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Area 51 M5500 LCD DARK, Inverter or backlight?

post #1 of 3
7/24/08 at 2:50am
Thread Starter 
My first big issue with this computer. Been running strong for 2.5 years now. I had it running on ac power only (battery was out) and my power cut out temporarily. When it came back the screen went dark.

I can see the image when I point a flash light at it, and I am using it with an external monitor.

Do you think my inverter is fried or the backlight? How difficult is it to swap for a computer fixing newb?

I added more ram and stuff, I'm not totally unhandy, but opening up the lcd is kind of scary.

Also what make an model is the backlight and LCD and where can I buy the right part?

I'm close to taking it to a repair shop which will charge me 150 for the inverter and 180 for the backlight parts and labor so if I can save money I'd rather try to fix it myself.
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post #2 of 3
7/24/08 at 5:04pm
These issues are usually the inverter. It's unusual for the backlight to stop working, but it can happen.

I'd replace the inverter.

Can't find any "how to" advice here, or in Alienware's knowledge base, but you can look at the tutorial for the m7700 posted here.
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post #3 of 3
7/25/08 at 9:42am
Hammer is right- It sounds like the inverter went bad. I too use the a/c with the battery out and keep it running almost 24/7. I have yet to have this happen to mine (I'm at 2.5years as well) but on Wed I was watching a movie on mine when the power went out to this side of the AF Base. I was freaking out, thinking that the same thing would happen but fortunately all is well.
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