17 replies to this topic

[bobbo]

If my laptop is connected to power and is on, after about 5 minutes the screen will go dark. It is not a screensaver, the computer still functions as if nothing has happened, except everything is extremely faint. If I run it on the battery, it usually works fine, but sometimes the same thing happens.

Any ideas?

[SaVaGeTnK]

try playing with the contrast or maybe its a power saving function that is on

[t00much4u]

bobbo, on Jan 31 2007, 07:14 PM, said:

If my laptop is connected to power and is on, after about 5 minutes the screen will go dark. It is not a screensaver, the computer still functions as if nothing has happened, except everything is extremely faint. If I run it on the battery, it usually works fine, but sometimes the same thing happens.

Any ideas?

If you are certain that it is not a power management issue then can you test the display by contecting the laptop output to another monitor. If the test monitor is ok then it is a hardware issue, convertor, convertor lead, display panel etc and I would suggest that a specialist repair facility look at it.

[Gallfish]

The screen going faint usually happens when you unplug the laptop and it starts to run on battery power. A dodgy power supply/extension lead etc? Try a new lead first before a new monitor or getting a specialist

Edited by Gallfish, 02 February 2007 - 05:53 PM.

[SkY]

It sounds like you are running it on Max Battery option. This option will do this even when plugged into the a/c. That is the same setting I have my laptop set on. If you click on battery management you can change this setting. What kind of laptop do you have? Since each laptop company has a different way to access this. This is not the same as power saver in control panel.

I've had a couple brands of laptops, so I might be able to show you exactly how to access it, especially if you have a HP/comapq, or Dell.

[bobbo]

I have an IBM ThinkPad and it is set on High System Performance when running on battery and when connected to power.

[SkY]

yea, that would be the same thing.

You can change that. It helps maintain battery power a lot longer, but is not really necessary when plugged into the adapter. You should be able to click on the battery icon and change that setting.

[bobbo]

I know but that doesn't help with this problem, it isn't the battery dying, the comp is still working (music continues playing, for instance). The screen just goes dark, and I don't know why.

[SkY]

That is what that setting does. The computer will be running normally and then the screen will go into a screensaver mode, but instead of a picture it just goes black.

This setting continues doing this even after being plugged into an adapter. Any sounds will still continue to play, such as aim or msn, or music. But your screen will not be until you tap or move the mouse. It is like having a power save monitor on a desktop, it shuts itself down until it senses someone at the controls of the computer I.E. keyboard or mouse movement.

changing this setting should solve that problem. It is the same setting I have set on my laptop, so it lasts the whole school day without being recharged.

[bobbo]

The problem is when I move the mouse or press keys the screen does not light back up, it remains dark. Also, it is not dark like when a screensaver is up, because I can make out what is on the screen it is just extremely faint.

[Gallfish]

Try my suggestion and see what happens.

[SkY]

Hey, I researched your problem and found the problem you are having.

A simple backlight inverter failure.

This is a common problem with the IBM thinkpads
http://www.daileyint.com/hmdpc/repair.htm

"If your screen brightness seems to flicker or sometimes is bright and sometimes almost fades out completely, even then the unit is plugged into the wall (don't get fooled by power saver mode), then you probably have a failing inverter or backlight. Between the two, the inverter is several times more likely to fail, it plays the role of the solid state ballast in modern fluorescent lights. The backlight itself is a CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) with a very long meant time between failure, while whole generations of inverters have been lemons on some laptop models, you can easily research your model on Google. "

That sounds exactly like your problem, and since it is common with the IBM thinkpads.

If you type into google blacklight inverter failure on IBM thinkpads you will get many sites illustrating this problem.

IBms thinkpads have this problem as quick as 3 months after a comp is purchased.

Edited by SkY, 02 February 2007 - 09:52 PM.

[bobbo]

Hmm thanks for the help that sounds like the problem. I'll check it out. My computer is 2.5 years old so this seems likely.

[SkY]

Yea, if that is the problem it isn't that much to replace. Cheaper than if the entire LCD was malfunctioning.

[hardman]

i think your "problem" is much simpler than that. I thought the same thing about my old laptop but it was as simple as holding the blue fn key on the top of your keybored (usually by the f keys or possibly at the bottom) and pressing the brigtness button up (a key with a blue sun-like object on it and an upwards aarow) on your keybored at the same time. Most laptops do it to save power when not connected to a power supply.

Edited by HarDMaN, 10 February 2007 - 05:19 PM.

[bobbo]

But the problem is when the comp is plugged in, not when it is using battery power

[hardman]

o i c, i ddint read it properly, still give it a try tho

[bobbo]

Thanks for the effort, turns out I need a new hard drive and basically a new monitor, luckily it's under warranty. What a mess.