i have a dell inspiron 6000 and recently, the lower third of the screen has been flickering. today, the lower third stopped refreshing at all. i googled but all i could find were topics about linux and other such things that didn't really help.

i'm wondering if a connection went bad somewhere between the base and the screen so i popped the plastic part off where the LEDs and power button were, but i didn't really see anything out of the ordinary from that angle. anyone have any ideas? i have no money to take it anywhere so i'm hoping this is something i can fix myself. thanks!

also, there's a spot on the underside of the computer that looks like the writing has been burned off. i've got one of the batteries that they're recalling. (i don't have the battery in & haven't since the recall. could that have done this?




[Edited on September 4, 2006 at 1:27 PM. Reason : *]

9/4/2006 1:22:43 PM

try talking to dell support even if it is not under warrenty
they have definately replaced some major parts on my laptop when they had no obligation to

9/4/2006 1:26:46 PM

If it's just part of the screen, it'll be in the screen itself, somewhere on the controller board, possibly just a loose connection where the panel connects to the contacts.

9/4/2006 1:27:25 PM

that's what i thought too, but everything seems secure.

^^i tried calling dell's tech support, but they won't even let me talk to a person because my warranty is expired. sad thing is, it's probably only like a week outdated.

9/4/2006 1:37:48 PM

^ this is why i tell everyone to get at -least- a 3 yr warranty on any laptop ... my old insp 8000 had it's screen power inverter replaced three times, the screen once, and motherboard once. my current insp 6000 has had it's cooling fan replaced. my sister's insp 700m has had the screen and motherboard replaced (she spilled wine on it so i cleaned it all up to make it look like nothing happened, thank you dell for replacing it!) ... all those things fell under the warranty. my 8000 gave dell a workout over it's 3 yrs of warranty. so far my 6000 is 1.5 yrs and nothing major.

warranty, people, get a warranty on the laptops, too much can fail!

you can try to take it to one of the laptop repair shops around raleigh, there's another thread that recommends some, just do a search.

[Edited on September 4, 2006 at 2:07 PM. Reason : on another note, if you have a recalled battery, don't risk it, replace it.]

9/4/2006 2:02:15 PM

Quote :

"this is why i tell everyone to get at -least- a 3 yr warranty on any laptop"

Quote :

"warranty, people, get a warranty on the laptops, too much can fail!"

on that note, there are some parts that you can change yourself if you can find the right part number, there's typically a place that will sell you just that part#, then it's just a matter of searching through the manual on how to replace it... i think dell still offers diagrams w/ part#'s for all their laptops...

[Edited on September 4, 2006 at 2:16 PM. Reason : .]

9/4/2006 2:13:50 PM

^^ yeah i get it about the warranty thing...it was a stretch to buy the damn computer, and frankly, i couldn't afford the extended warranty on top of it. but thanks for your stories.

as far as a laptop repair shop, i've already stated, i don't have the money for repairs. i'm trying to find out if this is something i can take care of myself.

and if you read my first post, you'd see that i am not using the battery, i took it out as soon as it was recalled. i am waiting on my new battery. but thanks for thinking i'm an idiot

point being, thanks for the advice, but it doesn't really help me.

^thanks


[Edited on September 4, 2006 at 2:17 PM. Reason : *]

9/4/2006 2:16:55 PM

here's the service manual:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/EN/sm/index.htm

good luck.

9/4/2006 2:24:01 PM

^^ ah, i missed the line "i don't have the battery in & haven't since the recall", my bad. i haven't used my battery since the 14th when i took it out and filled out the replacement form ... it's a major PITA to shutdown/startup every time i go somewhere with it.

wasn't my intention in this thread to make you out as an idiot, it's more-or-less a shame that you weren't able to purchase the 3 yrs.

you'll still have to spend money on the parts, but it's worth a shot if it's a replaceable part. just hope it's not the screen, it's the most expensive part.

[Edited on September 4, 2006 at 2:27 PM. Reason : .]

9/4/2006 2:25:26 PM

^^thanks

^and thanks

9/4/2006 2:35:45 PM