topic Re: Black screen - or is it? in PCs & Accessories

Black screen - or is it?

eagle-eye — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:58:38 GMT

Hello there, i have a VGN-A317m {XP} and all of a sudden the screen has gone black. However, for some reason i decided to shine a torch onto it, and i can see the Desktop, and everything else seems to be working. Anybody got any ideas what the problem is, is it a backlight problem? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Black screen - or is it?

Blencogo — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:12:17 GMT

Hi eagle-eye,

Yes, it sounds like a backlight issue. This can be caused by one of three things: -

1. Backlight Tube failure,
2. A loose connection in the HT circuit
3. A failure of the Voltage Inverter (which supplies the HT Voltage for the backlight)

You will need someone to have a look at it to establish the exact cause - but from experience it is usually the most expensive one - the Inverter. This will cost $93.11 plus shipping from NEXTTRONICS.COM

Re: Black screen - or is it?

eagle-eye — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:15:19 GMT

Thanks Blencogo,

I thought it must be something to do with the Backlight, and from my experience, it will be the most expensive. Anyway I'll try and find someone in Kendal to look at it, and hope for the best.

Thanks again.

Re: Black screen - or is it?

eagle-eye — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:37:00 GMT

Hi again,
Not having much look in finding someone to look at the problem {£50 before they will even bother}. So i was wondering, is it possible to buy an External Monitor to use instead. This sounds as if it going to be the cheapest option, but i don't know if one will work, if the original doesn't display. Thanks.

Re: Black screen - or is it?

Blencogo — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:03:42 GMT

Hi eagle-eye,

An external monitor should work OK as the LCD is working OK and the problem is with the backlight only - which is in the Vaio itself.

Just to make sure, can you borrow one to test it?

Re: Black screen - or is it?

eagle-eye — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:39:29 GMT

Hi Blencogo,
This is weird. I found someone to have a look, and he took it away yesterday. This morning he rang up and said he had fixed it. When he brought it back, we switched it on and it was working! I asked him what the problem was, and he said the 'settings' had been changed? To get the display working again he said he pressed the MUTE button, which apparently resets the settings. This has baffled me a bit. However, the computer has been on all day, so far so good. Any thoughts?

Re: Black screen - or is it?

Blencogo — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:56:10 GMT

It's a new one on me!

But Hey, if it works it must be a goodun!!!!!

Re: Black screen - or is it?

Thalamus. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:23:03 GMT

To get the display working again he said he pressed the MUTE button, which apparently resets the settings. This has baffled me a bit.

Well I've never heard of that before..

Glad it's fixed though..

Re: Black screen - or is it?

Blencogo — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:06:43 GMT

There is an 'Automatic Screen Brightness' button next to the 'Mute' and the '+/- Volume Buttons' on the A-Series - I wonder if this had become disabled??

Re: Black screen - or is it?

eagle-eye — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:23:55 GMT

Hi, don't know as i always have it set to MAXIMUM. But it works ok switching thru the 3 options.

Re: Black screen - or is it?

eagle-eye — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:48:36 GMT

Quick update - it's gone again! Tried pressing Mute button and a few other things, but to no avail (i thought it sounded a bit far-fetched), anyway it's off for repair now.

Re: Black screen - or is it?

Blencogo — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:15:13 GMT

I thought it was too good to be true LOL!!

However, it does sound more like a simple loose connection if the problem is intermittent.