How to replace CCFL backlight bulb in a laptop screen
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.
Topics: Disassembly help, LCD screen, Backlight, 3. Compaq & HP Laptops |
July 6th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Hi there,
I have a Toshiba Satellite A75 notebook with the following problem. When I start my notebook the image on the screen has a reddish hue and later the screen light turns off. I can see that there is an image on the screen but it is very dark. When I reboot my notebook it stars with the same reddish screen and after a while it goes dark again. I still can use the notebook with my desktop monitor.
I took my laptop to a local computer shop for diagnostics and they said the LCD screen has to be replaced and this repair will cost me over $500. I think it’s too much for this older computer. Do you know what is wrong with my notebook? Do you think the LCD screen has to be replaced?
Thanks.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Hi Visitor,
I think the image on the screen has a reddish hue because the backlight CCFL lamp is dying and it has to be replaced. If that’s the case you’ll have to replace the whole LCD screen or replace the CCFL bulb inside your screen and this is not easy.
If you’ve never done it before, I would suggest replacing the whole screen.
Most likely they quoted you a new screen because they do not replace backlights. Most laptop repair shops do not offer this service because it’s easy to damage the screen while replacing the backlight lamp.
You can try replacing the LCD screen yourself, it’s not very hard. Buy a new or used LCD screen here and use disassembly instructions for Toshiba notebooks at www.irisvista.com
July 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I have a Dell Latitude D620. I can turn it on but the screen never lights up. It’s very dark, almost invisible. As other people recommended, I tested my laptop with another monitor and it works just fine. Do I have to replace CCFL?
July 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Josh,
If the laptop start without backlight on the screen, I would try replacing the inverter first. The inverter board supplies high voltage AC power to the CCFL lamp. The inverter board can be found inside the display assembly, usually it’s mounted below the LCD screen. If your inverter is dead, the laptop will work fine with an external monitor but the laptop screen will stay very very dark. Inverters fail more often then backlight lamps.
July 12th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I have a Toshiba Satelite A135 when I turn it on the screen is very dark. If you look close or shine a light on the screen you can see and image. I replaced the inverter with a new inverter board and the first time I turned iot on the screen lit up for about 5 seconds then it went dark again and hasn’t worked again. I’ve hooked it to another monitor and it works fine. Do you think I should replace the CCFL. If so could you suggest a vendor.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Steve Fowler,
First of all, it’s possible that you got a defective inverter. Did you buy it from a reliable source? Do you still have warranty? Try replacing inverter with another one if you can.
In most cases this problem is related either to the inverter board or backlight lamp (CCFL). If you replaced inverter with another good one but it didn’t fix the problem, probably you have bad backlight.
It’s not easy to replace the CCFL even for experienced technicians and I would try it only as a last resort. If I know that there is a problem with the CCFL, I usually replace the whole LCD screen.
Sorry Steve, there is no simple answer to your question.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I have a Compaq Evo n620c. The display goes on shortly after booting (Compaq splash screen), but then becomes black - whether one allows the booting to continue, or presses F10 for BIOS settings. Tried reformatting the hard drive, reinstalling the Windows and the drivers - no help. Tried BIOS reflashing, installing new CMOS batter and no luck.
From the discussions it sounds like it might be an inverter, not a backlight lamp?
The laptop works well on the external monitor.
Are there instructions available for n620c how to replace the inverter?
July 29th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Rick,
Could be either one. In order to find out witch one is causing the problem you’ll have to test the laptop with another working inverter or another working backlight lamp.
I would try replacing the inverter board first. In most cases that’s the culprit.
You’ll find display disassembly instructions in in this category: Compaq & HP Laptops.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Hello,
my Pavilion ze5570us backlight is always dark.
I can see an image when i point a flashlight on the screen.
Is there any way to find out if its the inverter board, without buying a new one?
Greetings
September 11th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Termi,
Unfortunately, in order to find the culprit, you’ll have to test the laptop either with a known good inverter board or backlight lamp. If you don’t have test equipment you’ll have to guess. I would probably try replacing the inverter board first.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I have a compaq presario whos backlight died on me a few days ago. So would the CCFL be compatible with my laptop if I were to purchase one and replace the backlight bulb myself? and are these bulbs sold in electronic stores such as best buy, circuit city, ect.?
September 12th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Thai,
Could be bad inverter board or bad CCFL (backlight) lamp inside the screen.
All backlight lamps are pretty standard but make sure to get the right size.
You will not find them in retail stores but you can purchase a new backlight lamp on ebay, you’ll find a link where to buy a new lamp in the post.
You can contact the seller and ask him witch lamp is compatible with your screen.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
what exactly is an inverter board? and how much would you estimate the cost to be in order to fix it?
September 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Thai,
The inverter board is a power supply for the backlight lamp. When inverter board goes bad the backlight stops working but you still should see a very faint image on the screen. The external video should work fine.
In most cases you’ll find the inverter board attached below the LCD screen when you remove the display bezel.
How much would it cost? It depends on the laptop model and where you buy it. I would say somewhere between $20 and $60.
Check out the “Screen Inverter” category, you’ll find inverter replacement instructions for some HP/Compaq models in there.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I have an acer aspire 5610 15.4 in. screen. The screen briefly goes on at startup but only half the screen is lit. After that the screen is functioning, but totally dark. If I hold and release the button that tells the laptop it is closed, I can repeat the startup behavior. I am assuming its an inverter issue, but the fact that I can make the screen partially light up for a moment or two makes me doubt this a little. It works fine with external monitor. Do you have any ideas?
November 1st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Where can you buy a bulb for an LCD display? i have a Toshiba x205 and the bulb busted after a hard fall… any good places you know of?
November 8th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
how much does a light bulb cost