My Gateway Laptop's...

[jakemcilroy]

...screen is really, really dark. I can barely (and I mean barely) see the icons.

I've re-started my computer, run Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, etc, etc. It is functioning just like normal andf I really try and I can open a browser or work as normal but the screen is REALLY dark.

Do monitors have bulbs or something that can burn out? I'm farily computer savy but this is a new one to me. It's a 2006 MX6422 Gateway laptop...warranty was up last year. The guy on the phone wanted $59.95 just to troubleshoot over the phone. He said we could send it to repair for $449! I hung up on him.

Any suggestions? I'm willing to put some money in it to get it fixed but not a ton.

Thanks!

 

[IcSyU]

Yes, the "bulb" can go out...and it's not cheap to fix.

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

...screen is really, really dark. I can barely (and I mean barely) see the icons.

I've re-started my computer, run Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, etc, etc. It is functioning just like normal andf I really try and I can open a browser or work as normal but the screen is REALLY dark.

Do monitors have bulbs or something that can burn out? I'm farily computer savy but this is a new one to me. It's a 2006 MX6422 Gateway laptop...warranty was up last year. The guy on the phone wanted $59.95 just to troubleshoot over the phone. He said we could send it to repair for $449! I hung up on him.

Any suggestions? I'm willing to put some money in it to get it fixed but not a ton.

Thanks!

Unfortunately, it is probably a bad backlight. That price sounds typical if you were sending it in to them. Plug an external monitor into the external video port. If you can see the display on the external monitor, then it is a bad backlight. If you can't, it is a bad video module which is attached to the main system board.

If it is a backlight, you may be able to buy an entire display or maybe even a used computer and swap out the display panel. I have not done it on a Gateway, but it usually just involves unscrewing a lot of screws and unplugging a ribbon cable or two.

 

[CycloneErik]

...screen is really, really dark. I can barely (and I mean barely) see the icons.

I've re-started my computer, run Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, etc, etc. It is functioning just like normal andf I really try and I can open a browser or work as normal but the screen is REALLY dark.

Do monitors have bulbs or something that can burn out? I'm farily computer savy but this is a new one to me. It's a 2006 MX6422 Gateway laptop...warranty was up last year. The guy on the phone wanted $59.95 just to troubleshoot over the phone. He said we could send it to repair for $449! I hung up on him.

Any suggestions? I'm willing to put some money in it to get it fixed but not a ton.

Thanks!

The backlighting for your screen can overheat and/or burnout. My first laptop had this happen. They gave me an estimate of $1300. We got a new one somewhere else. The one without the monitor has the modem hooked up for our DSL.

 

[bos]

Look on ebay for the part. May be able to get it cheaper.


Edit: looks like there are a few for under 100 bucks. Make sure you read carefully and that you replace it with exactly the specs of the one you have.

 

[Jonecy]

I'm not being sarcastic by saying this, but is it possible that you have a brightness toggle/wheel on the side of your laptop somewhere that has been adjusted unexpectedly?

This probably isn't the case with a 2006 laptop, but this actually happened to my wife's older laptop and we jumped through a million hoops only to find out that the screen brightness toggle on the side of the laptop was turned all the way down. We both felt very stupid after realizing what happened, but at least she didn't need to get a new laptop.

 

[JP4CY]

Yes, ebay is the way to go on this. If you have it burn out like I have. I used to have to tap the bezel around the screen with my finger for a few weeks to get it to flicker enough to use. The backlight wasn't too bad to replace, mine might have got burnt out because it had a P4 processor and it always ran hot. I would think that these mobile processors run cooler than that.
It was a Sony Vaio K-25 and it felt like the fan was always sweating to keep running...

 

[jakemcilroy]

Unfortunately, it is probably a bad backlight. That price sounds typical if you were sending it in to them. Plug an external monitor into the external video port. If you can see the display on the external monitor, then it is a bad backlight. If you can't, it is a bad video module which is attached to the main system board.

If it is a backlight, you may be able to buy an entire display or maybe even a used computer and swap out the display panel. I have not done it on a Gateway, but it usually just involves unscrewing a lot of screws and unplugging a ribbon cable or two.

Thanks everyone, your help is appreciated! After reading this posts, I think it's a backlight issue because I can still see the stuff in the background, however faintly. When I re-start the computer I get the GATEWAY icon in full color and brightness, but nothing else shows up during and after the re-boot.

I'll check eBay out and see what I can come up with. With new laptops as cheap as they are, it might be that direction we go.

 

[jumbopackage]

The gateway icon comes on in full color and brightness on your LCD?

I'd say that's not a backlight then....If the backlight is bad, you won't get any lighting of the LCD at all, ever.

This is going to sound a bit condescending, but you've tried adjusting the screen intensity, right?

 

[clonesalltheway]

I am looking to get a new laptop, can i get I discussion what I should get? I like to use it to surf the internet, and write papers

 

[jakemcilroy]

The gateway icon comes on in full color and brightness on your LCD?

I'd say that's not a backlight then....If the backlight is bad, you won't get any lighting of the LCD at all, ever.

This is going to sound a bit condescending, but you've tried adjusting the screen intensity, right?

No worries...how do I do that?

 

[IcSyU]

When I re-start the computer I get the GATEWAY icon in full color and brightness, but nothing else shows up during and after the re-boot.

Might want to check your display settings then...if it's backlight it shouldn't ever work...

Whoever said hook up an external monitor is right on the money...

 

[jumbopackage]

I am looking to get a new laptop, can i get I discussion what I should get? I like to use it to surf the internet, and write papers

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 and I think it's great.

No worries...how do I do that?

Usually, there is a blue overlay on a couple of the keys (usually the "F" keys). Hold down the blue "Fn" key and press the "display brighter" key a few times and see if that works.

I don't know on that particular model, though.