Member Avatar for jen_a

Hi guys, I'm new - and just wanting some advice.

I am trying to find a solution to a friend’s computer problem.

The monitor is blank when the computer boots. I can see brief preliminary startup screens, but then it goes blank.

Have checked power/data cable etc and all seems fine.

When the computer is on, and then I turn the power off and then on again at the monitor I see the desktop image on the monitor briefly for about two seconds, then it goes blank again. It does this consistently if I turn power on/off at the monitor.

I don’t think it is a video card problem because I can see the monitor working fine (albeit briefly)

I don’t think it is a resolution conflict – resolution is set at 1024x768 High colour

It could be power saving or bios issue? Suggestions on how to fix it given the screen is blank regardless of whether I startup in safe mode or when I try to access the bios setup.

OS is Windows XP

Hardware – HP Pavillion 6501, Monitor – Samsung Flat Screen Sync Master 710V

Appreciate your help.

jen_a

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Dani AI

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Agree with that a failing backlight or its inverter is a likely cause. Before buying parts or opening the monitor, run a few quick, non‑destructive checks to isolate the fault and avoid unnecessary expense.

  1. Press the monitor menu buttons (OSD). If the on‑screen menu appears but the screen stays dim or goes dark, the backlight/inverter is almost certainly at fault.
  2. Do the flashlight test: shine a bright torch at an angle across the screen in a dark room. If you can make out a faint desktop or window outlines, the panel is receiving signal but the backlight is dead.
  3. Swap cables and ports or try a known‑good monitor/PC. That isolates the video card/cable from the panel.
  4. Listen for ticking or whining from the monitor when it dies; inverter failures sometimes make noise or behave erratically as they heat up.

If these checks point to the backlight/inverter, check warranty/manufacturer support first. Replacing CCFL tubes or the inverter board is possible, but involves high voltages and discharged capacitors — it is not a routine DIY unless experienced. For older LCDs the repair-versus-replace decision often depends on repair cost vs buying a replacement panel or new monitor. Read more on how LCD backlights work here: and on CCFL technology here: Cold‑cathode fluorescent lamp.

If the OSD never appears and the flashlight test shows nothing, focus on the video output/cable/PC side (try the monitor on another machine and vice versa).

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Member Avatar for hksaddict

gasp

Member Avatar for Matt Tacular

Sounds like the backlight is cooked. Only breifly flashes what should be displayed if you toggle the monitor's power. That happened to me. It was the backlight, contact the manufacturer and see if they'll replace it for you, or you could try to find a new backlight and put it in yourself, which would be very tricky, I would only trust my computer engineering teacher to do that for me.

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