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IBM thinkpad P2 laptop - backlight only comes on for a few seconds
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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I have an IBM thinkpad P2 laptop with 128mb RAM, onboard graphics etc running WinXp Pro.
My problem is that i am not getting any signs of backlight on it unless i press Fn and F7 (button that changes between laptop screen and external monitor) a number of times. even then all i am getting is the IBM startup screen that displays how much memory i have and that the memory is ok. the screen is then going dark again but i can see the microsoft windows NT loader screen and can log into windows itself. i cannot see to alter any settings to troubleshoot it though.
When i connect it to an external monitor i can log in and work on it fine so i dont think this is anything to do with the graphics. My brother thinks that the backlight has gone. trouble is that i hope not as i have a lot of work related documents on there that i can't backup to a disk because the optical drive is only a cd-rom.
Is my brother right??? if so how can i retrieve my work or send it to another PC. I am networked but this laptop is not on the network and i am not sure how to transfer the files and settings from my laptop to my desktop.
please assist:mad:
My problem is that i am not getting any signs of backlight on it unless i press Fn and F7 (button that changes between laptop screen and external monitor) a number of times. even then all i am getting is the IBM startup screen that displays how much memory i have and that the memory is ok. the screen is then going dark again but i can see the microsoft windows NT loader screen and can log into windows itself. i cannot see to alter any settings to troubleshoot it though.
When i connect it to an external monitor i can log in and work on it fine so i dont think this is anything to do with the graphics. My brother thinks that the backlight has gone. trouble is that i hope not as i have a lot of work related documents on there that i can't backup to a disk because the optical drive is only a cd-rom.
Is my brother right??? if so how can i retrieve my work or send it to another PC. I am networked but this laptop is not on the network and i am not sure how to transfer the files and settings from my laptop to my desktop.
please assist:mad:
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Originally Posted by JANINE
... i am getting is the IBM startup screen... the screen is then going dark again but i can see the microsoft windows NT loader screen and can log into windows itself. i cannot see to alter any settings to troubleshoot it though.
Does the initial "IBM logo" screen display properly?
Is the screen too dark to read once Windows loads?
Since an external monitor does seem to work, your brother's general assessment of the problem with the lappy's screen might be right. If that's the case, I would:
1. Set up filesharing between the laptop and desktop in order to back up your data. We can walk you through that if need be.
2. Buy a laptop-to-desktop (2.5"-to-3.5") drive adaptor and temporarilly install the laptop drive on the desktop machine. That will bypass any possible problems with networking the two machines together. Again- if you need more info on that we can give to you.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
To get your files from the laptop, if you have a USB port you can always get a memory stick. They make them pretty large these days.
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Originally Posted by DMR
What exactly are you saying there?
Does the initial "IBM logo" screen display properly?
Is the screen too dark to read once Windows loads?
Since an external monitor does seem to work, your brother's general assessment of the problem with the lappy's screen might be right. If that's the case, I would:
1. Set up filesharing between the laptop and desktop in order to back up your data. We can walk you through that if need be.
2. Buy a laptop-to-desktop (2.5"-to-3.5") drive adaptor and temporarilly install the laptop drive on the desktop machine. That will bypass any possible problems with networking the two machines together. Again- if you need more info on that we can give to you.
However last night i switched the laptop on and played round with the brightness (strees that this was up as far as it would go) and i managed to get a screen that lasted and let me work for a fair while (least until i shut down). could this be a loose connection?
can you walk me through the steps to enabling file sharing between 2 or 3 pcs please. it will be appreciated.
thanks
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View My Blogs - search for janine's blog
1. Judging from the info you've given so far about the screen- you could have a hardware problem, and it could even be the specific connection problem you mentioned. The ribbon cable that carries the power and data signals between a laptop's motherboard and its screen has to do a lot of flexing in the course of opening and closing the lappy, and that wear can take a toll on the integrity of the cable over time.
However, if you haven't done this already (and if you can get a useable brightness again, obviously), I'd try downloading and installing a fresh load of video drivers before doing anything else. Replacing or repairing the screen won't be cheap, and you could get dinged a fair amount of $$ just to have a pro repair shop diagnose it for you.
2. In terms of your filesharing/networking question: are you using XP Home, Pro, a mix of both, and are the systems running SP2 or SP1? Networking is one of the major areas where the two versions of XP differ greatly, so the sharing configuration differs between the two as well.
However, if you haven't done this already (and if you can get a useable brightness again, obviously), I'd try downloading and installing a fresh load of video drivers before doing anything else. Replacing or repairing the screen won't be cheap, and you could get dinged a fair amount of $$ just to have a pro repair shop diagnose it for you.
2. In terms of your filesharing/networking question: are you using XP Home, Pro, a mix of both, and are the systems running SP2 or SP1? Networking is one of the major areas where the two versions of XP differ greatly, so the sharing configuration differs between the two as well.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
checked voltage on DC to DC inverter located on bottom of the lcd panel long board with tranformer on it, sure be around 425 to 550 volt dc if not or drop replace you can find them on ebay cheap depend on size screen, but will cause screen to black out or dim. If this doen't work replaced the fluorescent tubes on back of lcd panel replaced DC to DC inverter first cheap.
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Originally Posted by DMR
1. Judging from the info you've given so far about the screen- you could have a hardware problem, and it could even be the specific connection problem you mentioned. The ribbon cable that carries the power and data signals between a laptop's motherboard and its screen has to do a lot of flexing in the course of opening and closing the lappy, and that wear can take a toll on the integrity of the cable over time.
However, if you haven't done this already (and if you can get a useable brightness again, obviously), I'd try downloading and installing a fresh load of video drivers before doing anything else. Replacing or repairing the screen won't be cheap, and you could get dinged a fair amount of $$ just to have a pro repair shop diagnose it for you.
2. In terms of your filesharing/networking question: are you using XP Home, Pro, a mix of both, and are the systems running SP2 or SP1? Networking is one of the major areas where the two versions of XP differ greatly, so the sharing configuration differs between the two as well.
regarding the networking i am running winxp pro on the laptop, win xp pro on a desktop machine i am having problems with (see my other thread 'win xp pro stop error - happens after only a few minutes loading up') and this desktop i am using to post messages is xp home. all are running service pack 2.
ps dxdiag networking test works on both desktops, not sure about the lappy though
More information about me.
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View My Blogs - search for janine's blog
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View My Blogs - search for janine's blog
I agree with your brother on this one: a P-II certainly has no real value anymore, so it isn't worth dumping any $$ whatsoever into fixing it given that new machines are pretty cheap.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 864
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 21
Practically a Posting Shark
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Originally Posted by DMR
I agree with your brother on this one: a P-II certainly has no real value anymore, so it isn't worth dumping any $$ whatsoever into fixing it given that new machines are pretty cheap.
More information about me.
www.myspace.com/janine_therockchick
View My Blogs - search for janine's blog
www.myspace.com/janine_therockchick
View My Blogs - search for janine's blog
Yeah; P-IIs are worth ziltch these days to begin with, and given how old the machine must be, you might not be too far away from seeing signs of failures in other components in the beast.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
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