How to Replace a Lamp in an Inspiron 600m

You can replace the LCD backlight in your Dell Inspiron 600m laptop.

The backlight lamp is a small bulb inside your laptop's LCD screen; it lights up the screen and allows you to view graphics and video. But just like any type of light bulb, your backlight lamp will burn out at some point leaving your LCD screen appearing dim or without a picture at all. Replacing the backlight in your Dell Inspiron 600m laptop requires completely taking apart the display panel and removing the LCD screen.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-static wrist strap
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Backlight lamp
• Foil tape
• Soldering iron
• Solder

Instructions

1. Power down your laptop using the operating system's start menu. Close the display panel and disconnect all cables from the laptop. Remove the battery pack from its compartment underneath.

2. Put on the anti-static wrist strap. Open the LCD panel as far as possible. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the keyboard bezel. This is the plastic strip located above the keyboard's top row of keys.

3. Remove the two Phillips-head screws revealed by the keyboard bezel. Tilt the keyboard upward and then place it face down on the palm rest. Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard. Remove the keyboard from the laptop, entirely.

4. Disconnect the large LCD video cable that extends from the left side of the display panel to the motherboard. Remove the Phillips-head screws from each display hinge. Carefully remove the entire display assembly from the laptop's base. Place the display panel face up on a flat, clean surface.

5. Remove the six rubber screw seals from the display panel's front cover with a flat-head screwdriver. Then remove the six Phillips-head screws securing the front cover in place. Remove the front cover from the display panel.

6. Remove the two retaining Phillips-head screws from each side of the LCD screen. These screws secure the screen to the metal casing inside the display panel. Tilt the screen forward, and then disconnect the large ribbon cable from the connector on the back side of the screen. Lift the screen out of the display panel.

7. Peel away the foil tape running along the bottom edge of the screen's back side. Carefully remove the metal housing that also runs along the screen's bottom edge. This housing conceals and protects the backlight lamp.

8. Carefully pull the backlight lamp out of the screen. Use a soldering iron to unsolder the wire connectors from each end of the backlight. Dispose of the bad backlight lamp.

9. Repeat this procedure in reverse to install a new backlight lamp. You must re-solder the wire connectors to each end of the new backlight with a soldering iron and solder before reassembling the screen panel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't use an anti-static wrist strap or ground yourself in some way, you could risk damaging or destroying your Inspiron 600m with static electricity.

References

• Dell Support: Dell Inspiron 600m Service Manual
• Dell Support: Display Assembly
• Foner Books: Dell Laptop Screen Repair