Powerbook 140/145 LCD Contrast issue

[Strimkind]

The Powerbook 140 I got arrived with a blank LCD and nothing comes up when I boot it. The HD is dead unfortunately so nothing comes from that end.

I happen to have an LCD from a 145B that was DOA but the LCD worked.

I installed it on the 140 base, and up comes the disk '?'. After booting the LCD is nearly impossible to read as the contrast is too high. Is this just something a full software install will fix? Or is it evidence of a larger issue like incompatible LCD's (although they look the same) or something broken.

 

[nvdeynde]

You probably don't want to hear this but you have to replace the SMD capacitors in the LCD panel.

As for the 140 LCD: do you see the backlight coming on ? If you have a known good LCD cable and the backlight comes one but without image, the LCD will likely work again after replacing the capacitors.

It's not a compatibility issue: you can exchange the LCD's between the 140,145,160 and 165.

The complete PB100 series need to have the LCD's recapped, excluding the PB170,180,165c and 180c because these are active matrix displays.

I see you have a PB100 too: there not only the LCD has to be recapped but the logic board as well. You will be surprised if you have a closer look at the PB100's logic board.