OT: Laptop screen died

[Chris Wright]

Don Russell wrote:
> I've been running FC4 on a Toshiba Satellite 1115-S103 laptop since test 
> 1, and FC3 before that. (Clean installs each time)
> 
> The other day the screen (LCD in the lid) went dim, and can't be read. 
> The image is so dim it looks like it's "burned" onto the screen. That's 
> not the case, because when I shut the system down, the screen turns off 
> and it's all "dark".
> 
> I can still use the machine remotely (via ssh).
> 
> Does ths sound like a hardware problem, or is it possible that there's a 
> "power setting" that could cause the screen to dim?
> 
> I've tried restarting the machine, but the screen is the same dead/dim 
> continuously...
> 
> I was thinking of taking it in for repair.... but I'm also thinking it 
> will likely cost more than it's worth to fix...It's a few years old, out 
> of warranty.
> 
> Anybody have any comments or suggestions?
> 
> Thanks,
> Don
> 

Don,

Most people belive the LCD screen to be the component that provides the 
display.  In most (if not all cases), there is in fact a Lamp behind the 
  LCD panel that provides the light.
This LCD screen then acts like a live large negative which the back 
light shines through.
It sounds as if the backlight has failed.  When you boot the PC and the 
BIOS fires up, is the screen still dim?
Some software can control the brightness of the display, but it would 
not be under control during the BIOS booting I would think.

Replacing the Lamp can be quite easy in most cases, but then it could 
also be the control circuitry for it, in which case it gets expensive.

Regards

Chris