did it to my roomie, and she was very rarely on the computer. I still don't know what caused it or how to fix it. (She killed the comp not long afterwards by putting a power cord in the USB port)

katiemac · Jul 26, 2009

I did move the computer and that's when it went out, so I assumed something must've jiggled or something, but yeah, it's not like I throw my computer around the room. The screen itself has been "loose" for about a year now, meaning that it'll flop back and forth a bit unless it's at a certain angle.

Good to know the restart seemed to fix it, although not permanently. I'll be brave in another few hours and turn it on. Right now we've got a thunderstorm and, considering that computer is reliant on its cord, doesn't seem like a good time to test it out.

Williebee · Jul 26, 2009

Miss Katie, Am I correct in thinking this thing is no longer under warranty?

The backlight is just that, a light, or a lamp, rather. It could be bad, or the connection to it could be bad. It is possible, though not likely, that it is connected to your cord problem.

You could take it to a repair place and get the lamp replaced. You could set it on a desk and plug a separate monitor in to it. (Which was my answer when my main laptop's display croaked.) Good Luck

ETA: Following up from your second post. Sounds like loose wiring, and bad hinges. The hinges can be replaced, and the wiring most likely repaired.

Fair warning, though, turning it on and off while it has loose wiring could cause a short that damages your motherboard.

katiemac · Jul 26, 2009

Williebee said:
ETA: Following up from your second post. Sounds like loose wiring, and bad hinges. The hinges can be replaced, and the wiring most likely repaired.

Fair warning, though, turning it on and off while it has loose wiring could cause a short that damages your motherboard.

Ooh good to know, thanks for that tip. I've been wanting to get the hinges fixed for awhile (and get a new power cord), but you know, not always the priority these days money-wise. No more warranty on this one, and it's already the second computer I've had in five years. The first was a Dell.

Williebee · Jul 26, 2009

Maybe it's time to rethink your computer choices, find one that is more suitable (durable?) for your needs?

katiemac · Jul 26, 2009

Williebee said:
Maybe it's time to rethink your computer choices, find one that is more suitable (durable?) for your needs?

I thought I'd rethunk

)) it well enough when I swapped from Dell to HP. (The Dell malfunction was part of that whole mess where a lot of their computers' motherboards were going out. They had a whole civil suit over it.)

I haven't had any complaints at all with my HP, aside from the hinges being a bit loose and the wear and tear on the battery, until this backlight. Hopefully it's all just tied up in the power cord.

I turned the computer back on earlier today and the backlight worked, just like Sage said hers did. But now doesn't want to charge at all, so I'll have to get a new cord to see if that fixes everything.

WriteKnight · Jul 26, 2009

MY HP laptop screen basically died JUST before three years was up. Fortunately, I had bought an 'extended' warranty. I NEVER buy those things. So, with SEVEN days of warranty left, I shipped it off - they replaced the screen and tightened the hinges. I figure I'll get another two years out of it.

While it was fritzing on and off - I did attach a second monitor to it, because I needed to work with it. Worked just fine.

BigWords · Jul 27, 2009

Batteries Refusing To Charge

The old advice about letting batteries die down to nothing before recharging is no longer relevant due to the nature of modern batteries. Has the battery been allowed to completely drain at all?

Take the battery out of the laptop and let it cool. Clean the connectors with a dry dust-free cloth (both the battery and the laptop), then replace. If it still refuses to charge then you're going to need a new one.

Matera the Mad · Jul 27, 2009

"...trouble lately with the computer recognizing the power cord's in."

Beware of abusing power jacks. That nice solid hole on the outside of a laptop is the gateway to a vulnerable mess of foil-thin soldered connections. Waggling the plug -- leaving the power cord plugged in when you toss it in a case, bumping it when you shove it back against something = death by tearing and flexing connections.

RJK · Aug 6, 2009

Just an FYI. If you run into problems where you can't see the screen, or lose control of the cursor, you can shut down your PC using the following steps:
1) You press the Windows key (it has the wavy Microsoft Windows "flag" icon on it),
2) Press the U key twice.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 6, 2009

I guess I never realized there was an actual lightbulb behind my LCD screen. I just assumed the whole thing just glowed somehow.

I did find a website that shows you what's involved in replacing the backlight though. More than I'd be able to handle.

drksideofthemoon · Aug 6, 2009

If you are only getting a few minutes of battery life, then the battery is probably toasted. You need to replace it as a bad battery can cause your computer to draw more more, generating excess heat, and possibly lead to early motherboard failure. If you can't afford a new battery, then just remove the old battery for the time being. No battery is better than a battery that is at the end of its life cycle.

Nivarion · Aug 6, 2009

And while were at getting you to buy new stuff. Go to walmart and get a USB cooling pad, clips to the bottom of your laptop and draws almost all of the heat off.

They're like $20 buck and will double their life.

Oh, and this site is having a sale on batteries.

Backlight on Computer

katiemac

Five by Five

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

katiemac

Five by Five

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

katiemac

Five by Five

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

katiemac

Five by Five

WriteKnight

Arranger Of Disorder

BigWords

Geekzilla

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

drksideofthemoon

Nothin' much to say...

Nivarion

Brony level >9000