Inspiron 4000 backlight goes off - lid switch

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

My Inspiron 4000 turns off the backlight when windows has booted - that
is when the display turns into high resolution graphics. The light
comes on at boot and also when windows is starting. The same happens in
all three versions of windows I have installed (w98, w2k, wXP). If I
change resolution several times, sometimes I can get it to turn on the
backlight. If I close the lid, and the backlight goes off, it does not
go on again.

Is there a lid switch that might be faulty or is there any other way to
troubleshoot this problem. I have just replaced the keyboard, since the
left 3 columns of keys did not work. Now they are OK, but I expect
those two problems are unrelated.

Sincerely,
Hoegge

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

ahhh - no - I think the backlight is going / gone, and it is turning it off
to prevent other components from burning out...
I had the same problem. If you toggle the external monitor Function key off
then on again, does it come up for a few seconds, or does it come up with a
red tinge?
If so, you need a new backlight...
Jerry

<hoegge@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1109182832.204974.146240@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> My Inspiron 4000 turns off the backlight when windows has booted - that
> is when the display turns into high resolution graphics. The light
> comes on at boot and also when windows is starting. The same happens in
> all three versions of windows I have installed (w98, w2k, wXP). If I
> change resolution several times, sometimes I can get it to turn on the
> backlight. If I close the lid, and the backlight goes off, it does not
> go on again.
>
> Is there a lid switch that might be faulty or is there any other way to
> troubleshoot this problem. I have just replaced the keyboard, since the
> left 3 columns of keys did not work. Now they are OK, but I expect
> those two problems are unrelated.
>
> Sincerely,
> Hoegge
>

I have a very similar problem with my Inspiron 8600. When I boot up the computer the screen will come on and it stays on until i log on or if i leave it sitting at the log on screen for any length of time. I used to be able to hold the pin thing down for about 15 seconds and it would come on again for about a minute and shut off but now that doesnt work at all. However, i can use an external monitor with no problems.

I tried replacing the backlight inverter but that did nothing. Now I think I will try replacing the backlight. It seems impossible that the whole screen should be replaced because it works at select times.

I can barely see whats on the screen when the backlight turns off which shows the the actual screen is fine.

Dell wants to charge $199.00 to have it shipped to them, plus the cost of any parts that are replaced. The guy at the out of warranty department said he would take off $150 just cause I Bitched about it some. And he then said he could replace everything necessary for $350. What a damn rip off.