Member Avatar for ultan.mcd

Hi there
Looking for some help with the screen on a Dell Latitude D505.
When it's on the colors are all screwed up - white is black, black is white, blue is orange etc.
Updated video driver and BIOS from dell site but no joy.
Connected to LCD TV at home via VGA port and perfect pic, which I guess means graphics card is OK.
I've just replaced the inverter circuit board and still the same!

Anyone any ideas?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jbennet

Dani AI

Generated

Quick summary for : color inversion on the laptop's internal display usually points at the display subsystem rather than the graphics chip. is on the right track suspecting the panel/T-CON area, and 's suggestion to check settings is worth a fast look because it is the quickest thing to rule out.

Suggested non-invasive checks (fast, low-risk)

  • View the image outside the normal OS: enter the BIOS or boot a clean Live USB/PE. If the inversion is present there, software/drivers can be excluded.
  • Compare with any external monitor to separate GPU output from the panel (external correct means the panel side is the issue).
  • Power down, remove main battery and AC, then carefully reseat the flat LVDS/eDP cable at both the motherboard and the panel end. Inspect the cable at the hinge for wear or pin damage.

If the problem persists (hardware-focused steps)

  • The timing-controller (T-CON) or the panel’s internal driver electronics commonly cause color mapping errors and "negative" images. Those parts are usually part of the panel assembly on older laptops.
  • Swap with a known-good cable or panel if possible. If a swap fixes it, replace the faulty component rather than chasing drivers.

Safety and practical notes

  • Work with the machine powered off, battery removed, and take anti-static precautions. Service manuals or the panel sticker will show the exact panel part number needed for a replacement.
  • Inverter boards typically affect backlight brightness, not color inversion, so they are low on the suspect list despite being easy to change.

Order of action recommended: quick settings/BIOS check, reseat/inspect cable, test with a known-good panel/cable, then replace T-CON or whole panel or seek professional repair if uncertain.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for DellOutreach

From the sounds of it I would have said the inverter board was the problem. Since you replaced that with no change then it has to be the LCD panel itself (since the picture if fine using an external display).

If you had any other questions about the system, or if you wanted me to check the warranty status of the computer, please let me know. I can be reached by email ( with 'ATTN: Larry' in the subject) or by PM.


Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

Member Avatar for jbennet

i think its something in the options menu as i know the ones in college are always going like that (maybe people do it for a laugh?)

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