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Just to add my experience, I like others started getting this problem only after upgrading to Windows 7. I did that upgrade at the same time as fitting a bigger HDD, so the possibility of having dislodged a cable seemed reasonable. Although I didn’t dismantle the screen, I took off the back casing (i.e. as I did when fitting the disk) and double checked the cable header was seated properly). The problem (white screen) continued intermittently
After googling about I read about a bios upgrade, which among other things indicated Windows 7 support (I know someone on this thread tried a bios update without solving this problem). My NC10 seemed to be running Windows 7 fine with the older bios (aside from the white screen issue), but I decided to give it a go anyway. I downloaded and installed the lates version from Samsung (11CA at the time) and the problem has not recurred for about 2 months now. I have tried moving the screen around and applying gentle pressure at the area where the connecting cable is terminated and all seems well.
One thing I notice is different is that during start up the screen ALWAYs goes white for a few seconds until the Windows startup screen apears, which I don’t recall it doing on the older bios. I haven’t bothered checking if this is a bios config option yet.
Just thought I would add this – there are clearly issues with the motherboard/LCD cable, but if you are in the same boat as I was, the bios update may be worth trying first.Its very easy and runs within windows. Not counting my chickens by any means, and as per the personwho posted above, I have saved all of the details on DIY repairs if I need them later as I’m out of warranty now.
cheers.
Hi guys,
Well, I loved my girlfriends NC10, which she’s had for over a year now. Her laptop has occasionally had the WSOD, but not frequently enough to be alarming.
I, however, bought the N110 three months ago, and the screen died. I was using it as it happened: no sudden bumps or anything, it just quit working.
I’ve followed some of the advice in this thread and took it apart, made sure the connectors were fine, etc. I was going to swap screens with my girlfriend’s NC10, but the connectors are different (I didn’t check the monitor’s connection on the motherboard — they might be the same, so I could troubleshoot that).
The interesting thing is that on my N110, you can still see whats on the screen — it’s like when you turn your backlit off (Function + F5), if you look at just the right angle, you can still see whats on your screen. I can connect it to an external monitor and the picture appears.
So, if I had to guess, I’d say whatever hardware function powers the backlit feature has died and I probably need a new screen. Has anyone heard of this problem, or have any other ideas before I pony up for a new screen?
Edit: I’m retarded — thought my machine had a 90 day warranty, not a full year. But I didn’t see any sort of seal that said the warranty would be void if removed — think this will be an issue? I’m still not opposed to trying to fix it, but obviously if there’s a free fix, that’d be great.
tysova – Welcome to the forum
It could be a broken wire in the LCD harness.
However it would be the cheapest option to contact Samsung Support and have it repaired under warranty if a new screen is required.
Hope this helps
Quote:I posted this solution on another forum thread, but the topic was less specific and the model was the NC-20. Having fixed this whitescreen problem myself (my warranty was voided by swapping the hard drive) on my NC-10, I feel inclined to share my solution here.Despite what some people have heard from the repair facility, the problem is not with the motherboard. When I had this problem, like many other users, I was able to get the screen to work by dimming the brightness. However, I was also able to bring the screen back by squeezing the base of the lid, with my thumbs on either side of the Samsung logo and my fingers on the back of the lid. Seeing as how this is not the location of the computer’s motherboard, I was pretty sure that explanation was incorrect, and that the problem is in fact with the wiring of the LCD panel.
So the solution that I pursued and which has so far solved the problem was to dismantle the lid, remove the panel, adjust the wiring, and screw it all back together. I am pretty certain this will not void the warranty because nothing destructive happens in the process. Here are the steps:
1. Remove the battery.
2. Peel off the little rubber pads from the four corners of the face of the lid and unscrew the corresponding four screws.
3. Using a pocket knife or similar object, peel the face off the lid. There are places along the top where some sort of adhesive keeps it together. Elsewhere, the are snaps that pop open as you peel the face off. Do not be alarmed.
4. Unscrew the four screws at the base of the LCD panel, freeing the panel from the hinges. Commence handling the LCD panel. Notice where the cable flattens out and adheres to the back of the panel, Have some fun peeling the first inch or so of it off and sticking it back on.
5. Go on and re-insert the battery and fire up your computer. Without any safety precautions, proceed to dork around with the wiring. Once you have confirmed that your problem is solved, find a nice way to lace the wiring into place and screw the LCD panel back on.
6. Continue staring at the computer screen. Turn the brigness up to full blast and have a sandwich. Enjoy the computer. If the problem is still fixed, shut the computer down, remove the battery and screw everything back together.
This fixed me and it might fix you, too. Bear in mind that, if you are still under warranty and have a few weeks to blow, you might be better off sending the machine to Samsung. This fix is for people who need to do it themselves and enjoy opening things up. Talent is not required.
I followed this guide and now everything is fine. Thankyou!
First the flicker for a few months. Then the white screen yesterday.
Updated drivers, removed a recent codec pack but no luck. So took the plunge and followed ‘outnumbered’ instructions (thanks). I had problems with:
‘dork around with the wiring’ and find a ‘nice way to lace the wiring into place’ …as everything is enclosed in a metalic sleeve. There’s no way to get to ‘the wiring’ without some serious cutting away of the sleeve. Have people attempted this?
Anyway, I fiddled, and poked, then disconnected and reconnected the ribbbon connector to the screen.
White screen gone. Hurrah. Don’t know why though. This does seem to be a serious issue with the model.
cm17 wrote: “This does seem to be a serious issue with the model.”
Yes it is.
Samsung france repaired it for me (under guaranty)But now i doesn’t trust in the fiability of the nc 10.
Could happens an other time out of the garanty….[quote1274103172=cm17]
‘dork around with the wiring’ and find a ‘nice way to lace the wiring into place’ …as everything is enclosed in a metalic sleeve. There’s no way to get to ‘the wiring’ without some serious cutting away of the sleeve. Have people attempted this?
[/quote1274103172]I didn’t cut the sleeve away. I just pealed the ribbon off and stuck it back in a slightly different place.
I had a persistent white screen problem and followed Maypoo’s solution and refixed the ribbon cable in a slightly different position. No more white screen and everything has been stable since.
Many thanks Maypoo!
The flicker of doom is back (only when I move the screen though). I have a feeling its the cable that runs through the hinge that is the issue (not the ribbon connector) – can anyone confirm this?
There also seems to be a little more cable than is necessary (a bit of slack). Is it better to have more cable pulled through (behind the LCD) or keep it taut behind the LCD and push it through the hinge into the base?
There are over 1000 results on google for ‘nc10 “white screen” ‘. It’s mentioned as a fault on the nc10 wikipedia entry and has a 7 page thread here. Is it time for a ‘sticky’?
Hi All,
Im having this issue on my NC20 which has just gone out of warranty 🙁 it seems with all the people having this issue it is a design fault – they really should be offering to fix this…
anyway, now my screen is almost unusable, i have to squeeze the base of the screen near the hinge for the picture to clear up. I tried taking the entire thing apart thinking it was just a loose connection but no luck, even after unplugging it at both ends and re-sitting it the issue is still there.
What now? I googled the part number, (for me it is BA39-00788A), and the only place that sells it is for €57! Seriously, for a tiny little cable. I don’t know if it’s laced with crack or something, but €57 for a tiny cable is outrageous. I’d sooner buy a new laptop than pay €57 for a cable.
So do I have any options here? Does the part number matter, or are they generally standard cables that work from other laptop models where cables may be cheaper?
Would it be a good idea to unravel the silver foil that’s wrapped around the cables to see if the cable is split somewhere and can be repaired somehow – or is that asking for trouble?
bit annoyed that this issue happened right when warranty is up and noticing so many others having the same issue – it seems to be a design fault to me, should be recalled :/
this is leaving a bad taste in my mouth seeing that this issue runs across several Samsung netbook models…. I don’t see myself buying another Samsung netbook/notebook again – the thing is only a year old! (btw i thought in Europe warranty for electrical goods had to be 2 years? hmm)
Hi cyruss,
It has been known for Samsung to still honour an out of date warranty, so it would definitely be worth asking.
I had the white screen problem video driver 8.15.10.1912, with the extra high video resolution (above 1024×600). I rolled the driver back, ended up being same version number but with maximum res of 1024×600.
White screen problem gone. Test you screen before and after with google earth, allow it to load up then double click somewhere and it zooms in. It may flicker white, probably a lot more before rolling back.
Looks like the driver has a sync problem at higher resolutions.
Hope this works for others, the lower res is a bit of a problem but it did say 1024×600 on the box when we bought them.
Hello!
After 7 months of no problems, the white screen came back :s, I tried to format the laptop but nothing.This was my problem:
So after reading all of your posts I decided to open the LCD. I disconnected the ribbon from the LCD and….nothing, the same problem.
I realized my problem was the connector from the LCD to the ribbon (not the ribbon). I uploaded some pictures to show you how it was solved (for now).
My solution: just more pressure to the connector between the LCD and the ribbon
Thanks a lot for your help!!
[quote1280438867=outnumbered]
I posted this solution on another forum thread, but the topic was less specific and the model was the NC-20. Having fixed this whitescreen problem myself (my warranty was voided by swapping the hard drive) on my NC-10, I feel inclined to share my solution here.
[/quote1280438867]Amazing, this really works.
In case others want to try: I put a video HOWTO on YoutTube showing how to get things apart and back together again.
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