LCD replacement options for T61 [ Edited ]

[wyomingirl]

Hello Lenovo Community,

First time posting, but many times coming here.

I have a backlight bulb that is burned out (literally blackened at the end). I had my whole screen replaced 4 months ago, so first guessed (since it was easy&cheap) that it was just the inverter card, but no. Because it was the holidays, I dropped the laptop off with a tech who said he would order a bulb and just replace that. I got the laptop back today (9 days later) and the tech said the bulb was the wrong one--just 1/2 of the screen lights up :-(. Since I'm needing files on the computer for work, I found a cheap monitor and cable on craigslist and am happily back home working on my T61--via and very nice, very big external monitor.

I would like to replace the screen in my laptop so I can be portable again, but I'm having trouble finding what I think is the correct LCD to order. I have a T61- 7662CTO.   My original receipt shows the screen being 42x1670, but that doesn't seem like a number that relates to the FRU part to order a replacement.  I downloaded the manual and there were 7 FRU (and AUO, 3 LGs, 3 Samsung) listed. Are any of those 7 compatible with my T61? And is there one out there that is 'better' and by better I mean more durable.  I should say that I  love my Lenovo, in part b/c it looks like an old-fashioned beast, but it's perfect, and I abuse it outside in the field (for going on 4 yrs now) and it just keeps running.    I should also say that as part of my life-commitment of living a little lighter on the earth, I don't want to buy a whole new laptop for as longs as I can keep replacing/upgrading parts in this little lady.

Anybody know about replacement screen for this machine, and better yet, does anyone have one laying around that I could buy and recycle into this T61?

Many thanks in advance, community,

Sharon

p.s. I also live/work in the middle of nowhere, so it's often fastest for me to fix all my own possessions, so I'm doing this project at home...

[TuuS]

I think I can help you, I'll message you privately, but in the meantime please remove the serial number from your post, or a moderator will have to do it.. forum rules....

[wyomingirl]

Thanks--forum rules...

[TuuS · Accepted solution]

btw, a parts lookup on the serial number you posted shows your system came with FRU# 42T0410. I believe this is the basic WXGA screen, not the optional wxga+, but either will work.

Also to echo what I've told you privately, a good used lid assembly for this model would sell for $50-100, depending on the model and condition, which is cheaper, easier and probably more reliable then your typical generic LCD screen replacement which (as you have found out), often aren't the same quality as the originals..

I'll also add that your system appears to have the optional T9300 Penryn CPU, which makes it a very nice system...  have several of these cpu's myself, and definitely worth fixing. 

[sandipanmohanty]

Hi!

    I have a T61 from 2006/2007 with a similar problem. Every once in a while, when I reboot, the screen does not start, or shows a few corrupt lines. When it works, typically after the laptop has cooled off a bit, the screen is completely ok. No corruption or dead pixels.

    Bizarrely, once the screen is activated, I can suspend and resume indefinitely (as far as I know), but if I logout or reboot, the screen may or may not feel like working. Even when the screen is dead, I can log in remotely and verify that the rest of the laptop is working fine. I also connected a 24" external monitor, and everything, including 3D visualisation works smoothly.

    So, my diagnostics is that the connector for the LCD is broken. Is it something that must be sent for service or can one (like I am inclined to) try to fix it at home ? I have replaced RAM and hard drives in several laptops before, but never done anything with the screen.

Thanks for the help.

Sandipan

[TuuS]

Guten Tag,

Regarding your screen problems, I can't tell you if your problem is in your system board, the ribbon cable, the inverter, or the LCD screen itself, but it is on one (or more) of the four. The inverter and cable are pretty cheap, so from that perspective it might be the first thing to try if you're inclined to diagnose by method of parts replacement. If it was my system I'd swap a different lid onto the chassis and that would tell you which direction to look because everything except the system board is in the lid.

Good luck and let me know if I can be of any help.