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In this guide I’ll be replacing failed LCD screen in a Gateway MT3000 series laptop.
To be precise, I’m fixing a Gateway MT3707 laptop which has a failed backlight lamp inside the LCD screen.
Problem description: The laptop starts with reddish image on the screen and after a few seconds the screen light goes completely off. The image is still on the screen but it’s very dark. The reddish image indicates a problem with the backlight lamp. I tested laptop with a new backlight lamp and it works fine. In this case the entire LCD screen has to be replaced.
Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
STEP 1.
There are six screws securing the screen bezel. These screws hidden under six rubber plugs.
Remove all six plugs with a sharp object.
Remove six screws securing the screen bezel.
STEP 2.
Start separating the bezel from the screen cover with your fingers.
On the bottom the bezel is glued to the LCD screen with sticky tape. Carefully separate the bezel from the screen.
STEP 3.
Remove the screen bezel.
STEP 4.
The screen inverter mounted below the LCD screen.
Carefully disconnect the screen backlight cable from the right side of the inverter board.
If you are replacing the inverter board, you’ll have to disconnect one more cable from the other side of the inverter.
Now you can replace inverter with a new one.
STEP 5.
Remove four screws from left and right side of the LCD screen (two screws from each side). These screws securing the screen to the hinge brackets.
Carefully separate the LCD screen from the cover and place it on the keyboard.
STEP 6.
Remove tape securing the video cable.
Disconnect the video cable from the LCD screen connector.
Now you can remove the damaged LCD screen from the laptop.
You can find a new replacement screen by the LCD screen model number. This number is printed on the screen sticker.
In my case the LCD screen model number is LTN141W1-L03.
This screen is available here. If you have a different screen, just search by the model number.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:38 am
I have a mt3703 laptop and the screen just goes black after a few minutes after I turn on the laptop. Is it the inverter or the backlight that needs to be replaced? I used a monitor to make sure I still have video and it works, and once in awhile the laptop screen will flicker on and I can see the screen for a few seconds or so. if this helps to tell me weather it’s the inverter or the backlight? The image on the screen isn’t visible at all when it goes out
.Thanks for any help
April 12th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
I buy the cable from the number what you say…, but please, can you tellme if the start on button can fix ? I try to start on pushing with a fine point and after several times the computers turn on ( that are before I broken the video cable ) … did you think can I fix it or its a big problem ? thanks for all
April 12th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Homero Iracheta,
I don’t know the part number. Take a look at the cable installed in your laptop. Does it have a sticker on the cable? The part number could be printed on that sticker.
Find the sticker and google all numbers you can find on it. You should be able to fine a new cable this way.
April 12th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Not, its not the inverter, I put the new one, and the screen its black, some times I can see the desktop but darker…
well I need to do 2 things… 1.- buy the whole lcd screen, and second, I need a new cable ( the left what as atached to to inverter ) because when I try to disconect again the new inverter to see the exact number of my lcd screen, well I put excese force and I disconect two black wires from the “White head cable” and I dont know were to put inside again back…
Mr Laptop Tech, in the step 4 you say “Carefully disconnect the screen backlight cable from the right side of the inverter board” that cable its ok, but if you see in the same steep , you say “If you are replacing the inverter board, you’ll have to disconnect one more cable from the other side of the inverter” that cable I broken, because some wires its out from the end of the cable, thats its the broken cable..
Please can you tellme where to buy it, or the number of the cable, because my problem its the English I cant explain how to say the correct cable to buy it…???
thanks for your reply
April 4th, 2011 at 5:46 am
Mr Laptop tech say:
2. The laptop doesn’t react at all. No LED light, no other activity. The laptop appears to be dead.
I need push the on button several times, until the computers starts on… because when I push the button the laptop its on number 2… I see this, (maybe .. I dont know certain of this ) but if I push the on button to start the laptop on, I push the button on one of piece of the button on the left around ( not on the center ) and stay pushed the computer its on… but not on all times…
today the laptop continues turn on ( pushing several times the buton ) but what I say, Iam afraid one day the laptop never start on……
thanks and regards
.
March 31st, 2011 at 9:38 am
Homero Iracheta,
What happens when you push on the power button?
1. The power LED turns on but nothing appears on the screen
or
2. The laptop doesn’t react at all. No LED light, no other activity. The laptop appears to be dead.
March 31st, 2011 at 9:27 am
Mr. Laptop Tech… Please when you read this post if you need to delete, please do it… ( because Iam not see to post in other way )
on this day I not recive the inverter… but Iam still waiting… but until yesterday, the laptop givme another problem…. and I put this post to know if you can givme another idea…
the “on” button its hard to respond ( I push several times and spend several times ) until the laptop its start on… Im afraid next time dont turn on the laptop… please do you have any idea what the problem its… because soon the inverter its came, and hope this fix the problem with the screen… but if the laptop cant turn on ?
thanks ….
March 13th, 2011 at 9:54 am
@ Homero Iracheta,
Good luck! I hope replacing the inverter board will fix the problem.
Make sure to buy inverter from a good reputable seller with many positive reviews.
March 12th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Thanks Mr Laptop Tech.. many thanks for your explanation, right now I buy on ebay an inverter, to test first ( hope this can fix the problem ) and if its not, well I need to replace all the lcd screen, becasue what you say its difficult to change only the backlight.
but Iam happy with your repply, first for your time to respond, second for your website with images explain to change the bad parts, because its good to me, and have the courage to make my own job in my laptop… ( some people do the job but its givme an expensive amount, thats scare to me…. 190.00 dlls … and I think, my computer its old , so its better if not repair and buy a lcd screen separatly to buy in walmart for 100.00dlls and thats its less than sent to repair ).
again thanks for all, and only wait for the part to do the job..
regards
Homer
March 12th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Homero Iracheta,
Most likely it’s either bad inverter board or failing backlight lamp inside the LCD screen.’
Which one is bad? I cannot tell without testing the laptop. Both have very similar failure symptom – no backlight on the screen or it’s flickering.
In order to figure out which part to buy, it’s necessary to test the laptop with another inverter or backlight.
If you have no spare parts, you’ll have to guess. I would suggest try replacing the inverter board first, it shouldn’t be very expensive. If it doesn’t help, replace the LCD screen (the backlight lamp mounted inside the screen).
It’s possible to replace just the backlight lamp without replacing the whole screen, but it’s very difficult. Here’s an example of replacing failed backlight lamp:
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/12/09/replace-laptop-backlight-ccfl-lamp/