Toshiba Laptop LCD Screen problems

LCD screen cracked, and Three even strips going across? Doubtful. Haven't seen it but I always have my mind open.

Three strips that are irregularly shaped? Look like glass that has cracked?
'Jagged edges'?

LCD screen is broken.

Three even strips indicates to me, that there may be a problem with the Video Cable. Then the screen Inverter is next in the diagnoses.
My money is on the Video Cable.

ALL power removed, Anti-Static Precautions FOLLOWED, I would check out the graphics chipset first.

1) Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the VGA port on the laptop.
Left rear side. This is an example of a VGA Cable, and VGA connector. (VGA port on a laptop ),

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

(Color of connector does Not matter. It is generally Blue, though)

You can use a CRT type of monitor, (Looks like a small TV), or a flat LCD screen monitor if it has a VGA cable.

2) Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type allow it to warm up.
Turn the laptop on.

There are at least 3 display options available;
1) Laptop internal monitor ONLY
2) Laptop internal monitor AND external VGA monitor
3) External VGA monitor ONLY

Press, and hold down on the Fn key, and at the same time tap once on the F5 key. (The F5 key is the Display Toggle-Over key)

No display on external VGA monitor?
Hold the Fn key down again, and tap once more on the F5 key.

Is the display on the external VGA monitor, the same as the internal monitor of the laptop?

Problem is the graphics chipset.

Display is fine on the external VGA monitor?
Problem is the Video Cable, screen Inverter, or LCD screen.

Video Cable:

A) http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-A105/big/Toshiba-Satellite-A105-14.jpg

Switch Cover removed, Keyboard removed. Shows you where the Video Cable plugs into the motherboard.

B) http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-A105/big/Toshiba-Satellite-A105-21.jpg

Palm Rest Cover you can see the white rectangular connector, for the motherboard side of the Video Cable, at the top left.
It's above the black cable, and near the screw hole.

The Video Cable leads from the motherboard, up through the left Hinge, and into the Display Assembly.
From there it connects to the screen Inverter, and back of the LCD screen.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-A105-6017B0050801-LCD-Video-Cable-Genuine-OEM-Laptop-TESTED-/290754851160?forcev4exp=true&forceRpt=true

In the photo, (You can hover your mouse cursor on it to enlarge), the right side connector plugs into the back of the LCD screen.

The black connector to the far left connects to the motherboard.
The small white connector at the top with the Red, Green, Black, etc wires, connects to the screen Inverter.

(The small Black cable, that comes out from the black motherboard connector, is a Ground wire )

Due to the close proximity of the Video Cable to the left Hinge, it can be pulled on from just normal opening, and closing of the laptop over time.

This means the Video Cable connection on the motherboard side could be loose, or the LCD screen side, or both.

The diagnoses is to PHYSICALLY check BOTH connections. A loose connection at the motherboard, or at the back of the LCD screen could be so small in distance, that you will not see it with the human eye.

Could also result in damage to the Video Cable.
View the Video Cable with the Switch Cover removed, and see if there are any obvious signs of damage to the sheath of the cable.

If there is there could be damage to the tiny wires inside the Video Cable. (Stretched/Broken)

Use a multimeter set to OHMs, to check all wires inside the Video Cable for continuity, or have a 'Mom and Pop' computer store check it for a few bucks, or replace the Video Cable.

Video cable connections are tight? Video cable continuity check checks out OK?
Screen Inverter.

The test for a screen Inverter is to use a sensitive multimeter.
Read fairly expensive.

http://www.fonerbooks.com/test.htm

Not having access to a sensitive multimeter that you can use, means just replacing the screen Inverter. Seems like 'part changing', and it is, but you have to work with what you've got.

http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Toshiba,Satellite,A105,Laptop,Inverters.aspx

Find THE model number for your laptop, and the correct screen Inverter. A screen Inverter, and an LCD screen are a MATCHED unit.

Screen Inverter is checked out to be OK, or replaced, and symptoms are still the same, the problem is the LCD screen.

Remember, the first part of the diagnoses was to see if the divided parts were EVEN going across, or jagged and irregularly shaped.

Jagged in shape, and not even strips going across, means cracks in the LCD screen.
Replace.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-A105/remove-replace-LCD-screen-1.htm

[ Main article for A and B links above;

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-A105/remove-motherboard-1.htm ]

For additional questions please post in a Comment

Regards,
joecoolvette

Don't assume. Diagnose.

Problem could be graphics chipset, Video Cable, screen Inverter, or LCD screen.

Graphics chipset:

1) Laptop OFF, monitor OFF, connect a VGA monitor to the VGA port, on the laptop.
(Back of laptop - Blue)

Example of a VGA Cable, and a VGA connector, (Port on laptop),

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

If you have a CRT type of monitor (Looks like a small TV), you can use it, or a flat LCD screen monitor with a VGA cable.

The Toshiba Satellite P105-S9722 Notebook PC, also has a DVI connector on the back of the laptop. (Next to the blue VGA port)
You can connect a flat LCD screen monitor with a DVI cable.

Example of a DVI Cable, and DVI connector,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

2) Turn the monitor on. If a CRT type allow it to warm up.
Turn the laptop on.
By factory default the display should be on the external monitor.

If not;
Press, and hold down on the Fn key, (Bottom left), and tap once on the F5 key.
The F5 key is the Display Toggle-Over key.

You will see a list. It 'hot cycles' through the list, until you come to the external monitor device you are using.

http://shop.mcccomputers.com/network-modem-cards/6037-toshiba-satellite-p100-p105-p105-s6104-p105-s9722-video-board-256mb-ts15082.html

External monitor display shows no white screen?
Your graphics chipset is good.
Go on with the diagnoses.

Problem is with the Video Cable, or in the Display Assembly.
(Screen Inverter or LCD screen)

Video Cable:
The Video Cable attaches to the motherboard under the Switch Cover, and about at the F2 and F3 keys.
It then routes under the left Hinge, and up into the Display Assembly.

From there it connects to the screen Inverter, and back of LCD screen,

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/toshiba-satellite-p105/big/toshiba-satellite-p105-11.jpg

From;

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/toshiba-satellite-p105/take-apart-1.htm

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-P105-P100/remove-lcd-screen-inverter-1.htm

Due to normal opening, and closing of the laptop, the Video Cable may become pinched, and pulled on.
This can lead to a simple loose connection of the Video Cable TO the motherboard, or TO the back of the LCD screen.

(The screen Inverter connection should also be checked)

Visual inspection will NOT do. You need to physically see if you can plug the motherboard connection, and LCD screen connection in.
It could be just loose enough you won't be able to see it, but will affect the display.

Sheath of Video Cable needs to be visually inspected for signs of damage. Signs of damage to the sheath, may also mean damage to the tiny wires inside the sheath of the Video Cable.
(Stretched/Broken)

Assurance that the Video Cable is not the problem, means checking out, or have checked out, with a multimeter set to OHM's, to run a continuity check of all the wires.
('Mom and Pop' computer store. See if they will check it)

Or simply replace the Video Cable. (After you fire up the laptop, and see if loose connections was, or was not the problem)

http://www.batterysupport.com/toshiba-satellite-p105-s9722-cable-p-377633.html

(Left side connects to LCD screen. Right/Top connector goes to motherboard. Right/Bottom connector goes to screen Inverter)

Video Cable checks out OK?
Go on to screen Inverter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-Satellite-P105-S9722-laptop-lcd-Screen-Inverter-/250759700669

The plastic thin frame in front of the LCD screen, is the Display Bezel.
The screen Inverter is behind the Display Bezel, and mounted at a location towards the bottom of the LCD screen frame.

A screen Inverter is tested with a sensitive multimeter. Read fairly expensive,

http://www.fonerbooks.com/test.htm

It is for this reason that those who do not have access to a sensitive multimeter, usually just replace the screen Inverter.
(Also low cost, and ease of access to replace)

Screen Inverter checks out OK?
Problem is the LCD screen,

http://www.amazon.com/SATELLITE-P105-S6084-P105-S9722-P200-140-REPLACEMENT/dp/B007QEEYGE

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

[ Bet it's the video cable, or screen Inverter, that is the problem ]

[ Primer:
An LCD screen cannot produce light by itself. It needs an additional light source.
A Backlight is the additional light source.

A Backlight can be a CCFL, (Or two of them), or a series of LED's.
(Light Emitting Diode)

The Toshiba Satellite P105-S9722 Notebook PC, uses One CCFL for a Backlight.

A CCFL is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp.
Similar to Fluorescent lighting used in homes, and businesses, but on a MUCH smaller scale.

Average thickness is 2mm. That is a little larger than 1/16th of an Inch.
Average length is almost as long, as the LCD screen is in height,

General example,

http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/12/09/replace-laptop-backlight-ccfl-lamp/

A CCFL contains -> Mercury, just like Fluorescent lighting used in homes, and businesses.

A screen Inverter is used to convert the power from the laptop, for the Backlight, and LCD screen.
90 Percent of the Time the fault is a bad screen Inverter.

Primer over.

The used inverter maybe faulty. The inverter supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp in the LCD screen, the CCFL lamp provides the backlight.
LCD screens and Inverters are available from this WEB site.www.lcdparts.net