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The following tutorial explains how you can replace the CCFL backlight bulb in a laptop LCD screen. As an example the author takes apart a HP Pavilion zt1000 laptop.
Listed below is a typical laptop disassembly. This is most likely not the exact model you will be servicing, however it is indicative of what you will find in most models. They are all relatively the same and we hope this tutorial will give you a basic idea on the scope of backlight replacement.
Step-by-step CCFL backlight replacement tutorial. Are you looking for a new CCFL bulb? You can find it here.
The disassembly and LCD screen removal steps will be the same for many different laptop models.
Before you attempt replacing the CCFL bulb, I would recommend testing your laptop with another working inverter board. It’s possible that your laptop backlight is not working because of failed inverter board.
UPDATE: Here’s another backlight lamp replacement guide that could be useful for all DIY-ers.
April 29th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
changed the bulb on a dark Toshiba satelite
now the screen lights up but I have a bunch of vertical and horizontal stripes.
i am sure something i did wrong, but what?
December 1st, 2011 at 2:00 pm
@ Jack,
This laptop has lid close switch button located somewhere close to the right hinge. Try tapping on the lid close button, maybe it got stuck inside the case.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:47 am
Hello
I have problem is backlight in HP ZV6000 i get laptop with broken LCD i change for new LCD and inverter and all works ok but only nothing light LCD.
Pin 1 and 2 on inverter is 19volt and next 3 and 4 pins only about 0,5 volts.
Please any idea ?
January 30th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I solved the previous problem reported. I was wrong at my conclusion regarding connecting video cable to lcd screen. Actually the necessary voltage to inverter comes from Video cable connector.
Step 1. Motherboard connector to Video cable connector
step 2: Video cable connector to Inverter power connector
step 3 : then hight voltage to CCFL
I connected the video cable to lcd assembly and then inverter, it lit the backlight.
Thanks everyone for sharing th thoughts which
January 30th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I have one weird problem with hp pavilion zv6000 lcd. The basic problem is that there is no display on lcd and no signs of power on lcd.
I thought it was inverter or backlinght problem, so I changed the old one with new inverter and also had a known working CCFL backlight to test. But, it still did not solve the problem, the CCFL backling did not turn on with new inverter. I also changed the video cable and power cable which connects inverter and lcd to motherboard but no luck.
The good part is that the VGA output is working fine, S-video out is too working fine.
I concluded so far that it would be some problem with motherboard. I tried testing the input volts to inverter from motherboard, it came out to be 18.5 which is dc power supply of laptop.
I am puzzled now. I have just one question.. is it necessary to connect video cable to lcd to test whether backlight is working or not? In my opinion, it is not,if video cable is not connected i would still see the screen with white bacground.
I appreciate any help or guidance on the above issue.
December 8th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Arun,
Most laptop screens have only one backlight lamp inside.
I looked at some Acer 5002WLMi screens available here and it looks like they have only one backlight lamp inside.
Most likely replacing inverter and LCD screen will fix the problem but… there is a slight chance of:
1. loose or bad video cable.
2. stuck lid close switch (if your laptop has a physical button).
3. motherboard failure.
But in most cases replacing inverter and screen should do it.
December 6th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Hi,I have an acer 5002WLMi 15.4″laptop on which the back light is not working(lcd is working )
i just wanted to know how many CCFL bulbs are there behind the screen,Is that a single one for all laptops..? (and the light is spread evenly across the screen)
also i want to make sure that there is only two possible causes for a not working back light
1.inverter
2.backlight bulb
replacing either or both should make it work ..am I right?
October 5th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Big D,
Telly Tastic is correct. Most likely it’s either bad inverter or failed backlight lamp. You cannot tell which one is bad until you test the laptop with a known good inverter.
If you have to guess, try replacing the inverter board first. It’s easy to access and replace. Shouldn’t be very expensive.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
BIG D: I’ve got the same problem on a Clevo laptop. If your laptop works okay on an external monitor then it is either the inverter or backlight, both of which can be replaced. But if it doesn’t work on an ecternal monitor then it is the graphics card, which can’t be replaced
April 9th, 2010 at 5:58 am
I have a Gateway laptop. One day I turned it on and the screen was dark. If I shine a flashlight at an angle on the screen I can see what’s on the screen. It works fine when I hook it up to a monitor. Any clue what the problem might be?