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well the title kinda says it all.

ive got this flat screen monitor hanging around my house, and i want to use it, because this one is sooooo long, its right in my face when im using the PC.

well as i said, i turn the PC on and the backlight flashes on then off, and i get a very faint display, i can see whats going on on the screen, but not very well, and only with another light source shining on it.

also if i turn it off and on when the PC is running the backlight flashes up and i can see for about half a second what is being shown.

when my brothers laptop messed up similarly (but without the flashing backlight), there was something to do with a part you could change to do with the backlight, but it just turned out the little button that presses in when the laptop is closed, was jamed down :cheesy:

anyway, can someone please help me with this, im reasonably competant with PCs and electronic, so if its a part that needs changing i can give it a go, because its no loss if i mess it all up.
and if i cant do it, how much do you think it will be to get fixed?

thanks guys

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Dani AI

Generated

The faint visible image while the backlight only flashes briefly points strongly to a failure in the backlight system rather than the LCD/video electronics: the panel is still forming the picture, but the lamps or the high-voltage driver that powers them are not staying on. already noted the short flash and the fact that the picture is visible with a torch, which is the key diagnostic clue.

Quick diagnostic checklist that narrows the cause:

  • Confirm the monitor's power LED and whether the behaviour is identical on another PC and with a different mains lead/video cable.
  • With the unit unplugged, remove the rear cover and do a visual check for bulging or leaking electrolytic capacitors, burned traces, or loose/discolored lamp/connectors.
  • With a multimeter, measure the low-voltage feed to the backlight driver during power-up (the driver usually gets a DC rail such as 5–12 V). Do not attempt to measure the high-voltage AC output to the lamps; that is hazardous.

How to interpret results and common fixes:

  • Low-voltage present but driver gives no output: driver board (the inverter/driver module) is likely dead — swapping that board is normally the simplest repair.
  • Driver produces output but lamps only flash or are dim: CCFL tubes are aging or starting to fail and should be replaced.
  • Visible bulged capacitors or cracked solder joints: reflowing or replacing caps often restores function.

Practical notes and cost context:

  • Replacing the driver board is usually a straightforward mechanical swap for someone comfortable with basic electronics; CCFL replacement is messier. Parts are commonly inexpensive (tens of dollars) but local repair labor can make a shop fix approach the cost of a replacement monitor. Take care: the inverter/lamps operate at high voltage — unplug mains and discharge caps before touching internals. If uncomfortable with those risks, professional repair is the safer choice.
Member Avatar for matticus

the monitor is a mitac lc 552, i think my brother got it with his PC a few years ago, and then sold the base unit, so this has been used on another PC in my house, untill it went wrong.
ive been googling about all day, and ive found things about inverter boards, can i replace this myself and how much would it cost?

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can no body help me out at all??
:(

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