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If the screen on your HP Pavilion zv5000 laptop suddenly went dark, most likely this problem is related to the inverter board. This guide explains how to get inside the display panel and and replace the failed inverter board with a new one. You will not find these instructions in the official service manual.
The screen inverter replacement will take about 20-30 minutes. You can find a new inverter board for your Pavilion zv5000 laptop here for less then $15.
Here are some of the most common inverter failure symptoms:
1. The laptop starts fine but you barely can see any image on the laptop screen. If you connect an external monitor, it works fine.
2. You turn on the laptop and the screen works fine for a while but then it goes dark. If you restart the laptop the screen starts fine and goes dart again.
3. When the screen is dark you can light it up for a moment by tapping on the lid close switch.
It is possible that your inverter board is OK and there is a problem with the backlight lamp inside the screen, but this failure is less common.
Other posts related to HP Pavilion zv5000 laptop repair:
1. Removing LCD screen and replacing backlight lamp.
2. Removing keyboard and upgrading memory.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Replaceing the inverter board may seem to be the most likley problem with my HP zv5000. One thing mine does that you haven’t described, is when I unplug the computer from the wall or unplug the computer from the jack, the computer will go to battery power, then the screen will brighten up. This is my 3rd power cord for this laptop. Do I need another one?
Rob
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Rob,
Maybe it’s just screen brightness settings?
Try increasing the brightness using Fn+F8. Pres on the Fn key and at the same time press a few times on F8. Does it work for you?
October 24th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
i got hp dv1000, pavalion entertainment book, the screen is totally blacked out and if i hit the lid button on the laptop the screens comes bak n blacks out. advise me on tht, is the inverter only or sumother problem n if its only inverter, then frm where n for how much is it gona cost me to repair it…
thnks
December 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
My zv5000 screen went out the same way. I initially took it into a repair shop and they told me I’d need a new inverter board and wanted to charge me 300 bucks. Instead, I bought one on eBay for around 15 dollars and tried to install myself. The screen would light up, but after a few seconds it would go blank. I bought another inverter board and had the same result, except this one would make a fizzing noise every time the screen went black. Any suggestions?
December 4th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Mitch,
I think it’s unlikely that you had two bad inverters in a row. Apparently it’s not the problem.
I think you have a bad backlight lamp (CCFL lamp) which is located inside the LCD screen.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
bjack, it sounds like I am having the same problem. I too have a HP dv1000 and I’d be happy to know what you eventually ended up doing.
December 19th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Hi, I’ve also a similar problem with a ZV5000, the screen stays black. I’ve connected the laptop on an external screen but the image is very bad, very low resolution, with a lof of vertical rectangles all through and it’s like I was washing the screen with the mouse pointer when I move it. I showed that laptop to a technician who told me that the screen and the graphic card are both defective, the card being certainly overheated. He did that diagnostic just by trying the machine, saying that it’s a common problem with the HP’s. For me, the default came suddenly, the machine worked well for the whole afternoon and was shut of correctly but remain black at the next startup one hour later.
Any comment or suggestion? Thanks a lot in advance.
December 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Serge,
It’s unlikely that both parts (LCD screen and video card) failed at the same time. From your description I assume you have a problem with the video card, but I’m not sure if the screen is bad too.
Mist likely the video card is integrated into the system board. If that’s the case, you’ll have to replace the whole system board.
December 20th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I have the same issue as Mitch — I’ve gone through three inverters, each time it fixes the issue for a moment, and then the inverter cards start making a fizzing noise — like using a cd covered in scratches. Then the screen goes black. Each time thereafter that you hit the lid button to reactivate the monitor, it runs for less time. My guess was that its a power issue — that its being overloaded or something — due to perhaps the computer using default drivers for xp, rather those that were factory approved with the ZV5000. Another guess was just bad wiring, and another is that the video card maybe be pushing bad voltage along — but you told him it might be the lamp. Before I head into replacing that — I was just curious what you thought of my ideas.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 am
Larry,
Could be bad backlight (CCFL) lamp.
I doubt that your problem is related to the driver. Start your laptop in Safe Mode. Does it work fine or the backlight still fails? You see, it fails even before Windows and drivers are loaded.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’ve got a slightly different issue: My screen displays a grid of white dots with the cursor flashing in the upper left corner-video is the same feeding external monitor. I assume bad video card-can the video card be replaced?
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I know this has nothing to do with the discussion but it is about the same laptop that I have. I was wondering if it was possible to upgrade the video card in the hp pavillion zv5000 notebook? If so what type of video card should I get and where can I buy. There’s nothing really wrong with the video card I have now, I’ve had no problems, but a lot of programs that I would like to run say that I need a better one so is it possible to upgrade the video card and how do you do it? Thanks so much for all of your help.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Ayanna,
I don’t think you can upgrade the video card in a Pavilion zv5000 notebook because it’s integrated into the motherboard. In other words, the video card is a part of the motherboard and is not removable.
April 9th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I replaced my memory i went from 512 mb to 2 gb and now my hard went dead – i want to know what or were are the real instructions to remove the old HD and replace it with a new one.
April 12th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Rick,
The hard drive is not related to the memory upgrade, I guess it’s just a coincidence.
What is your laptop name and model?
April 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Hi i have similar problem when i switch laptop on with battery or adapter the screen lights up and the laptop powers on but nothen displays on the screen apart from a light black colour
May 9th, 2009 at 6:01 am
i got hp dv1000, pavalion entertainment book, the screen is totally blacked out and if i hit the lid button on the laptop the screens comes bak n blacks out. advise me on tht, is the inverter only or sumother problem n if its only inverter, then frm where n for how much is it gona cost me to repair it…
thnks
June 4th, 2009 at 5:28 am
Hi.
I’ve changed a broken screen on an HP Pavilion dv5000, first start worked really fine, all light and brite, put all together again and now almost no light, just very dark.
tried on external screen, works fine.
tried another inverter, same dark screen
tried another screen, same dark screen
took some more apart and checked the screen cable were seated at board, same dark screen.
Now I’m out of ideas!!
Thanks for your help
Bobby
July 25th, 2009 at 7:58 am
i have a hp Pavillion Dv1000. Sreen went dark i can still see the desktop with a flash light! i change the inverter nothing than i replace the backlight lamp nothing! so i went on ebay and purchase a new lcd screen and plug it in and nothing still shows the dark screen! help thankks
July 26th, 2009 at 9:33 am
How about this, my friend’s laptop which I wanted to repair has his HP Pavilition zd8001AP screen was getting brighter and brighter and sometimes without images, then now suddenly become blank. Still if use another monitor, windows can function perfectly.
a. Can the blank screen be attributed to loose wiring?
b. or inverter capacitor problem?
c. Why suddenly it becomes blank? some loose connection?
d. What could be the most likely problem for this?
Thanks for your help.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:06 am
Hi,
My HP Pavilion zv5000 screen went dark a while ago. If you look very closely you can see the images on the LCD but without any illumination. I changed the CCFL and the bulb still didn’t light up, and LCD screen had the same image. Since there is an image on the screen, can it be the inverter? Should I see about getting that replaced.
Many thanks for your help. My kids will be most thankful as this will become their computer.
October 28th, 2009 at 3:46 am
I replaced the screen in a Gateway M-Series Laptop. I can barely see the image in the background however the LCD screen is too dark. It is a brand new screen is there anything else it could be other than a bad screen?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Shannon,
First of all, why did you replace the screen? What was your problem?
November 5th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
My zv6000 screen is dark, but the display can be seen with a bright light, also a remote moniter works fine. Is this an inverter problem? thanks : wayne
November 7th, 2009 at 11:50 am
wayne,
It’s hard to tell without testing the laptop with another good inverter.
Could be bad inverter or backlight lamp. Both have very similar failure symptoms.
If you have to guess, try replacing the inverter first. There is a good chance to fix the problem.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Hi, I have an HP Pavilion dv6-1125nr. when i turn it on it works fine for almost 5 minutes. when i start to do something like open a new program or folder it goes almost completely dark but i’m still able to see the images that are on the screen (just barely).. I tried to use the FN with brightening button and that is not the issue cuz it had no effect on the screen. The computer is still running and if i get very close to the screen and really focus i can follow the mouse and select things so this tells me that the computer is still working but that the display is the issue. I recently had all the cooling/ fan hardware changed through warranty at bestbuy and didn’t have any problems with my display or overheating since then. It’s only now that this just started yesterday and so today i just reformatted my computer cuz i thought maybe i had a virus. I was able to successfully go through the whole recovery process.. it took around 2 hours.. the screen never had any issues and never dimmed or went black throughout the whole process.. i sat by on another computer and kept an eye on it. Now that it’s reformatted… after i login and open a program or folder it goes almost completely dark again.. so the problem wasn’t fixed yet. please help!! thanks in advance! =D
November 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
shaun doherty,
Most likely it’s either bad screen inverter or faulty backlight lamp.
I would try replacing the inverter board fist. It’s not expensive and relatively easy to replace.
Take a look at this guide: http://www.insidemylaptop.com/remove-replace-lcd-screen-inverter-hp-pavilion-dv6000-laptop/
It explains how to access the inverter board inside the display panel.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:58 am
My problem is a little different. After turning on the unit and heating up for 10 minutes, I get a small semi-circular black spot that appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen. It appears as about the size of a thumb print. It will remain and after the unit runs for additional 10 minutes or so, the screen will start to “flicker” and become distorted. I have not just left it on to see if it will go totally black. After shutting off and cooling then restarting, the screen is clear until it warms up again. Would this be the inverter or a screen problem?
December 16th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
zv5000 what do you have to do to set this computer back to factory settings
I do not have any cd from factory
December 21st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
mike,
Call HP and purchase restore CDs from them. Hopefully they sell it to you. That’s the only way to re-image the hard drive back to factory defaults.
December 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Looking for some advice. Replaced inverter on HP Pavilion zv5000. Had normal symptoms of inverter failure, some flickering upon POST, then black screen. When hooked up to external monitor image is crystal clear. Reading other post seems like the back light? And it appears this is difficult to do, so opt for the LCD replacement? Just wondering if it worth it since you can get newer laptops a a good price. New LCD and inverter about 1/3 of the cost of some of the deals that are out there for a brand new one. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
December 24th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
That was just too easy! I had a plastic tool that I had used to replace LCD screens on cell phones (most of the places on E-bay send them for free when you order a new screen). I bought the new inverter board for $2 + $7 shipping. For under $10, this thing works GREAT now!
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:50 am
Hy I have the problem with blackscreen on a zv5000 , but I don’t think it’s from the screen. I think I didn’t close corectly the procesor soket, and tryed to many times. First if somoane can send me a picture with how the procesor look close on dj_yry@yahoo.com. I used the manual but I remember that the screw wasent like in the manual. And is any way to verify if the soket is dameged. And do I must replace all the moatherboard or only the soket if I go to a service.
May 7th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Hello.
Thank you for your information. I tried to do as you suggested and ordered a (supposedly) compatible LCD inverter replacement part for my HP Pavilion zv5000 laptop computer. I ordered the part before I took the computer screen apart, however. Following your instructions, I was able to install the part with no problems, and I can now see my screen graphics again. Unfortunately, the lower 1/3 of the screen is now blocked by what looks to be a color bar. Have you ever heard of this happening? Do you think the part might be defective or incompatible? I have contacted the company (Suntek, located in Hong Kong) by email to express my dissatisfaction, but I am wondering if I might have done something wrong. (And, yes, I will give a donation to your site. Your information was very helpful.)
June 18th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
G finish repairing the laptop after one yaer , the problem wasn’t the screen, was the cpu, probly I didn’t ground corectly and discharged my electric statyc energy in to it, or didn’t close him corectly, may be the soket didn’t have any problem. I’m glad that I spend 0$ in reparing it
)))))). Good luck to others.
January 19th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
My zv5000 screen is what you describe and the inverter board make a really high pitch noise, is that a hint that it is broken and i need to replace it?
August 17th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
How about this one:
Computer is off for days. Turn on, screen is very dim. After 5 minutes screen is normal… it seems that something needs to “warm up.”