trouble with laptop LCD, i know you guys can help me here

mr0range · 06-08-2002, 04:55 PM

I have a very old NEC laptop (p133, 32mb ram, 1.2gb hard drive). Anyway, a while ago the screen started turning all white and the screen itself had to be opened and closed or jolted around a bit and the picture would come back on. Well today I took apart the system, just to see if I could figure out something.

Well the screen is fine as long as the ribbon cable connecting the screen to the controller is stretched out. As soon as I close the laptop case back up and the cable gets crammed together, I start having the same problems.

How hard would it be to just redo the cable? I've never soldered before, but I figure now is as good a time as any, I plan to start my mp3car project this summer so I need to learn. Id rather not have to solder anything though, anyone have any ideas as to how I could fix it without soldering? I figure I could jury-rig something to keep the cable stretched but im not sure what.. its kind of a tight fit in there... As soon as I find the power plug to my digi-cam Ill take some shots of the problem screen and what the LCD ribbon cable area looks like.

Thanks, any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated, everyone on this board seems to be extremely creative and such

mr0range · 06-09-2002, 10:02 AM

anyone? how hard would it be to build another LCD cable? have any of you done this, or is there somewhere to purchase one? Would anyone build one for a fee? I have seen people using NEC LCD's on this board.. so anyone with expertise?

Arby · 06-09-2002, 11:05 AM

What kind of cable is it? Is it discrete wires, ribbon cable, or is it that annoying plastic strip stuff?

Andrew Chappell · 06-09-2002, 11:06 AM

It is likely to be a hirose style cable, although it could be nec proprietory. It involves quite a bit of taking apart and putting back together. Find where the wire interfaces to the lcd panel and count the pins. Do it a couple of times to be sure - they tend to be pretty small! Then, trace the calbe round through the hindges of the laptop to where it plugs into the laptop's motherboard. Check the cable pins at this end too. Then post your results.

If you want, do a search for hirose and see what you come up with!

Cheers

Andrew

Andrew Chappell · 06-09-2002, 11:06 AM

Beat me to it arby

mr0range · 06-09-2002, 01:09 PM

UGH! I am so stupid. I took out the battery, but I plugged the damn AC back in a little while ago when I was testing the screen again. And i just went and counted the wires connected to the motherboard without just taking out the connector or unplugging it from AC, what was I thinking.. anyway there was a spark and 2 of the wires have little burn marks on them.. so did I just fry my LCD controller or just screw up the wires? ACK

well.. if I HAVENT destroyed it, there were 40 wires on the connector, the end that connects to the motherboard (I didnt count the other side yet) and they were separate (is that what you mean by discrete?) wires with a wrap around them, not a ribbon cable

Andrew Chappell · 06-10-2002, 05:16 AM

Look for burned out components on the pcb. And prey!

mr0range · 06-10-2002, 01:51 PM

Everything is clean except for 2 small burn marks on 2 pieces of the cable, where the metal part was touching. I hope its still OK, nothing looks burned.

So can these cables be removed from 1 laptop of the same brand and used in another?

Or is there a place to buy prebuilt ones, i have the part number.

How hard would it be to solder my own if there are no alternatives? Anyone know where I could find the pinout?

Thanks! And if anyone has an old NEC versa 60xx series, and doesnt need the cable or the screen is broken, please hook me up! Ill reimburse you

DodgeCummins · 06-10-2002, 10:00 PM

As a matter of fact, if you pull out that ribbon cable thingie, and look on it, you should see a part number, then search on google/call a laptop repair center, and they could be able to get you a replacement part for $25.

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