It's gone all dark ....

Talk about everything here
blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

Switched on the laptop last night and the screen has gone so dark I can hardly see to type this message. I can barely see anything on it, thouhg it all appears to be functioning normally otherwise. I can just about see text if it's on a light background, but apart from that it'l like looking through extremely dark sunglasses. :D

Any ideas? Why would it suddenly go like this and what can I do about it? Bearing in mind my Registered Computer-Handicapped status.
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

RobB
Bedroom
Posts: 3969
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:51 pm
anti-spam: No
Location: Essex, England.

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by RobB »

blue wrote:Any ideas?
CHECK THE BATTERY. :mrgreen:

blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

I don't use it on battery power, it's plugged in!

I did unplug it and let it run on battery power to see if that made a difference, but it didn't. Left it unplugged overnight and plugged it back in this morning, but nada.

WHY WHY WHY do these bastard machines just suddenly go up the spoiut for no reason? I mean, EVERY computer I've owned has pulled stuff like this. OK, so I admit I totalled the last one by accidentally pulling it off the table onto the floor (:D) but I haven't done a damn thing to this one, honest! All I did was switch the bastard on.

Ugh. Have I mentioned lately how much I HATE COMPUTERS. :evil:
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

RobB
Bedroom
Posts: 3969
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:51 pm
anti-spam: No
Location: Essex, England.

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by RobB »

Unfortunately I don't have a laptop so i'm as much in the dark (if you'll excuse the pun) as you are.
It does sound like a power problem though especially a severything else seems to be working.
I assume there must be an adapter (transformer) in use between the mains socket and the laptop which is stepping down the mains volatge? If so and if thats faulty then maybe the volatge is too low to operate the computer.....a bit like exhausted batteries.

I'll try and get some expert advise from a mate of mine on another forum.
In the meantime,our more technically minded friends on here can offer advice. :)

blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

OK thanks Rob, I have to go off out for the day shortly but I'll check back tonight.

There is an adapter - presumably if it's that, i can just get a new one? The machine is still under guarantee so I guess the retailer would be liable for supplying any new parts needed .... I'll have to check that out once New Year is out the way and everyone's back to work.
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

User avatar
alx5962
Bedroom
Posts: 1226
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:27 am
Location: Lille, France
Contact:

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by alx5962 »

do you mean the backlight of the screen is off ?
if yes either the backlight of the lcd screen is turned off or worse it's dead.
I believe in your smile everyday
But I know that you're far from my way
When I talk to the moon I can hear you
In the dark I can see, I can feel your light

RobB
Bedroom
Posts: 3969
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:51 pm
anti-spam: No
Location: Essex, England.

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by RobB »

blue wrote: The machine is still under guarantee so I guess the retailer would be liable for supplying any new parts needed ....
well,thats good news at least. :)
Yeah,the guarantee will apply to all parts of the appliance.

RobB
Bedroom
Posts: 3969
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:51 pm
anti-spam: No
Location: Essex, England.

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by RobB »

It would seem it could well be the backlight at fault.
I've also had the following suggestions that you check the little button (usually located at the back under the folding section of the screen) and make sure that it isn't stuck down.Seemingly there could also be a faulty switch under this button.

Also,assuming your laptop has one,check to make sure that you havn't accidentally moved the contrast slider down.

There are aslo several other possibilities but given that the laptop is under guarantee it would be best to return it under warranty. It seems that if the LCD is at fault then it would have been a very expensive item to put right had it been out of guarantee.

blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

alx5962 wrote:do you mean the backlight of the screen is off ?
if yes either the backlight of the lcd screen is turned off or worse it's dead.
Alex, it's basically like looking through sunglasses - I can just about see everything but it's really dark, as if the display isn't showing up on the top layer of the screen/ That's the best way I can put it.

As far as I know the machine wasn't touched at all after the last time I used it, so I don't think anything could have been turned off .... but god knows, I only have to look at these damn things the wrong way and they break down.

How would I check if the backlight has been turned off somehow?
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

User avatar
alx5962
Bedroom
Posts: 1226
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:27 am
Location: Lille, France
Contact:

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by alx5962 »

turn the light off in you room, if the computer lcd has backlight enabled you'll see light in your room.
I believe in your smile everyday
But I know that you're far from my way
When I talk to the moon I can hear you
In the dark I can see, I can feel your light

User avatar
alx5962
Bedroom
Posts: 1226
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:27 am
Location: Lille, France
Contact:

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by alx5962 »

turn the computer off and remove the battery.
wait 1mn
repace the battery and tell me if it's fixed
I believe in your smile everyday
But I know that you're far from my way
When I talk to the moon I can hear you
In the dark I can see, I can feel your light

blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

I'll give that a try now Alex, hang on. I left it unplugged overnight again though so there might not be any battery power anyway. :D

God I hate these things.
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

Well, no difference. The machine isn't projecting any light into the room either, so I guess it's this backlight. Is this a common problem with laptops?

In other bad news, having checked through my documentation today, the machine is NOT under guarantee anymore. :(

I know a guy who fixes computers, I've got his number somewhere so I'll try and get hold of him this week.
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

User avatar
alx5962
Bedroom
Posts: 1226
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:27 am
Location: Lille, France
Contact:

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by alx5962 »

fixing backlight requires hi-level knowledge of computer.
from what I read online, backlight problem is common...
what's the exact brand and model ? so i may check online about this for your laptop.

You can plug an external monitor to your computer if you cannot afford to fix it.
I believe in your smile everyday
But I know that you're far from my way
When I talk to the moon I can hear you
In the dark I can see, I can feel your light

blue
Bedroom
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: SCOTLAND

Re: It's gone all dark ....

Post by blue »

Alex, it's a Sony Vaio (FS515B).

If it's going to be very expensive to fix, it might actually be cheaper to just buy a separate monitor - I might need some insturctions from you on how to install it though, if and when the time comes! :D

I really hope I can keep using it because apart from the backlight going, it's otherwise in perfect working order and it has a lot of my writing and coursework on it, I'd hate to lose all that.
Ice, you were the one most tender with the rivers.
You, the roof of the waves, layer after layer after layer ...

Post Reply