Before You Replace a Laptop Screen

If your laptop (including the screen) is still under warranty follow the instructions in the warranty agreement. Failure to do so could affect your ability to get the screen replaced under the warranty.

If your laptop screen is not covered by a warranty agreement you will need to quote the specifications of the screen to the seller to ensure you get the correct replacement screen for your laptop.

You’ll need the following information:

1. The size of your screen (from one corner to the opposite corner diagonally). Go to my laptop screen to see how to measure the size of your screen

2. The screen resolution. The standard resolution of most 15.4" laptop screens is 1280 pixels x 800 pixels. See more information on the resolution of laptop screens

3. The technology type of the screen; whether it’s LCD or Cathode Ray Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL) backlit. See below for more information on LCD and CCFL ‘powered’ screens.

4. The model number of your screen

So where can I find the specification of my laptop screen?

You can find the specification of your laptop screen in the following ways:

• By looking in your computers manual. Look for information on the “display” or “Screen”;
• Search the internet using search terms that include:
  

By removing your laptop screen and making note of the information on the back of the screen usually at the top. You should see information about the size of the screen, the technology type and the model number (see example below).

Quick note: by removing your laptop screen know whether it’s a LED or CCFL screen by looking at the bottom of the screen. A CCFL screen has an inverter (see below). An LED screen doesn’t have an inverter.

Ordering a Replacement Laptop Screen

With the screen specification written down you can now either order a replacement laptop screen from either your computer store or an ecommerce store on the internet.

When placing your order make sure you quote the correct size and model number to avoid wasting more time should the replacement screen has to be returned because it’s the wrong size for your laptop.

How Do I fit The Replacement Screen?

If you are handy with a screwdriver and you can follow simple instructions you can replace a laptop screen.
 
Although laptop screens come is different sizes, different resolutions and appearance, they are fundamentally easy to replace. The removal process is the same for all screens irrespective of whether yours is a Toshiba laptop screen or a Sony Vaio laptop screen.

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to replace a laptop screen. You can skip these steps and view the laptop screen replacement video

Step #1: Unplug the power supply from your laptop   

Step #2: Remove the battery (if it can be removed) from your laptop to prevent sparking and to protect your motherboard.

Step #3: You’ll need the following tools:

a. Standard Phillips-head screwdriver

b. Small Phillips screwdriver (as used by computer stores to Unscrew the back of laptops

c. Stanley knife

d. Small dish/container for screws   

Step #4: Place your laptop on a clean and flat work surface

Step #5: Hold the Stanley knife and press it between the small space
between the display bezel and each stud on the face of thedisplay. Remove all the studs from the face of the display.

Step #6: After removing all the studs, you’ll see the head of all the
screws that holds the laptop screen firmly to the display bezel or frame. With the standard size Phillips screwdriver, unscrew all thescrews that holds the bezel to the laptop screen.

Step #7: With all the screws removed , get hold of the Stanley knife and ress it in between the slit of the front bezel and the back panel as If you are making a surgical incision and twist the tip of the blade to prize apart the bezel from the back panel. Don’t press too hard as you could leave indentations or chip marks.

Step #8: As you prize apart the front bezel with the knife use your fingers to gently assist the process until the bezel is completely free from the display. With the bezel prized away from the display, you should see the black screen which sits in a bracket held by six to eight small screws. If your screen comes with an inverter, the inverter is the small rectangular circuit board type device at the bottom of the screen.

Step #9: Unscrew the six (or eight) screws from around the perimeter of the screen. While you are unscrewing the last screw, gently hold the screen to stop it from falling. Turn the screen with the back facing  you.

Step #10: Gently remove the video cable from the back of the screen - it is connected at the top of the screen and has about 20 or 30 pins. If you screen includes an inverter remove the connections to the inverter (this is at the other end of the video cable).

Step #11: Take your replacement laptop screen and connect the 20 or 30 pin cable to the top of the screen. Connect the two connections to the inverter, if your screen is fitted with an inverter.

Step #12: Position the screen in the bracket with the black face uppermost and secure it to the bracket with the six or eight screws.

Step #13: Before you replace the bezel and secure it with screws test the screen to see if it is working. Do this by putting back the battery or power supply and turn on your laptop. Check that your are happy with the resolution (brightness) of the screen.

If the screen remains black, remove the battery and power supply and undo the screws again that holds it to the bracket and check that the video cable and connectors to the inverter ( if applicable) are connected correctly. Fix the screen to the bracket and carry out the test for the second time. If the screen still does not work you should return it to the supplier for a replacement. You should also consider contacting a laptop engineer to fix the laptop.

Step #14:  Replace the bezel using your fingers to make sure it clicks in Place before tightening the screws and finishing off by adding the stud.

Technical stuff about laptop screens you don’t have to know

Inverter Powered CCFL Laptop Screens -

These laptop screens are powered (lit) by one or two miniature fluorescent tube/s or lamps called Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL). CCFL laptop computer screens have two or four wires (usually pink and white) of the bottom of the screens. At the end of the wires is a white plug (connector) that’s connected to the inverter. The number of plugs equal the number of back lights there are to the screen.

Find more information about CCFL inverters.  

LED Backlit Laptop Screens

ED laptop screed are lit or ‘powered’ by light emitting diode. Most if not all latest high end laptops (e.g. Sony, Fijitsu Siemens and many besides) come with LED fitted screens.

The advantage of ‘LED screens’ over ‘inverter screens’ are:

·They are more energy efficient
·Their battery life is longer (less energy is required to power the screens)
·They have a longer life span

The Signal Connector (or Video Cable)

The signal connector or video cable is at the back of the laptop screen. It connects to the top of the screen via a connector that has either 20 or 30 pins and is the connector for the picture or signal. It also connects to the Inverter (CCFL laptop screens).

Screen Resolution

Laptop screens have different resolutions. The higher the resolution the wider the screen and the better the quality of the images displayed by the screen. Screen resolution is measured in pixels by the following abbreviations:

XGU: these screens are typically found on older laptops

WXGA: these are wide screens fitted on more recent laptops (e.g. the resolution of 15.4 inch WXGA laptop screen is typically 1280 x 800 pixels

WUXGA: the resolution of a 15.4 inch WUXGA laptop screen in typically 1980 x 1200 pixels

See more information on how to measure the size of laptop screens

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