Aspire v5-531 screen really dark

jrstark

Trying to troubleshoot my sister's computer. It has Windows 7. She said it was working fine a few days ago, but today the screen wouldn't come on. I tried upping the brightness, Fn + F5, don't see a Sleep indicator. Unplugged, took out battery, put everything back together. Still no opening beap. While tilting the laptop to look at the two blue lights on the bottom edge, we realized there was something on the screen but very dim. That was a white box, said Windows had problems starting, I was able to click the Restore button. After awhile it went to the opening screen, but still very dark and I couldn't find the cursor. I need to use a one-LED flashlight to read anything, and that doesn't have a very wide beam. Stronger flashlights have too much reflection, only the keychain one lets me read.

 

Following directions on an earlier thread I found here, I did the power reset (hold power button 30 seconds with battery out and unplugged). When it turned on, it had the regular "Windows didn't shut down correctly" screen. Went back to my computer for more Googling, and when I came back it was on the regular opening screen, again couldn't find cursor. Did a regular power off.

 

Came back normally, this time cursor was showing so I was able to log in normally to regular desktop.

 

However, the screen is still extremely dark, and using Fn and the > sun key doesn't do anything.

 

She does not remember any updates or new software, uses the laptop mostly for Gmail and general surfing. Default browser is Chrome. Computer is 2-3 years old.

 

IronFly

I suspect an hardware failure of the LCD inverter, as you said "the screen is really dark".

 

you can try to press the screen frame or gently twisting a little and see if the backlight work.

 

you can also try to boot to BIOS pressing F2 at boot, to check if backlight works or if you have an external monitor, connect it to the V5, if the external monitor works......you need to take the notebook to a repair shop.