Black screen - or is it?

[eagle-eye]

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.

[Blencogo]

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

[eagle-eye]

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.

[eagle-eye]

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.

[Blencogo]

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?

[eagle-eye]

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?

[Blencogo]

It's a new one on me!

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

[Thalamus.]

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..

[Blencogo]

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??

[eagle-eye]

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