Erratic display My display was dark when I returned home. After turning it on and off a brief flickering image appeared then the display turned dark. The computer works fine with another monitor. Turning it on and off brings up a brief flickering image, but it only lasts a second or so before going dark.

Failing Inverter An inverter, typically found inside a laptop computer, consists of a small board, which has impregnated electronic circuits stamped on it. Inverters look like thin boards about the of two sticks of chewing gum. The inverter and its bulb control the intensity of the liquid crystal display, which lights the screen monitor. The computer can control the output voltage of the inverter and either lighten or darken the screen. A special type of inverter can adjust the brightness of the screen by using an internal sensor to judge the room brightness, and then adjust the screen accordingly. Failing inverters give off some specific warning signs, which can be recognized by observing different screen characteristics.

Short Intermittent Display Upon turning on the laptop, the screen flashes on in the normal mode for a short period and then blinks to black. A very faint image appears in a dark background, which will be very hard to see almost invisible. After shutting off the laptop and restarting, the same mode occurs, where the screen appears normal for a few seconds then fades to black. This condition points to a failed inverter. To confirm this, plug in an operational external monitor; if the external monitor functions, the inverter has failed. b> Total Blackout with Ghost image b> The laptop turns on, as indicated by the power supply button, but the screen comes up black. The screen comes up black after restart. You might be able to detect a very dim or ghost-like image on the monitor. When you plug in a known functioning external monitor, the external monitor operates normally. This mode of display indicates a failed inverter. b> Long Term Periodic Operation b> With this failure mode, the laptop screen illuminates normally upon start-up and remains that way after several minutes, hours or even days, until it goes very dark again. Brightness controls or restoration attempts do not work. Most often, the screen will function normally with a computer restart, but will eventually return to black. Faint ghost images might appear, as seen in the total blackout mode. b> Dark With Color Variation b> Upon computer start-up, the monitor shows black or dark gray, accompanied by very faint images. The screen might have an intermittent color change, or remain on with a non-standard color variation, like pink or red. b> Auto Control Switch b> If the screen appears black, with no faint or ghost images, look for the lid switch near the back hinge. The switch, when depressed with a closed lid, shuts off the computer and monitor functions. Sometimes the switch becomes stuck in the closed position, disallowing the computer and monitor to turn on when opened. Pushing the switch manually several times can often free it up. If the switch tab has broken or jammed inside the case, it needs replacing. b> Loose Connection In this mode, the display looks normal upon start-up, but tapping the side case of the computer turns the screen black. More tapping results in the screen functioning normally then cutting out again. This condition points to a loose wire connection from the inverter to the LCD backlight lamp, or the video cable. The connectors can be accessed by removing the monitor bezel screws and pulling the plastic retainer off. Both connectors can be cleaned and refitted.

So your Gateway is brand new or a refurb?

Hello, I too experience this exact same problem. In my opinion, any television under 2 grand is probably going to have some slight imperfection as this; I have tried a few different ones myself. To some, it would appear to only be a minor annoyance, but to those who truly can distinguish a good quality picture between a bad one, or to those people, such as myself, who would find something like this to be unacceptable, this is a disheartening situation.
My friend, I have tried many different settings to see which ones might resolve this issue with the blacks in the picture, or at least reduce it to a barely noticeable level and I have found that when I select the CUSTOM picture mode, reduce the contrast to about 60, turn up the brightness to 62, turn OFF blur reduction,x/v/ color on, CATS on, MPEG NR ON, turn Dark level to LIGHT(this is important) add a little bit of extra color for ex. 52, and sharpness to 75, that this produces a pleasing to the eye performance when watching blu ray movies and dvd's. The flickering is reduced to almost nothing, and the picture quality actually appears sharper and more ethereal in certain ways.
The downside to this is that you are lacking some true depth in the picture's darks, but after your eyes adjust and you are watching a good quality movie, you will notice that there still sort of is enough darks there to compensate. Further fine tuning may produce even better results, jsut have to keep playing around with it. But I am now convinced after hearing somebody come forward with the same exact problem i'm having on the same tv, that it is not a defect but just an imperfection that you sometimes have to deal with when you don't spend like 5 grand on a tv. Good luck and happy viewing!

You may have a faulty inverter or defective CCFL lamp. A faulty CCFL lamp may have the following symptom: Screen flashes on and off or displays reddish pink hue. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering and/or with dim display or appear black. Picture flickers on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replace the CCFL lamp.
To determine if the video card or the LCD is faulty, connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight. Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight or a faulty inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp. Usually the CCFL lamp fails before the inverter.
The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.
Check out LCD Parts for service, parts, and DIY info Use this link to their WEB site: -
www.ladparts.net

You may have a faulty inverter or loose power inverter connection. OR
You may have a defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom: Screen flashs on red/pink and off. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering with dim display or appear black. Picture flickering on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp.
Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight. Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.
The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.
Check out
www.lcdparts.net

You may have a faulty inverter or loose power inverter connection. OR
You may have a defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom: Screen flashs on red/pink and off. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering with dim display or appear black. Picture flickering on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp.
Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight. Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.
The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.
Check out
www.lcdparts.net

The CCFL lamp has been partially damaged and could fail completely any time. Defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom: Screen flashs on red/pink and off. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering with dim display or appear black. Picture flickering on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp.
Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight. Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.
The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.
Check out
www.lcdparts.net
for parts, repair service and DIY info.
var selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit1 = null,selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit2 = null,selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit3 = null; function checkReviewsMarked() { if (selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit1 !== null && selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit2 !== null && selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit3 !== null) { $('btnctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater').disabled = ''; $('btnctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater').className = 'c_sub_small sub_enabled'; } } function checkAndSend(obj) { if (selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit1 !== null && selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit2 !== null && selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit3 !== null) { setRate(selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit1,selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit2,selected_ctl00_SideColumn_ctrl_rater_ctrl_unit3, function() { window.location.href = window.location.href; }); } }

You could have a faulty inverter or a CCFL lamp, To determine if you have a LCD screen, inverter or video card problem, read this and follow these instructions.
Defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom: Screen flashs on red/pink and off. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering with dim display or appear black. Picture flickering on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp.
Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight. Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.
The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.
Check out
www.lcdparts.net
for parts, repair service and DIY info.

Take a look at the capacitors and see if you have any weak one. An obvious way to spot one would be one bubbled up on top. A bad cap won't always be bubbled up. The monitor probably can operate until the voltage drops under 8 volts. Also possible if power supply check out good would be a weak backlight inverter.

Wanna sell the tv for parts? Kev0201@yahoo