In this text, you will learn how to check if the screen has burned out and how to test the operation of this item that is so important for your device.
HOW TO TEST THE NOTEBOOK SCREEN
Notebook screen can be tested in different ways. The test serves to verify whether the problem is actually on the screen or resides in other components that are part of a notebook. Below, we’ll show you some ways to check your notebook’s screen.
TESTING THE SCREEN VIA SOFTWARE
This is the simplest and most practical way to test your notebook’s screen. However, it won’t be very useful if your problem is hardware and not actually software. In any case, it will be able to make sure that some aspects of your screen image are correctly configured.
This will include: resolution, color quality in bits, image frequency, among other important details. If you are using Windows 10, for example, just click on the Start menu search tab and search for “monitor”. Click on the “View Settings” option. From this menu, you can change resolution, orientation, color intensity, frequency, in addition to accessing your monitor’s advanced settings with vital information regarding the functioning of your notebook screen.
CONNECTING THE SCREEN TO AN EXTERNAL MONITOR
If your notebook screen is not showing any image on the monitor, the fault may be in other areas of the machine. There is a very simple way to know if the problem is on the screen: connecting an external monitor. Every notebook has an HDMI or VGA input that allows you to connect a second screen.
Plug in your external monitor and see if an image appears. If the images display normally, the problem is with your laptop screen. If the external monitor is unresponsive, the problem is elsewhere on your computer and you will need to continue investigating what is going on. This feature is also very useful for checking whether your notebook’s built-in screen is displaying colors correctly. To do the test, connect the external monitor and compare the images side by side, creating a more accurate reference of the colors that the screen should show.
When proceeding with this type of test, it is important to make sure that the notebook is configured to display images on both monitors simultaneously. If nothing is displayed on the screen during the connection, just press the Fn button next to the button on your notebook, which is responsible for changing the external monitor settings. If you can’t find the button that changes projector settings, you can also use the shortcut “Windows P Button” to display the same menu.
CHECKING IF THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FLAT CABLE, BACKLIGHT OR PICTURE
When a notebook screen does not display images correctly, there is a considerable chance that the problem lies in the flat cable, the backlight or, finally, actually in the screen image connection, which determines what color the pixels should display.
To test the flat, you can move the cable with your hand and see if the screen has any response. If the screen returns to displaying images when the flat is moved, you have discovered where the defect is.
If this measure does not work, redo the tests with the multimeter, monitoring the voltages with the computer turned on. In the pin diagram, look for the acronym LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling), which is the sector responsible for controlling the pixels. If this pin is not receiving power, that is probably the problem, and it is difficult to fix. If it’s neither of the above two, there’s a good chance the problem is with your screen’s backlight. Extra tip: there are already specific testers for notebook screens on the market that can save you a lot of work.
USING A MULTIMETER
It is possible, to know if the notebook screen has burned, to test the item using an instrument that we call a multimeter. Even though it is a somewhat laborious procedure and requires some technical knowledge, it can give a more accurate answer about what is causing the problem in the component. In many cases, it is a matter of poor contact at the cable ends, which may be causing failures in the display of images.
If this is the case, figuring out the problem from a multimeter can make screen repair work easier, as it will be easier to find the exact location of the fault and carry out the repair, if possible. In this case, it is necessary to configure the multimeter and test each of the terminations, especially the ground.
Remember that you need to do this process with the notebook turned on. Otherwise there will be no current to go on. Observe that the voltage passing through each termination is in accordance with the technical specifications or that there are no current connections between the pins.
You will probably need to have a schematic diagram that specifies what each of the pins does. In this case, there is a lot of documentation on the internet about the screen models you are testing. Also remember that your notebook screen will not always be the same brand as the manufacturer of the device and, for that reason, it is recommended to look for the model number directly on the screen.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR NOTEBOOK SCREEN BURNED
But after all, how do you know if your laptop screen actually burned? You can check the behavior of the component. When turning on, if the notebook screen remains black and does not show any sign of an image. Or, in another similar case, if the screen is dark, but it is possible to see some of the notebook’s details, even if not very clearly and discreetly;
Among other problems that are similar and that may appear on the device’s screen:
Notebook screen with cracks, and/or “leaking” liquid crystal.
Laptop screen showing white vertical stripes.
Notebook screen showing several lines, this time multicolored
Laptop screen has ghosting or color issues .
In all these cases, if the problem allows it and is not solved with any of the tests we taught above, it is good to start considering replacing the component with a new model.
WHEN TO CHANGE THE NOTEBOOK SCREEN
You already know that all components of a notebook have a finite lifetime, that is, they don’t last forever. Thus, at some point you will inevitably need to worry about changing the screen . When the item breaks, for example, after a fall or a stronger impact, and impairs the user’s experience in using the device, it is recommended to immediately replace the component, preventing it from deteriorating further over time and completely disable navigation on the notebook.
Using a portable computer with a scratched or broken screen also considerably impairs the machine’s performance, especially in the visual aspect and, for this reason, users who need high performance in carrying out daily tasks do not usually stay with the damaged screen for a long time. .
Among other more serious problems that will be responsible for replacing the component we must mention, of course, screen burn-in. Now that you’ve seen how to know if your laptop screen has burned, you can have greater clarity of your needs. In these cases, the possible alternative is to send the notebook to a specialized technical assistance, so that the competent professionals can carry out a more thorough evaluation to identify the defect and, later, assist you in the exchange for a new screen compatible with your device.