Inverter or back light bulb?

[hourb12]

Hi guys, I am working on a Dell 1150 laptop and the screen does not come up. I can see the Windows logo at an angle with a strong light and it also works with an external monitor, so I know it is not the graphics card. How do I determine if the inverter or the back light bulb are the problem without the process of elilmination?
It may be neither but I think one or the other is the culprit. All input appreciated.

 

[Guest]

The answer is you're right, it's probably the inverter or the backlight (cathode tubes).

Be careful if you are thinking of testing, there can be quite high voltages kicking around there -- probably simplest to replace both if you can.

 

[hourb12]

Best answer selected by hourb12.

 

[hourb12]

Solved! I removed the display from the frame and the connector for the ribbon cable had popped off the inverter. Put it back on, quick cheap fix.

 

[Guest]

Brilliant.

 

[hourb12]

The cable connector must have parted due to being dropped, or repeatedly slamming the thing shut by the owner or people using it.