laptop fault

[chevrolet1.8]

hi, i have an acer travelmate 4020 laptop and when i switched it on yesterday the screen was black. when i looked very close i could see there were images on the screen but was unable to use it. has anybody any idea what has happened and would it be expensive to repair? thanks

[Ethel]

Along the top function keys can you see an icon showing two squares side by side? They are supposed to be screens.

If so, hold down the FN key and press the function key.

My Acer has two such keys - F5 and F6. F6 makes my screen go like that.

[Electrochem]

Someone I know had a similar problem on an Acer. It sounds like it could be the invertor, which will cost you about �100 to get fixed.

If, as in the case of the one know of, it is the mainboard, it would cost twice that at least. You'd be better off buying a new one.

Have a look at Morgan Computers www.morgancomputers.co.uk

[Electrochem]

As usual, Ethel has posted a good answer. I would give it a try.

I should have added in my first answer that you will still be able to use an external monitor.

[Ethel]

You can buy an inverter for around �20 and fix it yourself, if that is the problem:

http://www.laptoprepair.co.uk/how-to-repair-ba cklight-inverter.htm

[ChuckFickens]

you could buy an inverter and change it your self, it's not that tricky a job to do, however without testing first you may find you have changed one good inverter for another good inverter and it still doesn't work as It might be the actual back light tube that has failed.

P.s. watch out if you do start playing about with the inverter, they put out up to about 700v when running, enough to give you a pretty good belt if you touch the wrong thing!

[chevrolet1.8]

blimey i've never had so many replies so quickly thanks everyone i'll check out each suggestion and hope it's the cheaper answer. many thanks again

[chevrolet1.8]

hello again. i just tried the FN and F5 and then FN and F6 but nothing happened so i guess it might be an inverter problem. I checked out the link you gave me Ethel and i reckon i could do that myself so i'm going to get myself another inverter and give it a go. thanks again

[Ethel]

Shame it wasn't sorted with the function keys

[chevrolet1.8]

oh well the new inverter didn't make any difference so i suppose the problem is a bit moe expensive so i have another on order from tesco. hopefully i will still be able to transfer everything from the old one to the new one.