PCTech Forums

how can you test if you monitor still works? cuz my mobo died.

Your MOBO dying is no reason for the monitor to have died too, so you can safely assume that the monitor is fine. If you really want to know (though I cant see why it matters?) you'll need to open it up and unplug the serial cable of the monitors that connects to the MOBO, and plug it in to a different board. It'll probably only work with another laptop motherboard, but if you're lucky it'll go straight into a desktop board. The monitor will still need a source of power though, so you'll probably need to plug it's power cable into the other system too.

To be careful with any mucking about with Laptop screens - they're notoriously delicate and hard to repair.

Ultimately, your best bet is probably to just bite the bullet and obtain a new motherboard from somewhere like Romtronics (www.romtronics.co.uk) or savastore (www.savastore.co.uk), making sure its compatible with your case and monitor.

Hope this helped.

Jazzman
"So many people these days say that everything that can be done has been done, and can be said has been said. They may be right - but it's fun to pretend" ~ Kurt Cobain

I'm going to have to disagree with Jazzman, there is no serial cable going to a laptop monitor.

What there is a "flex-bend" circuit board connecting the display to the video output on the motherboard.
The only way to test a laptop display that I know of is to connect it to a working laptop.

Great care must be used when disconnecting the "flex-bend" circuit board from the MB.
There is a usually a connector release device that need to be released during removal.
They vary in design but are usually plastic clasps or tabs that keep the two connectors together.

If you pull the "flex-bend" circuit board out of its connector it's almost imposable to put it back in.

[quote="Gecko"]I'm going to have to disagree with Jazzman, there is no serial cable going to a laptop monitor. [quote]

Yes... I'm sure you're right. Sorry!