You should try attaching an external VGA monitor to see if the monitor shows the same behavior. If it does, there is a problem with the video adapter hardware. If you get a normal display, however, the problem may lie with the LCD itself.
The Inspiron 6000 was made in two models, the 6000 and the 6000 D. The "D" model has a stand-alone video adapter. If that turns out to be the problem you have at least a chance of repairing the computer. The regular 6000 has its video on the main board itself and so is only repairable by replacing the main board, something that would not make good economic sense on a computer this old.
Thanks. I was able to get a consistent display on an external monitor and could get to the BIOS as well. Booting the laptop using a Linux CD, I can access the hard drive too. Does this mean that the onboard video is OK? (By looking up the system tag, it shows a Product Model of Inspiron 6000, with no 'D' mentioned anywhere.) And that the LCD is the likely issue? If so, could it be something as simple as a connection or plug or does the amber color & brief glimpses of video indicate something else?
Your experience suggests that the back light for the LCD has failed. If you boot the machine and look at the screen, perhaps with a fairly bright light shining on the screen, you may see indications of a display.
Replacing the back light of an LCD screen is not impossible, but it is not something I would attempt myself. The light and the inverter that supplies the power are a matched set so it is not normally possible to replace only the light. If you wish to attempt it, Google LCD back light you should find a number of sites that give you the procedure to follow.
The inverter would be the first thing to try - it's a small board behind the screen. You'll need to remove it to find a replacement (search by part number on the board). The cost should be under $30.
Just about any other possibility will be $100+ in parts alone (screen or mainboard) - just not worth it on a geriatric system like this one.
Thanks for the feedback - that was my basic question: if it's repairable, what's it likely to be and is it worth trying to do myself. I appreciate your guidance. Does anyone have any further thoughts before I scrap this?
A quick update and a few more questions. I got an inverter but didn't realize there were multiple versions. The first one was wrong and I sent it back. The correct one came today. I plugged it in, turned everything on and the display was visible and usable, but dark.
I tried the Fn + up arrow key to increase the brightness - it flickered a time or two, then went VERY dark. By putting my nose a couple of inches from the screen, I can just make out enough to get the cursor onto the shut down icon.
Am I likely to have a backlight problem too? Or is it more likely to be another bad inverter? Or both?
Thanks again for all the help. This has been an education so far!
I'm not saying it's not a motherboard problem, but, using an external monitor, I was able to wipe the hard drive, reinstalll Windows XP, etc. - just no video on the LCD.
Would it be logical to assume I now have a good inverter and for me to buy a backlight? Or should I buy the two as a matched pair, as suggested above?
If you have a voltmeter, test the output and input voltages from and to the inverter - you should get a high voltage output (do this carefully). Input voltage should be 5-10V.
jackshack
6.4K Posts
0
August 7th, 2011 13:00
You should try attaching an external VGA monitor to see if the monitor shows the same behavior. If it does, there is a problem with the video adapter hardware. If you get a normal display, however, the problem may lie with the LCD itself.
The Inspiron 6000 was made in two models, the 6000 and the 6000 D. The "D" model has a stand-alone video adapter. If that turns out to be the problem you have at least a chance of repairing the computer. The regular 6000 has its video on the main board itself and so is only repairable by replacing the main board, something that would not make good economic sense on a computer this old.
SVJeff
1 Rookie
•
105 Posts
0
August 7th, 2011 16:00
Thanks. I was able to get a consistent display on an external monitor and could get to the BIOS as well. Booting the laptop using a Linux CD, I can access the hard drive too. Does this mean that the onboard video is OK? (By looking up the system tag, it shows a Product Model of Inspiron 6000, with no 'D' mentioned anywhere.) And that the LCD is the likely issue? If so, could it be something as simple as a connection or plug or does the amber color & brief glimpses of video indicate something else?
jackshack
6.4K Posts
0
August 7th, 2011 16:00
Your experience suggests that the back light for the LCD has failed. If you boot the machine and look at the screen, perhaps with a fairly bright light shining on the screen, you may see indications of a display.
Replacing the back light of an LCD screen is not impossible, but it is not something I would attempt myself. The light and the inverter that supplies the power are a matched set so it is not normally possible to replace only the light. If you wish to attempt it, Google LCD back light you should find a number of sites that give you the procedure to follow.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 7th, 2011 17:00
The inverter would be the first thing to try - it's a small board behind the screen. You'll need to remove it to find a replacement (search by part number on the board). The cost should be under $30.
Just about any other possibility will be $100+ in parts alone (screen or mainboard) - just not worth it on a geriatric system like this one.
SVJeff
1 Rookie
•
105 Posts
0
August 7th, 2011 17:00
Thanks for the feedback - that was my basic question: if it's repairable, what's it likely to be and is it worth trying to do myself. I appreciate your guidance. Does anyone have any further thoughts before I scrap this?
SVJeff
1 Rookie
•
105 Posts
0
August 24th, 2011 12:00
A quick update and a few more questions. I got an inverter but didn't realize there were multiple versions. The first one was wrong and I sent it back. The correct one came today. I plugged it in, turned everything on and the display was visible and usable, but dark.
I tried the Fn + up arrow key to increase the brightness - it flickered a time or two, then went VERY dark. By putting my nose a couple of inches from the screen, I can just make out enough to get the cursor onto the shut down icon.
Am I likely to have a backlight problem too? Or is it more likely to be another bad inverter? Or both?
Thanks again for all the help. This has been an education so far!
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 24th, 2011 13:00
Sounds like it's either the backlight or the mainboard that's the problem - not the inverter.
SVJeff
1 Rookie
•
105 Posts
0
August 24th, 2011 14:00
I'm not saying it's not a motherboard problem, but, using an external monitor, I was able to wipe the hard drive, reinstalll Windows XP, etc. - just no video on the LCD.
Would it be logical to assume I now have a good inverter and for me to buy a backlight? Or should I buy the two as a matched pair, as suggested above?
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 25th, 2011 17:00
If you have a voltmeter, test the output and input voltages from and to the inverter - you should get a high voltage output (do this carefully). Input voltage should be 5-10V.