A stitch in time saves nine. In the past we have talked about how to keep your computer running fast and keep your harddrive clean. Today we are going to talk about how to keep your computer physically clean. Like with many of our previous posts this will save you future computer repair work so try to keep on top of it. We will talk about how to keep your external and internal computer clean. 

Computer Screens

Computer screens will get dirty over time from a build of general dirt in the air. Also, every time you sneeze, take care not to aim at your screen. Computer screens also show up fingerprints as well so take care not to put your fingers on the screen. Whether you have an old-school CRT or an LCD screen the way to clean it is the same. You want to wipe the screen with a soft cloth. If you need to, dampen the cloth slightly but not too much. Make sure no excess liquid leaks down the screen as this can damage its functioning if it leaks into electronics. Electronics + water = computer repair here we come. 

Problems with LCD or LED screen malfunction are very common amongst laptop users. It is often difficult to troubleshoot these problems because many parts need to be tested. Before we start, note that any physical damage such as cracks will require a new screen. However, if your screen is undamaged it may be a problem with another component.

 Here is a list of parts that need to be checked:

1) The Backlight:

Also known as the CCFL Bulb. When this component goes bad, the screen will no longer light up. The easiest way to tell if this is the problem is to take a flashlight and point it at the screen while the computer is on. Do you see a faint image? If so, your backlight bulb may have gone bad.

The backlight (or CCFL bulb) may be broken. If this is the case, the screen will not light up when the computer is turned on. The best way to test this is to point a flashlight at the monitor while the computer is on. If you can see a faint image your backlight bulb may be broken. However, a backlight that is not lighting up could mean a broken LCD inverter if you have an LCD screen. The LCD inverter is responsible for powering up the backlight bulb. If it is broken, your backlight won’t receive any power and thus will not turn on. NOTE: LED screens do not have an inverter so don’t worry about inverter problems if you have an LED screen.

2. Motherboard

There may be a problem with your motherboard. Specifically, the problem is usually with the motherboard Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) chip. If your GPU chip is not working, your monitor won’t be receiving any signal from the computer. The best way to test if this is the problem is to connect your laptop to an external monitor using a side connector (all laptops will have an external monitor connector of some type). If your picture shows up on the external monitor then the problem is NOT with your motherboard. If no image shows up, you will most likely need a new motherboard, or a new laptop.

3. LCD Cable

There are numerous symptoms of a bad LCD cable such as a screen flickering on and off, or a screen lighting up with no visible signal from the computer. The LCD cable connects your LCD screen to the motherboard. To get to it we will need to open up the laptop to get to the cable. Try fiddling with the cable so see if there are any changes to the image. If this is the case, make sure the cable is properly connected. If there is no change in your image, you may need a replacement cable. Try testing out a new cable to see if your picture is restored. If this is the case the problem is solved.

4. LCD/LED screen

Once you have tested the above, it may be that your screen is simply broken and you will need a new one.  Before buying a whole new screen, if it is possible, you should test your screen in another laptop to see if it works. If it works, it may be a rare problem that was not covered in this guide.

Hopefully on of these four common problems was your problem and your problem has been solved. If your problem still hasn’t been solved, one of our genius Newtons Nerds technicians will employ a wide range of tests to diagnose your problem.