Step 1: Determine if you need a new screen
If you've dropped your laptop—or dropped something on it—and the screen has fractured, the diagnosis is easy. Connect an external monitor to your notebook via its VGA-out port to verify that the notebook's other components still work. If the laptop functions properly in all other respects, it's time to start hunting for the parts to fix the screen. If your display problems aren't the result of visible physical damage, however, the problem may not be the LCD. If your screen's backlight flickers, shuts down after a few minutes of usage, or doesn't come on at all, but you can still see a faint screen image, your problem may be the inverter, a small board that supplies power to the backlight. The good news is that these boards are available for well under $100. (We'll show you how to locate and replace the inverter.) If replacing the inverter doesn't solve the problem, the backlight itself may be faulty. If that's the case, replacing the LCD should fix your problem. If you see gibberish, lines, or a solid color on the screen, connect an external monitor and switch to that display (if you can). If the problem is evident on the external monitor, the issue is likely with your laptop's motherboard or video circuitry, not the display. If the external display works properly, the LCD or the cables leading to it are the likely problem.
Step 2: Find and remove the bezel screws
Carefully pry back the small rubber covers on the bezel to reveal the screws holding it in place. Before buying a new LCD, you'll want to examine, and possibly remove, the current one. Doing so will give you a chance to spot other possible causes for your display problem, and to gather the necessary part numbers to ensure that you get the right replacement screen. Before you begin, remove the laptop's battery and disconnect the power brick. For most laptops, you'll need only a couple of tools to remove the screen: a small Philips screwdriver, and a very small flat-head screwdriver or a knife. First, you'll need to locate the screw covers. These small rubber covers are generally found on the front of the display's bezel (surrounding frame), though on some notebooks you might find some of the covers along the side of the screen. (Note that these instructions will work for most laptop models, but occasionally you'll encounter unusual designs such as Apple's iBook G4, which uses Allen screws, or Apple's MacBook, which has no screws holding its bezel in place.) Use the tip of a small flat-head screwdriver or knife to carefully pry back the corner of each rubber cover around the screen until you can see if a screw lies underneath. If you locate a screw, remove the cover and place it in a small plastic bag or other safe location. Typically, you'll find at least four, and perhaps six, screws on the bezel. After you've located them all, remove them and store them with the covers.
