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#31
Bad inverter for the screen is my guess.
Is the inverter a separate component or part of the screen assembly?
Today I managed to boot into Windows with a separate monitor attached showing a duplicate display. After a while the laptop screen flickered then turned black but the external monitor operated fine. After an immediate reboot no screen displayed anything.
This implies the mainboard and GPU is probably OK but there is a serious issue with the laptop display and associated circuitry. Whether I can track down the actual fault and it's worth fixing is debatable.
Last edited by Steve C; 16 Aug 2019 at 05:14.
The thing I like about Dell is that their Owners Manual contains full disassembly instructions. Yours is here:
https://www.dell.com/support/home/uk...docs#doc-types
A replacement screen is somewhere between £50 - £60 (inc. VAT) depending on screen resolution and type. There were several different screens available for that model and it is important to replace like with like. A quick Google found this supplier (not a recommendation, just the first example I found).
Dell INSPIRON 15 7537 - Replacement Laptop Screen. Brand New Laptop Screen in Stock in the UK
Whether you think that is cost-effective is your decision
I've now dismantled the laptop thanks to the useful Owner's Manual. I was surprised how cheaply made and fragile many of the components are - particularly the ribbon cable connectors.
I found the hinge adjacent to the video cable was partly broken causing an extra strain on that cable. The hinges were also very tight so I adjusted the friction nut. I also discovered the screen flickering was dependent on the angle of the LCD screen. I've fixed the hinge with epoxy and new screws and have ordered a new video cable for £10.
Hopefully it will work when I screw it back together.
I once had that with my Dell Inspiron 9300I also discovered the screen flickering was dependent on the angle of the LCD screen
and I also replaced the video cable.have ordered a new video cable for £10
That was four years ago and it's still working well.
It's a Dell.I was surprised how cheaply made ...
Denis
I was surprised how cheaply made ...More to the point, it's an Inspiron, for Dell I prefer to go for a Latitude (I have two s/h ones).It's a Dell.
Dell XPS vs. Inspiron vs Latitude vs. Chromebook vs. PrecisionInspiron: Good for Mainstream Consumers on a Budget...
...A true business line, Latitudes ... are built to withstand the rigors of work, and most have some degree of rugged certification...
I've since bought a new laptop since I thought the Dell was dead. I'll feel somewhat sick if my cheap repair works but at least will have a five year old laptop as a spare or to sell.
I chose to buy a HP ProBook which is from their workplace range. I noticed the specs and price were very similar to their Pavilion model. However after some research I worked out the ProBook range is supposedly built to a higher standard and the warranty support is better. I can confirm HP have been responsive to my set up queries mostly relating how to remove traces of their bloatware.
Last edited by Steve C; 31 Aug 2019 at 07:11.
Spares are good
When my (then) one and only laptop died unexpectedly I had to rush out and buy an emergency replacement ASAP. That came from a local branch of CashConverters and ended up as my System One below. I vowed then I would never own less than two laptops.
At CashConverter prices, I seem to have gone to the opposite extreme now (about half a dozen) but I justify that to myself by saying that each has its own purpose (one is my 'test machine', another is for running VMs, there's a little netbook for holidays, etc.)
I found the original video cable worked fine when reinserted - maybe it had worked loose due to the partly broken hinge? The new cable didn't work so I'll need a refund on that.