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16445
September 27th, 2004 23:00
CP M233XT LCD problem
I purchased what was represented to me as a "Mint" Dell CP M233XT laptop without the LCD display. I have two LCD displays that are compatible with the CP M233XT to install on the laptop. So, here is what I have, one CP M233XT in need of an LCD Display, and two LCD displays that are compatible with the CP M233XT, ( one Sharp LQ13X02C , and one Samsung LT133X1-106 / DPN 60868 ). I have installed both LCD's, a new inverter, and a new ribbon cable in the CP M233XT, and I can't get the displays to work. The inverter and the ribbon cable are factory new, the LCD's were represented to be in working condition when I purchased them. When the laptop is connected to an external monitor, it works fine, but when I power up with either of the LCD's installed, the computer starts to power up, the screen flickers one time, and the computer shuts down. I have tried another inverter, (used), and the same thing happens. Does anyone have any idea what the problem is?
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AussieChris
4.2K Posts
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September 28th, 2004 01:00
Hi,
I think there was a different cable for the LCD Sharp / Samsung, Are you able to try your Lcd on another machine ? This will help sort the problem out, also without the LCD not plugged in and no ext mon does it go through the motions off booting ? This should prove if a cable is faulty or bad invertor is fitted. I also would suspect the suspend switch. This is on the motherboard, they are often overlooked as a cause of this type of problem. It may have been faulty when you got the machine, and it was assumed to be the Lcd. Did you have a dull image on the Lcd when you got it ?
Regards Chris
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
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September 28th, 2004 04:00
Hi,
This is from memory, but the XT was 13.3, the ST was 12.1 inch. I also think the Mbd assy was different, as the 13.3 had a narrower plug for the Lcd cable. The CPiA had the same Mbd.( 13.3 and 12.1 ) Also from memory, as I havnt seen one in years, the suspend switch was a reed on some and hall effect on others. Have you thought about a post with your city, and maybe someone else there can help test things ? ie the lcd assy
Regards Chris
proverman
10 Posts
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September 28th, 2004 04:00
proverman
10 Posts
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September 28th, 2004 07:00
Chris, I believe that the LCD's may be the problem, although they were represented as in working condition, so testing by someone may be an option. I tried to boot with no LCD or external, and no boot. I connected the external, and everything OK. I connected the LCD, and no boot. It's really an ironic situation, I only bought the Dell CP M233XT bottom half because I had the two LCD's that were sold to me for replacement on my CPiA. I realized when the two LCD's arrived, by the part numbers on them, that they were the wrong ones for my CPiA, so I put them on the shelf. I didn't want to re-sell them without knowing that they worked for sure, and I could use another laptop anyway, so I bought the CP M233XT bottom half to marry to either of the two LCD's I now had on the shelf. At this point it looks as though either the seller of the LCD's or the seller of the CP M233XT stuck me with a non working purchase. Proving which one will be difficult but not impossible. I guess I will try to find someone to test the LCD's, or even take another chance on another LCD purchase if I find one inexpensive enough. Thanks for the help!
Regards, Bill
AussieChris
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September 28th, 2004 22:00
Hi,
If you have a CpiA, you can experiment a bit. Unplug the Lcd cable, and with no external Mon, see if it boots. If it does, and in this regard we are assuming they will both do the same ! It is a sign that it will boot without a screen. Most early ones will. If so it will show that it is not the Lcd in the Cp. Have you reseated the top card ? Next look for the suspend switch, I think it was on a card back Lhs near the IR sensor, a small removeable card. Place a magnet near it on the CpiA, and when the display goes out, try and reboot. I still think the switch is the fault, and it ws assumed to be an Lcd failure. This happens a bit in the C600 ( the supend failure ) Also try with the invertor unplugged, a bad invertor with an internal short can stop a post. You will see a dull image. What happens with the bad switch, as it starts to power up, it says, oh the lids closed, shouldnt be running. With an ext. mon. it says oh Im docked. The fact that you had no post without the Lcd is a sign. Does the Lcd give abit of a flash of backlight, you mention a flicker. An invertor usually fails in a solid fashion. Good luck, and keep me posted.
Regards Chris
proverman
10 Posts
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September 29th, 2004 00:00
Hi Chris, The display does give what appears to be a backlight flash rather than a flicker. I have two inverters, one is factory new, and the other came with one of the displays, so I don't think it is the inverter, but it wouldn't be the first time I had two identical components go bad at the same time. I can check one of my CPiA units to see if it will boot with no LCD, but I'm not too anxious to open one of them up in case I cause a problem in doing so. I forgot about trying to re-seat the processor card, and I will try that when I get off line. You are also correct that when an inverter fails completely, the display will be blank. I have had them die gradually, generating static like lines across the display, before finally dying completely. I have the service manuals on CD for the Dell laptops, although it is not complete, it does have a lot of good information, and in this case it will help me identify the suspend switch. I am sure I know where it is, and there is a strong posibility that it may be the problem since i see no where to put the magnet that is required in some of the Latitudes. I believe that some of the models utilize the LCD metal frame as the trigger for the suspend switch, and I think the CP M233XT is one of them, so I will check it out when I get offline. Thanks again for the help,
Regards, Bill
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
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September 29th, 2004 00:00
Hi,
I meant reseat the top ( video ) card. The fault is too specific for the Cpu. Also, a CpiA Cpu clip will fit these. I think the magnet is lower Lhs on the Lcd panel, move a pin around there to see. If the inverter has failed, you still get a dim image, and the machine wont power off. Keep me posted.
Regards Chris
proverman
10 Posts
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September 30th, 2004 01:00
Chris, Good News! With a little persistence and help from someone who cares considerably more than Dell does, (you), I have a working LCD display. The only problem is, I did a number of things at the same time, so I'm not sure which one of them was the problem. I am however relatively sure it is one of two things, 1. the suspend switch assembly as you pointed out, 2. one of the parameters in the setup mode. In the setup, on page 3, there is a function called Primary Video, and the two choices are "System" and "Dock Video Card". The choice that was programmed was "Dock Video Card", which means to display video from the docks video card, (if no video card is installed, video always displays from the computers video controller), this setting is the default, but I changed it to the System setting, which causes the system to display from the computers video card. I also removed the suspend card, but when I did that, the computer shut down after about 3 minutes of operation. I had a suspend card in a box of spare parts I purchased on Ebay, but it is for a CPiA 366, so I installed that. I also reseated the processor, because I had not received your last email explaining that I should reseat the video card. By the way, the suspend card is in the upper left hand corner of the base unit, held in by one screw. When I powered up after all of this, low and behold, I have video on my LCD. I checked to see if the suspend switch works, and it does, so I think I will just leave it in instead of purchasing a new one. It is a little different as far as size and configuration, but it seems to work fine, so, as I have learned in my later years, to a certain point, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"! If I get energetic, I will use the process of elimination to determine which of these things was the problem. I'll give you my email address - psi@isp.com, so if you wish an update you can email me your address, and I will let you know the final outcome. Who knows, you may be faced with the same problem some day.
Best regards to my Aussie friend & helper, Bill
P.S. Too bad Dells only response was, "you must send it in for our technicians to install LCD's", etc. I guess they believe that the only capable technicians available are employed by Dell. I've got news for them, the best technicians are not necessarily the ones with all of the formal training, etc., but the ones that will stay with a problem until it is resolved! I am that type, and obviously my Aussie friend is as well. Thanks again for all your help, if the problem was the suspend switch, it probably would have taken me weeks or months to finally resolve the problem.
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
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September 30th, 2004 03:00
Hi,
I'm glad you had a win ! I will email you so as to compare notes later.
Regards Chris