CPIA 300 MHZ, will not boot with LCD plugged into main board

Question

Here is the story:  I bought a laptop off of EBAY and it would not boot at all, green led on the right would come on for 2 secs then shut off no other signs of activity.  So i replaced the Mother Board and it worked, but the only thing is that the computer would not power up with the LCD screen attached to the main board.  The computer works fine with an external monitor (without LCD attached).  I have no means of testing the actual LCD so i am not sure if it is the LCD itself, the power inverter, or the Ribbon.  Does anyone know what i should do at this point?   Any Input would be appreciated.   Thanx   -Sp00ky

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

Where were the sparks ? I gather you didnt plug things with the battery and power connected ? I would expect $20 to $30.to get one. ( invertor ) Are you shure it is a CPiA ?, they were 366 and 400 meg. The invertor was different in a CPiA to the CPi, and also 12.1 to 13.3 inch. The CPi would be 300 meg.

Regards Chris

Sp00ky · Answer

I have already looked at the cable and it looks brand new, there are no dark spots on it at all to indicate a burnt fiber, I also unplugged the cable from the inverter and the power cable was unplugged from the laptop but still saw some sparks fly when reconnecting the cable, and the lcd flickered. Any thoughts? and who much is an inverter just out of curiousity?

Thanks

-Sp00ky

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

I would have a good look at the cable, if not damaged unplug the input to the invertor. It is most likely shorted, then run up the machine. If the display is very dull, the Lcd is working. An invertor should be quite cheap. Worst case the backlight has taken out the invertor. ( rare but you would need both )

Regards Chris

Sp00ky · Answer

YES I KNOW IT IS A CPIA, IT WAS A D266XT, BUT WAS UPGRADED TO 300 MHZ IT HAS 64 MEG RAM 2.5 MEG VIDEO CARD.  4.3 GIG HD.  AND NO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER AT ALL HOOKED INTO THE LAPTOP, BUT IT WAS ABOUT 15 SECS AFTER I UNPLUGED ALL THE POWER TO IT SO MIGHT OF BEEN JUST SURPLUS.  AND THE SPARKS WERE COMING FROM THE INVERTER I THINK ( THE BOX THE RIBBON COMING FROM MAIN BOARD PLUGS INTO...NOT THE MAIN BOARD END). BUT TO ME IT DOES SOUND LIKE A SHORT SOMEWHERE SINCE I CAN UNPLUG IT AND IT WORKS FINE WITH AN EXTERNAL.   THANKS FOR THE INPUT   -Sp00ky   BTW sorry for the caps. Didn't notice until msg was typed.

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

It wont take CPiA parts, but CPi. The XT means it is 13.3 inch. Have you tried with the invertor unplugged ? ( at the input connection ) That should help work out what is going on.

Regards Chris

Sp00ky · Answer

Well its a 12.1 inch monitor so xt can't mean 13 :) and the mother board is a 9692D just like the one before it. -Sp00ky

Sp00ky · Answer

Here is an update, I took the LCD casing apart again and tried unpluging the ribbon completely from the lcd and inverter and when i plugged it into the motherboard the computer still wouldn't respond at all, So I am guessing its the ribbon. Tell me if I am wrong though :)

-Sp00ky
Thanks for all the help. THUS FAR

miguel_92121 · Answer

The D266XT is a CPi, not a CPiA.   If a CPi LCD assembly is connected to a CPiA motherboard the computer wil not power up.   I got burned with this when I tried to 'upgrade' CPi laptops with CPiA motherboards (mainly because of EDO vs SDRAM memory).   Miguel

Sp00ky · Answer

miguel_92121:   I replaced the exact motherboard the laptop came with (exact serial number) and its a CPI A300XT with 64 megs ram, but the only thing is I was talking to the previous owner and he says he never replaced the main board before and when i did the video didn't work, but I will keep this post open since i ordered the Ribbon for the LCD and will see if that works.  Thanks   -Sp00ky

Sp00ky · Answer

Well I finally replaced the flex, the computer now boots withe the flex plugged into everything, but now the screen looks dark and is scrambled, I really have to look to see that it is on, but it is but as i said it looks like a scrambled channel on the TV any thoughts to where to go now? thanks

-Sp00ky

AussieChris · Answer

Hi, It still could be the flex cable, LCD or video card. Was it a new flex cable ?                                                                           Regards Chris

Sp00ky · Answer

yes its a new MB (video is on the new MB) the flex is new and the LCD was claimed to be tested. the inverter for this model is cheap so i think i will replace that, if that doesn't work i know then the lcd wasn't tested and i will get my money back.  thanks.  oh BTW would a bad inverted cause the screen to be dark and distorted/scrambled?   -Sp00ky

Sp00ky · Answer

I know its not the flex or the Video card since they are both new, i decided to spend 10 bucks on an inverter instead of buying a new lcd or asking for my monet back, i will let u know how it turns out in a week or so.  Thanks   -Sp00ky

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

Just because something is new, it doesnt mean it works. I once spent ages looking for noise in the front suspension of my car, it couldnt be the ball joints because they were new...........You can guess the rest !

Regards Chris

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

A bad invertor will make the screen dark or cause a no post. It is possible it could scramble the image, I would suspect the LCD or cable first.

Regards Chris

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