Quick check: If you shine a strong torch at the screen is there an image?
Possible problem: Backlight inverter
Apparently a common problem is a faulty backlight inverter. One quick test is to shine a torch onto the screen to see if the image is actually still there. On ours we used a Big dolphin torch and the image was still there. So have sourced a backlight inverter from trademe ( bwl http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=512606 ) will update blog to show progress.
For Compaq there is a fix-it video "Replacing the laptop backlight inverter" on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucaJA324hbg
Well that didnt work so back to Dr Google
Possible problem: CCFL lamp
Possible problem is the CCFL lamp. This is much trickier to repair... we may give this a go to.. who knows and we'll learn heaps as well.
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/12/09/replace-laptop-backlight-ccfl-lamp/
Possible problem: Cables
Other resources:
- In DrGoogle type "?laptop name? service manual"
- Compaq repair manual (pdf) http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00246219.pdf
- How to Upgrade, Repair, Disassemble a COMPAQ Laptop or Notebook http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_compaq.html
