How much does it cost to replace a laptop LCD?

Asked by lbwhite89 (1213

) December 20th, 2010

I got an expensive HP laptop from a family member as a gift when I graduated from high school in 2008. The warranty ended in 2009.

For the past few months (maybe even a year or so), I’ve been having some issues with the screen. It started off with everything having a slightly yellow tint. Then, pictures started getting green and pixel-y. Then, it started blacking out for a second or two until I adjust the screen up or down, and then I could see the screen again. Lately, it only does these things until it “warms up” and stays open for a few minutes, and then the issues goes away for the most part.

I was told that this was my LCD monitor going out. Does that sound like that’s what it is? I was also told that getting it fixed/replaced would cost about as much as another laptop. Is that true?

If this has been going on for a year, could it go out for good at any time or will it slowly get worse and worse until I can’t use it? I know computers can be unpredictable, but maybe someone has had this problem before.

I don’t have the money to replace the screen now OR buy a new laptop, but I NEED a computer for school, so it’s really important that it stay working.

My last question is what causes the LCD to go out? Can it be caused by keeping the laptop plugged in all day? The battery life on my laptop went from about an hour to only 10 minutes since I got it. I don’t know if that’s my fault or not. I also tend to leave it on all day and just close it so I can open it up later and resume my session. Is that bad to do also? Sometimes days and days go by without the laptop being fully turned off.

I really hope I didn’t ruin my computer. Any insight?

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2 Answers

The LCD screen are very expensive to replace but you can still use it buy hooking up an external monitor to it. If you’re not too fussy you can a decent good enough one for under a hundred dollars. It won’t really be so much of a laptop, more of desktop if you that but it will be functional. You just won’t be able to haul the set up to class and the library. And I don’t think any of the thinks you mentioned would harm your compluter. If you google the make and model number of you HP along with something like “LCD screen failing” you might find some people on the some of the forums who have had the same problem with theirs.

lillycoyote (24865

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It sounds to me like your backlight is going out. This isn’t your fault; it is a pretty common problem with laptop screens. It’s just aging badly.

A 15” laptop screen should run around $150. If it’s a 17”, it will cost you more. That’s just for the part, not the labor. It is a job some people can do themselves, but most people would have a professional do it. Avoid Geek $quad; they’re too expensive. Your best bet might be to send it to HP; they usually charge a flat rate to fix these things. You might also take it to an independent repair tech, somebody who works out of a storefront or his basement. Overall, the job would probably run about $300 including parts and labor.

IchtheosaurusRex (8676

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