When I partially open the LCD monitor, the image appears for a second, then when fully opened, the image is blank.

Look in the view finder when recording instead of the screen. if you see the image there then the unit is probably set to look through there. Many of the new units dont' have a full view finder to lens item they actually have a small lcd screen inside the view finder. Check your options for recording.

Also if the view finder is tilted you need to close that before usign the lcd.

The image will not appear simultaneously on the LCD

monitor and the viewfinder. It will appear in the

viewfinder when the LCD monitor is in the lock position,

and it will appear on the LCD monitor when fully
extended.

natehoop, Ok, we know it is BLACK!!! Now connect it to a fully booted known-good pc with WIN-desktop being displayed. Then point a flashlight 1 inch from screen and tell me if lcd panel is BLANK, or if you can see very, very faint image of the desktop?? If you see image = power supply in partial shutdown mode!! If you see nothing = power supply in full shutdown. Unit suffers from "Black Screen Of Death" You should watch some repair videos over at YOUTUBE first to learn about the CAPACITOR problem. then come back here and do a reply stating if you will attempt a diy repair or other option. 12fixlouie

If your lcd comes with ac adapter open this and check for blown or bulge capacitors, replace this with same value.

If your monitor comes with plug cable, open your monitor (too risky to do it by yourself) check the power supply section, check and replace blown and bulge caps.

Most common failures in the LCD monitors are bad capacitors (bulging top/seal or leaking) in the power supply, failed inverter circuits (blown fuse, shorted transistors, shorted/open transformers), bad lamps (poor solder connections or worn out lamps). You will need to open it up and inspect the inside, see example of failed SAMSUNG monitors to get some ideas what to look for: http://s807.photobucket.com/home/budm/allalbums
Post back what you see inside so we can guide you further and it will help out other people in the future also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

http://www.badcaps.net

White screen means that your lamp (back light) is working absolutely fine, but you could have a loose connection for the data ribbon cable, which sends the images to the monitor.
Carefully open laptop to reach its lcd, there must be ribbon cable which looks like this:
It is very sensitive so be very careful with that, very gently remove this from the chip and reconnect it.
Hope this helps, Please feel free to ask me any further.

Most common failure in the LCD monitors are bad capacitors (bulging top/seal or leaking) in the power supply, falied inverter circuits (blown fuse, shorted transistors, shorted/open transformers), bad lamps (poor solder connections or worn out lamps). You will need to open it up and inspect the inside, see example of failed SAMSUNG monitors to get some ideas what goes wrong: http://s807.photobucket.com/home/budm/allalbums
Post back what you see inside so we can guide you further.

dpelrod727, Yes, the "switch-mode-power-supply" is in "partial" or "full" SHUTDOWN mode. Reconnect E172FP to a fully booted KNOWN good PC with the win-desktop as the displayed screen. Check with flashlight to see if your LCD panel is both BLACK and BLANK, or just BLACK by holding a bright flashlight 1" from screen at different angles even though the screen appears to be blank. If very faint image of desktop is seen then your SMPS is still half alive. Here are your options in either case. 1. Trade in for new. 2. Try Dell for a cash+old swapout for a Refurbed unit. 3. Check out www.ccl-la.com/badcaps, www.badcaps.net, www.lcdparts.net, and YOUTUBE long video clips dealing with LCD monitor disassembly and LCD repair. could be helpful in making decision on what to do. I'm 12fixlouie If this was helpful rate on fixya.

Hi ,
The monitor flicker problem. The monitor when turn on will display image for couple of second then turn black. The monitor status led is still green. This will happen each time it is turn on. The symptom at appear to come from the inverter board.

hello, mine lcd it is extinguished continually. I have tried to open it and seems us or a problem on a condenser dell' inverter. Someone you would know dirmi where to find the outline in order to understand like repairing it?

no, Viewsonic has the part for sale 42.99 - free shipping. Easy to replace