Vaio blank screen

keith.hookey · 11-30-2008, 02:44 PM

I have a Sony Vaio PCG8C2M which has two problems: The minor one is a constant nose from either the fan or the hard drive - it has always had this since I purchased second-hand 2 years ago. it has not affected the performance.

the serious one is that the screen suddenly went blank/black but it was JUST possible to see the computer was working. Closing the lid and re-opening brought it back on for a few seconds but then it went off. A repair man diagnosed a faulty inverter and fitted a new one after which it worked OK for a day or so, albeit flickering a bit. However, it has now reverted to the blank screen again; pressing the lid-closing sensor switch and releasing brings it on for 2 seconds and then it goes.

The computer is working away underneath but cannot be accessed except for those 2 second slots. total frustration!

Has anyone any ideas other than buying a monitor and plugging it in?

**TriggerFinger** · 11-30-2008, 05:55 PM

Have you tried an external monitor?

keith.hookey · 12-01-2008, 03:51 AM

Hi trigger-finger

Good suggestion - try before I buy a monitor! I have a monitor with my desktop so will try this if I can find a suitable spare USB lead. Otherwise I need to take the back off my computer desk to get at the other end of the monitor connector lead.

**TriggerFinger** · 12-01-2008, 10:34 AM

Isn't it a VGA connector? If it is and the laptop has a VGA connection (AFAIK most laptops do)... then you can just plug it in, power it ON, then boot the laptop.

keith.hookey · 12-02-2008, 06:09 AM

Hi - yes, of course it was a VGA connector - I am a clot! Works perfectly on the external monitor so will just keep it on this as it is only a back-up when my wife is busy on the desktop. Thanks again.

K.

**TriggerFinger** · 12-02-2008, 09:45 AM

If it works with an external monitor you can at least say the blacking out of the screen may be caused by the backlight or the inverter. Replacing the backlight may be difficult for most of us so I suggest you start with the inverter... I mean if you want to do it yourself.

11-30-2008, 02:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
keith.hookey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP home	Vaio blank screen I have a Sony Vaio PCG8C2M which has two problems: The minor one is a constant nose from either the fan or the hard drive - it has always had this since I purchased second-hand 2 years ago. it has not affected the performance. the serious one is that the screen suddenly went blank/black but it was JUST possible to see the computer was working. Closing the lid and re-opening brought it back on for a few seconds but then it went off. A repair man diagnosed a faulty inverter and fitted a new one after which it worked OK for a day or so, albeit flickering a bit. However, it has now reverted to the blank screen again; pressing the lid-closing sensor switch and releasing brings it on for 2 seconds and then it goes. The computer is working away underneath but cannot be accessed except for those 2 second slots. total frustration! Has anyone any ideas other than buying a monitor and plugging it in?

11-30-2008, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,802 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Vaio blank screen Have you tried an external monitor? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

12-01-2008, 03:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
keith.hookey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP home	Re: Vaio blank screen Hi trigger-finger Good suggestion - try before I buy a monitor! I have a monitor with my desktop so will try this if I can find a suitable spare USB lead. Otherwise I need to take the back off my computer desk to get at the other end of the monitor connector lead.

12-01-2008, 10:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,802 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Vaio blank screen Isn't it a VGA connector? If it is and the laptop has a VGA connection (AFAIK most laptops do)... then you can just plug it in, power it ON, then boot the laptop. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

12-02-2008, 06:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
keith.hookey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP home	Re: Vaio blank screen Hi - yes, of course it was a VGA connector - I am a clot! Works perfectly on the external monitor so will just keep it on this as it is only a back-up when my wife is busy on the desktop. Thanks again. K.

12-02-2008, 09:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,802 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Vaio blank screen If it works with an external monitor you can at least say the blacking out of the screen may be caused by the backlight or the inverter. Replacing the backlight may be difficult for most of us so I suggest you start with the inverter... I mean if you want to do it yourself. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE