Laptop Display Problem

Boro

The Laptop:
Medion SAM2000. 12.1" display. Out of warranty. XP.

The problem:
Without any human intervention that I know of (no dropping, etc), the laptop began cutting brightness to the display when the lid was opened past a certain angle. This is not an intermittent problem. The problem was not there, and then suddenly, one day it was. Once the lid is opened past approx 20-30 degrees, the level of brightness of the screen is reduced to i'd say 10% of normal. You can barely make out the windows logo on the screen when windows is booting. This is not a windows issue, it occurs from boot. While the lid is under that angle, the display operates at full brightness and clarity.

I opened it up to check if cables were getting trapped or anything. Cant see any reason for brightness to cut out. The cables dont appear to be pinched by the hinge mechanism or anything. The laptop is experiencing no other problems whatsoever apart from this.

Pictures are attached to this post.

Any suggestions?

majiktripp

If the problem occurs from boot straight away it sounds like the backlight for the screen is developing a fault. This is a tricky part to replace but can be done, however I don't know the availaility of said part for a medion laptop. Theres not much you can do to reverse the process bar a)replace backlight b)replace screen.

majiktripp

If you can give me the exact model number of the lapotp ill try and see can I find a link to a screen on ebay if there available, checked for SAM2000 but not much comming up for that.

Boro

Im attaching a pic of the sticker with the model no, etc, on the back of it. SAM2000 seems to be the model, unless its MD96400

Backlight sounds both awkward and expensive to replace.

majiktripp

CAnt find any direct matches using model number or serial number. closest I can get is using "medion 12.1" (tft,lcd,screen) " search.
http://search-desc.ebay.ie/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&dfsp=1&catref=C6&from=R40&satitle=medion+12.1%22+%28screen%2Ctft%2Clcd%29&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fts=2&floc=1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sappl=1&sabfmts=1&fobfmt=1&saobfmts=insif&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

Boro

I got to this page via google and medionweb.co.uk

http://www.laptopsockets.co.uk/backlights/Backlights.htm

Is the laptop just binnable then? No quick fixes?

Never taken apart the LCD before, worth having a poke around?

majiktripp

Certainly wouldnt bin it, you could remove the screen,hook it to an external monitor and use as a desktop pc. You could repac the screen or attempt the backlight repair, although I wouldnt recommend it really as would be a pricey enough venture.

Boro

I dont have a huge amount of use for a substandard desktop machine, its a great laptop to have for travelling because of its size and weight.

If the backlight is gone, and it appears to be totally gone now (not displaying brightly at any angle), then the only options are to replace the screen completely or take apart the screen and replace the backlight?

Bugger.

majiktripp

You could chance your arm and ring Medion and see what they say about fixing the issue also, other than that , yes yer boned.

Boro

Look, thanks for all the help anyway. I'll see if i can blag a repair out of medion.