Replacing a Laptop LCD

[odel0022]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone here has replaced an LCD on a laptop before. How difficult is it? My friend recently stepped up on my Toshiba Satellite M45-S269 and cracked the LCD pretty bad and it gets worse and worse every day. SO today I bought a new LCD for it for $265 and will TRY to put it in myself. Toshiba wanted $700 plus shipping to replace and put a new LCD in for me. Any help would be a appreciated. I found a few websites that will hopefully help me with this chore. I am kind of nervous, I don't mind ripping apart a desktop, but a laptop is a completely story for me. Thanks for any help.

[Panama Red]

I've done a couple and they're pretty simple. Just take your time and make sure you remove all the screws that hold it in place. Should be a couple of wiring connections at the bottom.

[thefultonhow]

This guide may be helpul:

http://irisvista.com/tech/laptops/To...en_removal.htm

[Panama Red]

Nice guide, tfh! Pictures are still the best to learn from.

[odel0022]

Thank you guys so much...there is a shipping problem right now that I have to verify my address, but then I will get it sent. I will keep you guys posted with my soon-to-be-success. Thanks again guys!

[GaryRouth]

Late reply here --

Just a reminder to remember to remove the laptop's battery before taking things apart - you don't want any charge present when working on the laptop.

I've replaced a couple of screens: if the replacement you ordered matches exactly, and includes both the inverter along with the LCD screen - it's just a matter of being careful (like Panama & thefultonhow mention). Probably the most important technical detail is making sure, if you are replacing only the LCD screen, that the inverter is compatible with the screen.

A service guide for your model is always a plus, too, it will have all the screw sizes and placements charted out nicely, as well as a procedure that shows in what order to remove and then replace parts.

If you're done with it already, at least I've gotten my typing practice in.
. . . Gary

[odel0022]

So I should be recieving the LCD screen on Monday, but just for a confidence boost, since I have never done this before, I decided to make sure I could take it apart using the guide given above. I stopped at which I believe step 6 when it asks to remove the display cable. The picture looks exactly what I am looking at, but it is somewhat vague. I can see that a cable is taped on the back of the lcd, but which piece do I remove? on what end is the "display cable" located that I must disconnect...and when I replace the LCd will I also have to take out the FL inverter or whatever the guide calls it as well....

[thefultonhow]

Do you mean Step 5?

If so, you remove it at the part that's covered up by black in the picture.

[Panama Red]

You will find a connector on the flat cable that lays behind the lcd. Just unplug it. The inverter also has a small plug in connector. You may not need to replace the inverter but if you bought one and you can't return it, you might as well put the new one in. You can test the screen without putting everyting fully back together. Just tilt the top back so the lcd doesn't move around and plug in both connectors.

[odel0022]

Well guys, mission complete. Thanks to pcmech helping me through this, I saved myself $500 of TOshiba Labor...thanks again for all the help!!

[Panama Red]

Nice job, odel! Thanx for the feedback.