Laptop Troubleshooting

Laptops are great and efficient electronic devices that help in significant documentation and portable computing. The best laptops even have more complex features that take entertainment, studying, and wireless communication to the next level.  However, several problems arise after some time. What’s good in these portable computers is that they even have help section that provides basic hardware and software troubleshooting. Even for external devices like printers, scanners, and cameras, such notebooks are installed with guidelines that help the users in smooth operation of such devices. The most common problem is its screen. The following are some tricks and basic laptop troubleshooting for the video issues of your notebooks:

LCD screen displays solid white color

CAUSE: This is most likely due to a poor connection of LCD display and the system board.

TRY: Reseat the video cable connector to the back of LCD. If it didn't work, try reseating the video cable connector on the system board. Just reseat cables if there's no video at all on the LCD screen.

Screen has a faint image

CAUSE: The LCD lid close switch may be stuck in the "closed" position to save battery power so the backlight stays off even when you lift the screen and turn the PC on.

TRY: Check the lid close switch. It commonly looks like a small plastic pin near LCD hinges. Try to tap it a few times, and if the backlight stays on after tapping the switch, then you fixed it.

If it still persists…

CAUSE: There are also cases when the backlight works fine after tapping the switch and the video appears normal, but after some time the backlight turns off again. In this case the problem is with the FL inverter board.

TRY: Reseat the cables on both end of the FL inverter to improve their connection. If it still didn't work, you should replace the FL inverter board.

The screen is garbled

CAUSE: The problem may be with the LCD screen or LCD video cable.

TRY: Connect the LCD screen to any external monitor. You may also reseat the video cable on the back of the LCD and on system board.

If it still persists...

CAUSE: If after connecting to an external screen it still appears garbled, then most likely the problem is not the LCD screen, but the system board with onboard video or the video card itself is having a problem.

TRY: Bring it directly to the computer repair shop. It is the last resort after all.

These three laptop screen display are only the most common, and obviously do not cover all monitor problems. However, trying the suggested ways mentioned above will save you more money and will increase your knowledge as compared to unnecessary spending of money for simple stuff that can be done independently.

Nonetheless, try to know the background first before doing such, or at least find someone that will assist you. You might misunderstand some of the instructions, which will in turn ruin your laptop more.