No display

[Lysak]

hi guys, hoping to find some answers here. I have a 2010 17" MacBook Pro that operates fine but has no display. I can display onto a tv and works great, checked all my connections on the boards to the display and they all seem fine.
Now, here's the weird thing, if I put a light behind the display by the apple logo, I can just see my desk top in the centre of the screen from the light coming through. See attached image.

Ideas what this is? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[iMacDragon]

The inverter for the backlight has probably failed.

 

[Lysak]

The inverter for the backlight has probably failed.

Thanks Dragon, I did a search and it seems there isn't one for this model (A1297). Something I am missing? Thanks

 

[iMacDragon]

Thanks Dragon, I did a search and it seems there isn't one for this model (A1297). Something I am missing? Thanks

Hmm, actually, those had switched to LED already, so they probably don't have an inverter as such anymore. It's certainly something with the backlight circuit that's failed though, but by looks of it it's just a single cable servicing the LCD so not sure if much can be done without replacing whole display panel as one unit, other than trying to reseat cable.

 

[Lysak]

Hmm, actually, those had switched to LED already, so they probably don't have an inverter as such anymore. It's certainly something with the backlight circuit that's failed though, but by looks of it it's just a single cable servicing the LCD so not sure if much can be done without replacing whole display panel as one unit, other than trying to reseat cable.

[doublepost=1455413571][/doublepost]Yea that's what I kinda thought. I did have the panel off this morning and yes just the LVCD cable on the right and ransoms on the left.

I do have another A1297 for parts but oddly the display cables are different. I was really hoping to just swap the panels, but ughh! I have posted the two models below of the display wiring. The LVCD cables are both good to swap but the others below are not. The bottom image is just the panel with a direct connection to the board. The top image connection is like it Hassan jumper connection the board over the optical drive.
Thoughts on using this panel?

 

[DeltaMac]

If you see your screen elements (menus, icons, etc) dimly, then the backlight is not working (and I think you already know that )
Have you tried a PRAM reset?
Have you checked that the screen brightness controls are adjusted (both in the Displays pref pane, and f1 or f2 on the keyboard) to see if that makes any difference?
If you can't get any change in brightness (not even a momentary flash during boot), you have already (apparently) checked the logic board connectors. That probably means that a fuse (F9800) on the logic board has blown.
Fuses don't fail by themselves - so, it's likely the display will need to be replaced (something shorted in the display cabling) and the logic board will also need to be replaced (unless you are lucky enough to have the skills and equipment to replace the blown fuse, or get the board repaired at a business that does such repairs.
Quite a job, and a lot of effort (and a fair amount of cash) to repair a 6 year-old laptop, but that's up to you, I suppose.

 

[Lysak]

Hey Delta Mac, it's been a while! Not sure if you saw my new post I placed last night but after our conversation, we had about the issues. I put the laptop to bed since we last talked (Feb 13 2016). Well, I decided to pull it out and fix it. I bought a 2nd hand motherboard, an i7-2.86 GHz board, and new sticks of ram. a new LVDS cable, and a working 2nd hand screen (complete). All went well for installation. but believe it or not, the same issue, no screen. Here is the link for the post I made last night that has more info.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mid-2010-17-inch-macbook-pro-6-1-reboot-issues-big-time.2377338/

If you can assist in any way, man... sure be appreciated!

 

[DeltaMac]

Is the issue the same? (No backlight, but you can see the dim image as in your first post from 6 years agp?
Or, is it now nothing on the screen -- black, no image of any kind on the screen, even with a bright light shining into the screen?

You said that your replacement screen is "working"... How did you test that?

 

[Lysak]

Hey Delta, thanks so much for getting back to me! I can see the desktop image on the screen when I light it up from behind as its just a black screen. I did replace pretty much everything as well. I installed a 2nd hand logic board (i5 to i7), some new ram, a new drive and bought 2 complete screens and both he said were tested and working before shipping. I installed one of them and by golly it's no different than it was 6 years ago!

I tried to get the onboard video out to my tv screen, and used the Miniport to HDMI conversion plug and nothing is seen on the tv either. That said, it did show on the tv once after 5 or 6 attempts of command R but lost that and had to reboot.

So yea, here i am 6 years later trying to get this mother *@^%%*! to work again. As far as your question how did I test it? I didn't, i am taking the guys word that it is working, but hey, we know Ebay is always perfect...right!.

 

[DeltaMac]

(I do like to ask the simple questions....) Have you double-checked that the screen brightness (f1/f2) is turned up?

 

[Lysak]

Hey you never know right! Yes I did check but no reaction to increasing or decreasing it. I did notice that the keyboard brightness does not adjust either.

 

[Lysak]

Hey Delta, I have an update for this. Firstly, I am sorry to drag you back into this as iMessage sure your a busy guy. So, I want to thank you for your time and expertise and if you can supply just a bit more time I’ll be out of your hair.

Here’s my update
I Managed to load Snow Leopard onto the drive from a USB by peering through the light from behind the Apple. Afterwards the keypad was back on line and was lit but still no display. I then contacted the guy from EBAY and asked how it was tested and commented on the **** poor packaging he did for shipping. He replied with a full refund with no comment!

I then decided to remove that display and install the other one I bought off EBAY. Still no display, with me saying words that should only be mentioned when your married to a bitch. Today I removed the logic board and tested the fuse and power driver (see attached photos) and this is what I found;

Fuse F9800 ohms check - no jump or change in ohms
Power Driver 09806 ohms check - #1 left side - closed? (no change), #2 middle - open? (jumped), #3 right side - open? (jumped)

Now ime no electrician and not sure what you call a circuit the has no change in ohms but if the needle didn’t jump I called it closed and if there was a jump in ohms, I call that open, hope that’s correct. Sooooo, if I can pretend I am smart, I believe the fuse to be blown and the driver that supplies the power to that fuse is good?

Now I’ve bought a ton of **** for computers in the past, rebuilt car engines and built my own home start to finish but never bought any tiny components like fuses. Where in gods name do you buy that, preferably in Canada, if not USA is cool to I guess 😏

I most likely will take the board in to a shop to get the work done but at this point any thoughts, comments, advise or corrections on this would be awesome because your an awesome guy!

Cheers…Rob

 

[DeltaMac]

I have two words: Good Luck!
I don't do repairs on logic board, as I just don't have the soldering station that is almost always needed.
So, my suggestion is to find someone who does this, has the equipment and experience.
I used to do some soldering, but that was before the era of multi-layer circuit boards and microscopic solder connections (at least to my eyes) - it's beyond my training, and likely why any circuit boards that I have attempted a repair, but have not been successful.

 

[Lysak]

LOL ok I gotcha! I thought that you were a major general in this forum for some reason! Well, I am sorry to deluge you with this crap and as far as luck, il need it. I just dont want to let go of this Mac, it has been around the globe and serious history with me.
I appreciate your advise throughout the past 7 years lol, take care