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Dell Inspiron 1521 Display Problem?


V.T. Eric Layton

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V.T. Eric Layton

Hello folks,

 

I've got this really weird problem with my ericslaptop01 (the one Josh gave me a few years ago). It worked find and dandy when I booted up to pay bills about a week ago. Last night, I booted up and this is what happens...

 

1. After pressing the power button, the lights come on and I can see the hdd activity light.

 

2. I cannot see any display during POST or LILO.

 

3. Since the LILO automatically boots Slackware after 5 seconds, Slackware begins to boot.

 

4. I don't see the initial display scrolling on the screen until Slackware loads the vid driver.

 

5. Once the vid driver is up and running, I can see the rest of the scrolling loading screen... all the way to the login, but it's very dim.

 

6. I login and startx. Slackware runs fine and dandy. The only problem is that the display is very dim... about 20% its normal brightness.

 

7. It's difficult to get into BIOS (F2) because I can't see what's going on when I first turn the computer on. There's no display of POST or LILO, as stated above.

 

8. I can arrow down by guestimating when LILO is done loading but before it auto-boots Slack. This allows me to boot Windows.

 

9. Windows boots fine. I can hear what's going on with the assorted Win 7 notifications sounds, but there is no display at all, like during POST and LILO.

 

10. I can login to Windows, too, and get to the desktop. I just can't see anything.

 

 

This is what's happening. After reading at different sites online, I'm leaning toward a bad display. However, the symptoms are so weird, I thought I post here for other opinions. A fellow on Dell's forums posted that it's probably a bad motherboard, but I have a hard time believing that since Slackware and Windows both boot and run properly, even though Slack is dim and Windows is invisible.

 

Anyway, I thought maybe it was a goner for sure because a new display would cost more than what the laptop is worth. However, I found a refurbished display w/ warranty and all at Dell for just $29.00. I ordered it. It'll be here next week. It's about a 30 minute job to replace it on the lappy. I really, really hope this fixes it. This laptop has sentimental value.

 

This was my first ever laptop. Josh gave it to me. Frank Golden (RAM and wireless mouse) and Aryeh Goretsky (big hdd) both shipped me parts to soup it up to its current state. It works really well. I wouldn't want to have to give up on it. I know it's silly. It's old and obsolete, but it works really well... and I love it. It's my ericslaptop01. There'll never be another one of those.

 

Advice welcome. Or just wish me luck with the display replacement.

 

G'night all...

 

======

 

ericslaptop01 Specs

 

Dell Inspriron 1521

AMD® Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology

AMD™ M690T Chipset with ATI™ Radeon® X1270 Graphics

Western Digital 640 Gig hdd

ExpressCard slot (54 mm)

8-in-1 combo card connector

PNY 4 Gig(2Gx2) PC2 5300 matched pair

10/100 Ethernet LAN on system board

WLAN, WWAN, WPAN MiniCards

ATI Radeon® X1270 Graphics Controller

Intel High Definition Audio

15.4-inch WXGA with TrueLife

 

Operating systems: Slackware64, MS Windows 7-64

 

======

 

DSC01065.jpg

Edited by V.T. Eric Layton
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Hello folks,

 

I've got this really weird problem with my ericslaptop01 (the one Josh gave me a few years ago). It worked find and dandy when I booted up to pay bills about a week ago. Last night, I booted up and this is what happens...

 

1. After pressing the power button, the lights come on and I can see the hdd activity light.

 

2. I cannot see any display during POST or LILO.

 

3. Since the LILO automatically boots Slackware after 5 seconds, Slackware begins to boot.

 

4. I don't see the initial display scrolling on the screen until Slackware loads the vid driver.

 

5. Once the vid driver is up and running, I can see the rest of the scrolling loading screen... all the way to the login, but it's very dim.

 

6. I login and startx. Slackware runs fine and dandy. The only problem is that the display is very dim... about 20% its normal brightness.

 

7. It's difficult to get into BIOS (F2) because I can't see what's going on when I first turn the computer on. There's no display of POST or LILO, as stated above.

 

8. I can arrow down by guestimating when LILO is done loading but before it auto-boots Slack. This allows me to boot Windows.

 

9. Windows boots fine. I can hear what's going on with the assorted Win 7 notifications sounds, but there is no display at all, like during POST and LILO.

 

10. I can login to Windows, too, and get to the desktop. I just can't see anything.

 

 

This is what's happening. After reading at different sites online, I'm leaning toward a bad display. However, the symptoms are so weird, I thought I post here for other opinions. A fellow on Dell's forums posted that it's probably a bad motherboard, but I have a hard time believing that since Slackware and Windows both boot and run properly, even though Slack is dim and Windows is invisible.

 

Anyway, I thought maybe it was a goner for sure because a new display would cost more than what the laptop is worth. However, I found a refurbished display w/ warranty and all at Dell for just $29.00. I ordered it. It'll be here next week. It's about a 30 minute job to replace it on the lappy. I really, really hope this fixes it. This laptop has sentimental value.

 

This was my first ever laptop. Josh gave it to me. Frank Golden (RAM and wireless mouse) and Aryeh Goretsky (big hdd) both shipped me parts to soup it up to its current state. It works really well. I wouldn't want to have to give up on it. I know it's silly. It's old and obsolete, but it works really well... and I love it. It's my ericslaptop01. There'll never be another one of those.

 

Advice welcome. Or just wish me luck with the display replacement.

 

G'night all...

 

======

 

ericslaptop01 Specs

 

Dell Inspriron 1521

AMD® Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology

AMD™ M690T Chipset with ATI™ Radeon® X1270 Graphics

Western Digital 640 Gig hdd

ExpressCard slot (54 mm)

8-in-1 combo card connector

PNY 4 Gig(2Gx2) PC2 5300 matched pair

10/100 Ethernet LAN on system board

WLAN, WWAN, WPAN MiniCards

ATI Radeon® X1270 Graphics Controller

Intel High Definition Audio

15.4-inch WXGA with TrueLife

 

Operating systems: Slackware64, MS Windows 7-64

 

======

 

DSC01065.jpg

Sounds like the backlight is bad. Either the inverter or the bulb. But if you bought an entire screen for $30 bucks, you are ahead of the game. Replacing the bulb and/or inverter would be a little cheaper but MUCH more difficult and risky.

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V.T. Eric Layton

Hi Lew...

 

Yeah, someone elsewhere suggested the backlight/inverter. The display I ordered is MUCH easier to swap out; ahead of the game, as you say.

 

Fingers crossed! :)

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V.T. Eric Layton

Well, poo. :(

 

The refurb'd display I received from Dell was worse than my own dim one. The refurb had NO display. I could see it with a flashlight pointed at the screen, but it had ZERO backlight. At least my old one is just dim... not BLACK.

 

I'm shipping this back to Dell. I may try another display from another source... eBay or something.

 

In the meantime, I may set up one of my Dell Latitude D610s (I have two) as my office desk laptop for now. It already has completed up-to-date Slack (32 bit) in it. I only use the lappy on that desk to pay bills and check my banking/credit card sites. I have a wired connection over at that desk, so no need for wifi there. Although, it's available, if needed.

 

I left the Inspiron outside in the shop. I'm planning on calling Dell on Monday and offer to try one more of theirs, if they have another refurb in stock. If not, I'll try other alternatives, as mentioned above. I'm not giving up just yet.

 

Have a great weekend, everyone. :)

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V.T. Eric Layton

Supposedly, it's a no questions asked on returns as long as the item is packaged and undamaged as sent originally. I'll call them Monday, though, because I'm willing to try another one, if they'll agree to exchange rather than refund/reorder.

 

We'll see...

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V.T. Eric Layton

Yeah, a bit surprised as that was clearly not a refurb...

 

Actually, it looked brand new. There wasn't a mark on it. It still had the plastic protective coverings and it was vacuum wrapped in an anti-static bag. So... I dunno, really. I do know that the old display worked a little. This refurb was completely black. The only way I could see what was going on was to shine a flashlight onto the display.

 

Anyway, I have a great new work-around that I'm surprised none of you suggested (see Fig. 1).

 

Figure 1

 

d2jI7cY.jpg

 

Heh. Works great! ;)

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Yeah, a bit surprised as that was clearly not a refurb...

 

Actually, it looked brand new. There wasn't a mark on it. It still had the plastic protective coverings and it was vacuum wrapped in an anti-static bag. So... I dunno, really. I do know that the old display worked a little. This refurb was completely black. The only way I could see what was going on was to shine a flashlight onto the display.

 

Anyway, I have a great new work-around that I'm surprised none of you suggested (see Fig. 1).

 

Figure 1

 

d2jI7cY.jpg

 

Heh. Works great! ;)

I was going to suggest it but then I figured it was too obvious. o:)
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V.T. Eric Layton

I didn't even think of it till I was lying in bed last night and said to myself,

 

"I really need to hook and external monitor and see how that works."

 

The very next thought from Eric's speedy brain was,

 

"Hmm... that would actually be a permanent solution should I not be able to fix the onboard display issues."

 

Then, I fell asleep. ;)

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I didn't even think of it till I was lying in bed last night and said to myself,

 

"I really need to hook and external monitor and see how that works."

 

The very next thought from Eric's speedy brain was,

 

"Hmm... that would actually be a permanent solution should I not be able to fix the onboard display issues."

 

Then, I fell asleep. ;)

If it becomes permanent, I'd take the screen off the laptop.
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After a while the tape connectors joining the display to the machine may develop cracked wires. inside the insulation.

So did you wiggle the screen about. Had that problem with a couple of donors here. They were not as important as yours . If it comes back just leave it open .

 

Just 2cents o:)

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V.T. Eric Layton

If it becomes permanent, I'd take the screen off the laptop.

 

Thought about that, but it since the screen on the lappy still works, just dim, and it would be a pain in ascii to disconnect the camera and antenna connections from the motherboard, I figure it's not bothering me to have that lid there. I'll just leave it. :)

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V.T. Eric Layton

After a while the tape connectors joining the display to the machine may develop cracked wires. inside the insulation.

So did you wiggle the screen about. Had that problem with a couple of donors here. They were not as important as yours . If it comes back just leave it open .

 

Just 2cents o:)

 

Yup. Wiggled here and there. I used the existing cables/ribbons for the new display. It had no backlight at all. Put the old display back in. It works, but is dim (original problem).

 

P.S. I was a component level electronics technician for 25+ years. The simple things always get checked first. You're a smart fellow to suggest that. It tells me you're a good troubleshooter. I had a pal who was a tech also, but he had the worst problem with over-complicating issues. I don't think he ever really broke that bad habit. Always check the simple, easy, silliest, basic things FIRST! Is it plugged in? Is there power at the socket? Was it turned on?

 

By the way, that works for troubleshooting anything... AC systems, small engines, computers, battery-powered sex toys, etc.

 

I was going to suggest it but then I figured it was too obvious. o:)

 

Same here lol

 

Sometimes, even the best of us stumbles right past the obvious without even noticing it. ;)

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After a while the tape connectors joining the display to the machine may develop cracked wires. inside the insulation.

So did you wiggle the screen about. Had that problem with a couple of donors here. They were not as important as yours . If it comes back just leave it open .

 

Just 2cents o:)

 

Yup. Wiggled here and there. I used the existing cables/ribbons for the new display. It had no backlight at all. Put the old display back in. It works, but is dim (original problem).

 

P.S. I was a component level electronics technician for 25+ years. The simple things always get checked first. You're a smart fellow to suggest that. It tells me you're a good troubleshooter. I had a pal who was a tech also, but he had the worst problem with over-complicating issues. I don't think he ever really broke that bad habit. Always check the simple, easy, silliest, basic things FIRST! Is it plugged in? Is there power at the socket? Was it turned on?

 

By the way, that works for troubleshooting anything... AC systems, small engines, computers, battery-powered sex toys, etc.

 

I was going to suggest it but then I figured it was too obvious. o:)

 

Same here lol

 

Sometimes, even the best of us stumbles right past the obvious without even noticing it. ;)

I'm assuming that the screen isn't LED backlit in which case, in addition to the cable, are you also using the original inverter board? Those are also known to cause the problem.
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securitybreach

I'm assuming that the screen isn't LED backlit in which case, in addition to the cable, are you also using the original inverter board? Those are also known to cause the problem.

 

It's a LCD

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I'm assuming that the screen isn't LED backlit in which case, in addition to the cable, are you also using the original inverter board? Those are also known to cause the problem.

 

It's a LCD

In that case, my question is valid. Are you still using the original inverter board? This is a small board, about 3" long and 1/2" wide, attached to the LCD cable. It produces the high voltage to ignite the fluorescent tube that backlights the LCD screen.

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V.T. Eric Layton

In that case, my question is valid. Are you still using the original inverter board? This is a small board, about 3" long and 1/2" wide, attached to the LCD cable. It produces the high voltage to ignite the fluorescent tube that backlights the LCD screen.

 

No, the refurb unit had its own inverter board. I did think about trying to remove the inverter from the old display and trying it on the refurb'd one, though.

 

I'm still waiting on my return authorization email from Dell.

Edited by V.T. Eric Layton
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Reading back on this thread ,I remembered the same problem on a similar Dell. Black screen with very faint display. But this one responded to a wiggle. But gave only a partial screen and that was mostly garbled .Is there any chance your graphics card or drivers are corrupt . I surmise you have already backed up your important files to dvd or usb stick.

I eventually gave it to a local retired Intel technician . I never followed it up . I have to go to town sometime this week .So will pop in and see if he solved it .

 

Really sorry can't be more help .

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Reading back on this thread ,I remembered the same problem on a similar Dell. Black screen with very faint display. But this one responded to a wiggle. But gave only a partial screen and that was mostly garbled .Is there any chance your graphics card or drivers are corrupt . I surmise you have already backed up your important files to dvd or usb stick.

I eventually gave it to a local retired Intel technician . I never followed it up . I have to go to town sometime this week .So will pop in and see if he solved it .

 

Really sorry can't be more help .

If it were the GPU he wouldn't be able to use the external monitor or see the screen using a flashlight. This is definitely a backlight problem.

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Reading back on this thread ,I remembered the same problem on a similar Dell. Black screen with very faint display. But this one responded to a wiggle. But gave only a partial screen and that was mostly garbled .Is there any chance your graphics card or drivers are corrupt . I surmise you have already backed up your important files to dvd or usb stick.

I eventually gave it to a local retired Intel technician . I never followed it up . I have to go to town sometime this week .So will pop in and see if he solved it .

 

Really sorry can't be more help .

If it were the GPU he wouldn't be able to use the external monitor or see the screen using a flashlight. This is definitely a backlight problem.

Good sir I bow to your vastly superior knowledge.Have a nice life

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V.T. Eric Layton

Lew is right about that, Cap'n. Thanks for the suggestions, though. You never know when a suggestion might lead to a solutions somewhere down the the troubleshooting path. :)

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securitybreach

Lew is right about that, Cap'n. Thanks for the suggestions, though. You never know when a suggestion might lead to a solutions somewhere down the the troubleshooting path. :)

 

Agreed :thumbup:

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  • 5 months later...
V.T. Eric Layton

Well, just no joy with my poor ol' Inspiron. I mentioned around here somewhere that I bought a replacement LCD inverter for my Dell Inspiron 1521 w/ the carped out display. I only paid $3.67 for it. The sad thing is that now only did in not fix the issue, but I broke the LCD display while taking it apart this time. So, I guess I'll wrap her back up and put her back on the shelf till sometime in the future when I have enough money to buy a for-parts 1521 on eBay for cheap or just buy the new replacement display and whatever else is needed from Dell.

 

I'm sad. I love this little lappy. It's the best of the bunch and I can't use it anymore. :(

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