Repair guide

Work out why an LCD or laptop screen is dark or dim

A faint picture usually means the backlight, its inverter or its cable has failed, not the LCD itself. Narrowing it down takes a few outside checks and a torch.

Open the interactive checklist Tick off each step as you go. It saves in your browser.

Display · Careful · about 60 minutes. Worth doing. Reports say this fix helps on many machines.

You are in the right place if: The screen shows a very faint image, is dark, or flickers and dies.

Before you start

Inverter boards for CCFL backlights produce high voltage; do not touch them while powered.
Do not open a lid with a hinge cable unless you know the routing.
If a screen smells burnt, unplug it immediately.

Board revisions and models

CCFL, plasma and early LED backlights differ; check your model.

Parts you may need

Replacement inverter for your model. Common failure Amazon · eBay
Replacement backlight lamp. Wears out Amazon · eBay

Tools

Torch. Check for a faint image Amazon · eBay
Screwdriver set. Open the lid Amazon · eBay

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Step by step

Look for a faint image In a dark room, shine a torch at the screen and see if there is a picture.
Check brightness settings Adjust brightness and try the keys or controls.
Test an external display If the device has a video-out, connect another display.
Check the lid or hinge switch On laptops, a faulty lid switch can turn the backlight off.
Check cables and connectors Check the display cable is seated if you can reach it safely.
Suspect the inverter or lamp A faint image with no backlight points at the inverter or lamp.
Replace inverter or lamp Replace the inverter or lamp only if you are experienced; they carry high voltage.
Stop if unsure Seek a repair person for inverter and lamp work.

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us.

Tip (Medium confidence). One 2001FP with a burning smell had a faulty inverter, not capacitors. Source
Tip (Medium confidence). The PowerBook 100 repair story covers LCD and inverter board findings. Source

Guides we used

We wrote the steps in our own words from these. They have the photos and the full detail, so please read them and support their authors.

Need a little help please (Dell 2001FP burning smell) (Forum) by AnandTech forum. A 2001FP with a burning smell where the backlight inverter, not the capacitors, was the culprit.
Repair Apple Macintosh PowerBook 100 (Gough's Tech Zone) (Guide) by Gough Lui (via bitsavers mirror). Detailed test-and-replace story with LCD and inverter board findings.
PowerBook 100 Capacitor Replacement (Forum) by Applefritter forum. A fix for a dark PowerBook 100 screen that replaced capacitors behind the LCD.

Boards and models vary, so check what is in front of you. A repair can involve hot tools, chemicals and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.