Inspiron 1545 LED backlight not working after screen replacement.

Is the new screen identical to the original?  If not, is it known to be compatible with this model?

Other thing to check:  see if there's an image on an external display.  If there isn't, check to see if you dislodged a magnet that activates the lid switch.

Thanks for the reply.

Works perfectly with an external monitor.

Bought it as a specific replacement for a 1545 and have double checked with my supplier that the screen they sent me is correct for a 1545.  They also told me that the 1545 is not too fussy compared to some of the other Dell models which are very fussy about replacement LED backlit screeens.

Cheers,

David

Thanks for the reply.

I am already on the 2nd screen from my supplier.  The supplier specialises in replacement screens and have sold more than 17,000 on eBay with 99.9% feedback.

Their tech support seem very good and told me the screens are correct for the 1545.

I have changed a lot of regular 15.4 LCD screens without issue and haven't really had any compatability issues up to now.

First LED backlit screen though :emotion-6:

TBH I doubt it is the screen particularly as the backlight on the old cracked screen no longer works now, but the only alternative is the mboard, so I may send the others back for a refund and try another screen with an identical part no.

Searching the web I have found 3 or 4 other people with backlight driver circuit failure after changing 1545 LED backlit screens. Sadly no solutions other than mboard change.

So hasn't anyone on here had this problem?

Your best bet is to send back the screen and order an exact replacement for the one you had.

Got the same problem here.

Actually, we've had the same problem twice within the last 6 days.

Dell really need to address this problem, because designing a laptop that requires a new motherboard when replacing the screen is just unacceptable.

You've come to an unsupported conclusion.  Any damage severe enough to crack the screen could easily have been the cause of the damage to the system board as well.

if you have a car accident that damages your front end, it's not unusual to have to replace the radiator, fan, etc.  Collateral damage isn't uncommon.

You've made an assumption. I said nothing about "cracked" screens. The 1546 (basically a US version of the UK 1545 with slight spec changes) I currently have this issue on developed a faulty screen without being "damaged" so to speak. The screen was just white - backlight power but no display. Changing the screen (yes, the proper part) killed the backlight driver circuit.

Also - since when is damage "severe" when it breaks a laptop screen? Laptop screens are broken VERY easily - often without stress to any other part of the laptop. One of the most common we see is a break on the top of the screen where someone has picked it up by the screen whilst the lid is open. This is a clear exclusion from your example.

Finally, your analagy is inappropriate. A more appropriate automobile based analagy would be to have a front end "fender bender" then having to replace the entire ECU. Ridiculous.

I didn't make any assumptions.  I read the first post in the thread assuming you'd started it - rather than entered in a diversion later on.  That post mentions a cracked screen.

As for the rest, you're still basing your claim on insubstantial evidence.  Perhaps more was wrong than just the screen - or perhaps the repair was done incorrectly (such as with the battery left in the system, etc.). 

As for the car analogy, it holds - I've seen people with minor fender-benders wind up with destroyed engines when the timing belt jumps a tooth and causes internal engine damage.  You'd never suspect it from the outside, but it DOES happen.

What may LOOK like minor damage can result in hidden damage - whether with a car or a notebook.

Please keep your comments about me to yourself.  Those are most unhelpful (and if you've a mirror handy, they paint you in a most childish light).

That, of course won't mean anything, since you're convinced you're right, and won't listen to answers other than those you want to hear.

The 1546 (basically a US version of the UK 1545 with slight spec changes) I currently have this issue on developed a faulty screen without being "damaged" so to speak. The screen was just white - backlight power but no display. Changing the screen (yes, the proper part) killed the backlight driver circuit.

This is exactly my experience.  Good working unit, but cracked screen (Easy to do!  Leave small object on keyboard (ear-ring). Shut laptop = cracked screen)).

Carefully change screen (as I have done many times before).  Now problem with screen driver circuitry. (Multiple screens tried with same result). Laptop works fine with external monitor.  Customer has to buy new laptop.:emotion-9:

Quite a few other people have similar problems with 1525/26 on the web, but I haven't seen a solution (other than mboard change).

Sadly no useful info on here either :emotion-6:

Before you waste money on that, I would suggest you thoroughly read your terms of sale -- the ones you agreed to at purchase time, particularly #12.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/policy/en/policy?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~section=012

Perhaps - but your recourse is clearly spelled out in the terms of sale, so carefully consider whether what you'd spend on an attorney is a wise investment in light of that.

Class actions are a completely different matter -- and the only major recent one I'm aware of concerns nVidia, not Dell.

:emotion-4:

I was curious about all this, in case it happens to me. Don't want to diagnose a faulty screen and find I need a new system board as well. So a quick google found another forum where somebody has identified a fuse in one of the traces to the screen connector (on the system board). Small looks like a resistor and is marked F1. (Not sure if that is the device itself or on the board.) Fuses that look like resistors and marked F1 are used on other systems and it would seem logical that the power to the backlights are protected by a fuse, so that passes the credibility test.

Use a multimeter across both sides of the fuse to check continuity.

I don't have a board here to look at. Nor do I know how viable it is to replace the fuse. I just post the information here in case somebody else can confirm it.

Quoting the last post "If you can see the writing saying F1 = 3a/32v then your in the right area. Look slightly below for a small group of what looks like little resistors. You will see the left one says F1 in small writing. Thats the one. Only its a fuse."

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-inspiron-dell-studio/478489-inspiron-1545-led-screen-no-backlight-3.html