Inspiron 6000 Blank Screen

Hi,
My Inspiron 6000 is 3-1/2 years old. Pentium M Processor 730 (1.60GHz/2MB
Cache/533MHz FSB, 15.4 inch WSXGA+ LCD Panel, 2GB RAM, Integrated Intel
Media Accelerator 9000 Graphics, Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 3.

Recently the display has from time to time gone black. Usually on startup
the display flashes the Dell splash briefly then goes black. If a bright
light is shown on the screen, graphics can be seen. If an external monitor
is hooked up, it shows graphics perfectly. On startup when the display
flashes then goes blank, the power button can be pressed and there will be
an immediate shutdown. If done repeatedly (8-12-20 times) the display will
work, maybe.

I, not wanting the problem to be overly complicated or expensive, am
thinking it's heat related and when the computer is at operating temperature
(95° -110° F) then whatever is defective works. Temperature is monitored
using I8kfan.

The computer was powered off and a heating pad placed around the bottom/back
edge. Leaving the heat on low until a digital thermometer reads 105° and
given plenty of time for the heat to soak through, the display comes on
right away. It's probably not the best way to test but better than heating
in an oven or microwave ;-)

I'm hoping the inverter is faulty because I can get one for $20 delivered
and replacing one seems relatively simple. If the problem is the backlight,
that's a different story. I don't think I can do that replacement and would
rather replace the entire panel or send the notebook in for repair.

Any thoughts or advice will be appreciated... Dean

Hi!

With the symptoms you describe, it sounds very much like a dead/dying
inverter is a strong possibility.

My thought is that something has become thermally sensitive with age,
and is an open or underperforming circuit until it warms up.

William

William R. Walsh wrote on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:47:03 -0800 (PST):
> Hi!
>
> With the symptoms you describe, it sounds very much like a dead/dying
> inverter is a strong possibility.
>
> My thought is that something has become thermally sensitive with age,
> and is an open or underperforming circuit until it warms up.
>
> William

Yes my experience too. Although the lamp could act the very same way.
Tough to prove which one it is without getting an o'scope to measure 500
to 1800vac. Others either guess and if that was wrong, then replace the
other one.

--
Bill
Asus EEE PC 8GB 1GB SoDIMM Adata 16GB
Windows XP SP2 and Xandros Linux