Samsung SyncMaster 932BW - Screen Shuts off after 2-3 seconds

[Spartan Erik]

Hey guys, I recently acquired (I found it outside next to someone's trash) a Samsung SyncMaster 932BW. The problem with it (probably why it was in the trash) is that the LCD screen will turn off after 2-3 seconds of displaying an image from any source.

To be more specific, here's a chronological sequence of what I see when I hook it up to my desktop:

Hit power button = screen works fine for 2 seconds, then goes black

Booting/POST = screen works fine for 2 seconds, then goes black

Windows 7 loading screen = screen works fine for 2 seconds, then goes black

Desktop loaded = screen works fine for 2 seconds, then goes black

I've also tried using it as a secondary monitor in a dual-display setup, and it will only (not surprisingly) display the image for 2 seconds and then go black.

Hitting the "source" button a couple times (to switch from DVI to VGA, back to DVI) will make the screen display an image again, but still for only 2 seconds.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I could salvage/fix this thing? I mean the LCD screen itself works great, I assume it's just something wrong with the monitor's main-board (bad capacitor?)

[morphen]

easy; backlight/backlight inverter is done for.

had this problem with dozens of POS-monitors.

edit; Try lighting the screen up with a flashlight. If the backlight is broken, you will see the picture on the screen.

[morphen]

found this on ebay;

http://cgi.ebay.it/SAMSUNG-SYNCMASTER-932BW-19-W-LCD-CCFL-BACKLIGHT-LAMPS-/180505124528

I bet that theres alot of people having the same problem with that monitor, seeing as someone has dedicated a ebay sales-ad for it:p

[Spartan Erik]

Aha! The flashlight trick worked. I had to open and close the start menu repeatedly to notice any discernible difference in the lighting of the monitor

Hooray! A $20 dollar fix here we go! Hopefully whatever burned out the backlights in the first place doesn't burn out a new set of them

[sic133]

Aha! The flashlight trick worked. I had to open and close the start menu repeatedly to notice any discernible difference in the lighting of the monitor

Hooray! A $20 dollar fix here we go! Hopefully whatever burned out the backlights in the first place doesn't burn out a new set of them

Watch tutorials, do some research if it is the first time you do one of these DIY backlight replacement. There is mercury vapor inside the backlight and if it breaks it could be dangerous. Wear grounding straps, etc so you won't damage circuit boards, etc.