I’m wondering if this could be the lcd cable, and not the lcd. I guess I was wondering this, because of the way he’d treat the monitor and the strain he’d put on the connection between the body of the laptop and the monitor. Should I replace both, or start with one and then if it doesn’t work, replace the next?

It’s hard to tell without testing laptop with another working screen.

For a little while, he would bend it certain ways (yes physically bend the lcd screen) to get it to go from blue to the screen showing up. I believe this is what kept causing the problem to get worse, and eventually, it’s pretty much a fully non working monitor.

Most likely this is LCD screen related failure. If you have to guess, try replacing the LCD screen first.

I am pretty mechanically inclined (started taking apart my radio and atari in grade school and junior high) and for years worked in the electronics industry. Years ago, I built several systems, but it’s been long enough, that I just don’t know that I remember enough to trouble shoot.

Here’s my question. I’m wondering if this could be the lcd cable, and not the lcd. I guess I was wondering this, because of the way he’d treat the monitor and the strain he’d put on the connection between the body of the laptop and the monitor. Should I replace both, or start with one and then if it doesn’t work, replace the next?

Thanks for your help!!

I have a Gateway MX6956 Laptop. My LCD has gone dark to black. There is a faint image on the screen and occasionally, on Start Up the screen will flicker full color with a pink hue then go dark again. I have been using an external video monitor to run the laptop. I recently replaced the fan.
I would like to know if this problem is the LCD or the inverter board.

You mentioned that your screen flickers with a pink hue. This description sounds like the backlight lamp failure which is located inside the LCD screen.
I would say most likely this is LCD screen failure, not the inverter board.