I am the proud inheritor of a dead 17"FP. I want to take the thing and recase it and use it as part of a larger mod project. I need to figure out what is wrong with the silly thing first.
When powered on, the screen is off and the flashes about every two seconds, being dead in between flashes. I do not know the history of the silly thing, but it seems like it wants to live. I am thinking that maybe the PS is bad, or something along that line, but am not sure.
--DDTM
Maybe a short in the backlight? You might try opening it up a nd look for loose screws, etc. I just opened a pair of lappys here and found both with at least one screw rattling around and a few more that were unsettlingly loose. I think one of the screws caused problems w/ the pwoer board on one of the lappys, but it was only random/intermittant. If you open the panel, it'll also give you a chance to see if the cathodes for the backlight are broken or not. I had one laptop that wouldn't display anything becuase the backlight tube was cracked. Swapped in a good one and all was fine.
The power circuit seems okay and nothing rattles, so a loose part is unlikely. I will have to dig deeper in to the unit to check the cathode(s).
--DDTM
Okay, I d/ced the data signal from the main board and powered it up, the LCD display stayed on and lit well - Problem is not in the power supply or inverter. Screen reamins steady and constant, no flashing.
Next lugged video cable to unit and re-powered, no change - problem is not caused by reciept of data signal in.
Next reconnected data signal to LCD from main board and re-powered - problem reappeared. Could see during flashes, desktop of connected Mac.
Conclusion - The LCD itself is good, as is the power supply. A good data signal is going to the display, but the output from the board to the LCD is faulty.
Next step is to see if I can find a replacement for the board as all micros and ICs appear okay and no discoloration is present on the circuit card. Problem could be a simple 25¢ part, but I cannot identify (as of yet) the problem. Might drag out the o-scope, but I would prefer having better knowledge of this hardware before doing so.
--DDTM
OOH! OOH! I think I might know this one. Try a different resolution. How old is this thing anyhow??
Less than one to one and a half years. The problem was known to monitor was originally used with a PC, when the problem suddenly began. The PC it was used with was unchanged in configutration or screen settings when this occurred. I have verified that the problem is not in the PSU circuits, as it was orginally thought that this may have been related to a lightening stike of some form. If it was, then the problem entered via the signal path, vice the AC connection.
I see where you are going with that thought, and thank you for the idea, but I can rule that out based on having connected other Macs with varied screen resolutions.
--DDTM
I finally called them and had to wait a considerable amount of time on the phone to get a real person. Bottom line is that the unit *may* still be under warranty (sans the LCD for which coverage ran out at the 1 year mark) as the unit is just over three years old (based on manufacture date). If I can obtain a purchase receipt or some other proof of purchase, I will be able to get a RMA and have the untit replaced/repaired. Cost of replacing the 5"x5" board is almost equivalent to purchasing a whole new unit (I do not get that at all).
Microtek will not release any needed repair doc or specs unless I am an authorized dealer.
My current options:
--DDTM
...no luck on the recipt...
...no room on the bench right now...
...no cash to buy a replacement even if I can find it...
crap
maybe January will fare better for the bench...
--DDTM