Hello friends, I have a problem with my laptop which started after the expiry of the warranty. While working sometimes my laptop screen becomes very dim. Earlier i thought that the screen switches off but on looking at the screen carefully, i see that its not off but so dim that its hardly visible. Then i shut down the laptop and restart it and the screen comes back. It is happening more frequently now than earlier almost 2-3 times every hour. Any solutions? Is it LCD problem or some lose connection. How do i fix it? Thanks for help. Nitin Nitin Aggarwal lifeonitsown@yahoo.com

Your laptop - are you running it plugged in or on batteries? Many times laptops have power configurations set for the display of the screen (brightness levels) to help with the power usage while running on batteries. I know Toshiba is a big one on doing that - and that is what you have yes?

Thanks for comments Debbie. I have tried running both ways. The screen goes blank while plugged in also. The funny part is, when i give it a cold boot, it works again for few minutes or hours also. Nitin Nitin Aggarwal lifeonitsown@yahoo.com

I have the same problem with a Toshiba Satellite 1115-S103 (1.5 GHz, 256 MB). I'm currently looking for a solution. I suspect it has something to do with some type of power-management software, as the problem seems to occur when the fan kicks on. I'll get back to you if I find a solution. The reason I'm responding now is to suggest that you try pressing (and releasing) the pin that senses closure of the lid (should be somewhere near the hinge). For my laptop, this resets the screen intensity to the level it was before going blank. The problem is still annoying, but this is much faster than rebooting. note to forum control freak: You've wasted my precious time by requiring that I first enter a name and password and then log in (and, of course, retype my comment) before providing a response that will probably help a person with a problem. This is a totally useless and unnecessary requirement, which always annoys and offends me. If it weren't for my interest in helping someone with a problem that I understand, I would never again have anything to do with your forum, your business or you.

Toshiba came up with the following solution to the problem. Though you'd all like to hear about it. This email is to inform you that within the next two weeks you should be receiving in the mail the Notice printed below along with a Claim Form. For additional information you can visit: www.LCDFLInverterAdmin.com. If you do not receive your mailed Notice and Claim Form within two weeks please call 1-866-232-1644. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL NOTICE OF LCD FL INVERTER REPAIR EXTENSION AND REFUND PROGRAM AND CLAIM FORM THIS NOTICE IS TO INFORM YOU OF A PROGRAM THAT APPLIES TO THE TOSHIBA NOTEBOOK MODELS LISTED BELOW. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND POSSIBLE REFUNDS FOR CERTAIN REPAIRS. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR RIGHT TO CLAIM REPAIR REFUNDS WILL BE LOST IF YOU DO NOT SEND IN THE ATTACHED CLAIM FORM POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE MAY 6, 2005. I. THE LCD DISPLAY/FL INVERTER BOARD ISSUE Toshiba has become aware that the Toshiba notebook computer models listed below (“Covered Models”) may exhibit the following LCD display symptoms: the LCD display intermittently flickers, dims and/or goes blank as a result of issues relating to the FL Inverter Board (“FL Inverter Issue”). Toshiba is committed to customer satisfaction. Toshiba has decided to extend the warranty for the FL Inverter Issue and to provide refunds to customers for certain repairs. This program applies only to the FL Inverter Issue and to the Covered Models, and not to any other computer model or other Toshiba equipment. II. COVERED MODELS The following notebook computer models are the “Covered Models” covered by this program: • SATELLITE® 1805-S177, 1805-S208, 1805-S278, 1800-S274, 1800-S207, 1805-S207, 1805-S154, 1805-S255, 1800-S256, 1800-S206, 1800-S254, 1800-S204, 1805-S274, 1805-S254, 1805-S204, 1805-S273, 1805, 1800, 1800-S253, 1800-S203, 1805-S253, 1805-S203 (the “Satellite 1800 Series”) • SATELLITE PRO® 4600 Series • TECRA® 8100 PERSONAL COMPUTERS III. WARRANTY EXTENSION The warranty for Covered Models will be extended to May 4, 2006 for LCD repairs required by the FL Inverter Issue only. You do not need to do anything to be eligible for the warranty extension. If your Covered Model is out of warranty and displays the symptoms listed above, that is, the LCD display intermittently flickers, dims and goes blank, you may send your computer to Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (“TAIS”) and it will be repaired at no cost to you if the symptoms are caused by the FL Inverter Issue. To obtain instructions that will permit you to ship the computer to TAIS at no cost to you, contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-866-232-1644 or www.LCDFLInverterAdmin.com. If your computer’s symptoms are not caused by the FL Inverter Issue, you will be notified and your computer will be repaired at that time only if you choose to pay for the repair. However, the extended warranty for the FL Inverter Issue will continue to remain in effect until May 4, 2006. IV. REFUND PROGRAM FOR OWNERS WHO PREVIOUSLY PAID TO REPAIR THE FL INVERTER ISSUE If your computer displayed the symptoms described above, and they were caused by the FL Inverter Issue, and you paid Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (“TAIS”) or a Toshiba Authorized Repair Facility to repair the FL Inverter Issue, Toshiba will refund your payment up to the lesser of the amount you actually paid or $300 for the Satellite 1800 Series and the Satellite Pro 4600 personal computers, or $400 for the Tecra 8100 personal computers (the “Refund”). In order to be eligible for the Refund, you must return the attached Claim Form and all required supporting documentation postmarked on or before May 6, 2005. If you have more than one Covered Model that you believe is eligible for this refund program, please complete a separate Claim Form for each Covered Model. V. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CLAIM REFUND FOR FL INVERTER REPAIR COST To be eligible for the Refund of the cost you paid to TAIS or a Toshiba Authorized Repair Facility to repair the FL Inverter Issue, you must do the following: A. Review these materials carefully. B. Fill out the Claim Form completely and accurately. In order to be valid, a Claim Form must be completely and accurately filled out, signed and dated, and you must attach certain proof of repair and proof of purchase documents. C. Detailed instructions are provided on the Claim Form. Invalid or late Claim Forms will be rejected. D. Affix correct postage and mail your completed Claim Form to: Toshiba America Information Systems Settlement Administrator c/o Rosenthal & Company LLC P.O. Box 6177 Novato, CA 94948-6177 Your claim form must be postmarked on or before May 6, 2005. E. If you have questions about the Claim Form, please email your questions to info@LCDFLInverterAdmin.com or call toll-free 1-866-232-1644. -- To unsubscribe from: Toshiba Legal Notice, just follow this link: http://vps2.lcdflinverteradmin.com/cgi-dada/mail.cgi?f=u&l=TLN%31&e=NITIN.AGGARWAL@TTU.EDU&p=4005536 Click this link, or copy and paste the address into your browser. Nitin Aggarwal lifeonitsown@yahoo.com