Desktops, laptops and netbooks take tremendous pressure from tablets and smart phones these days. If you can settle for regular, not too fancy stuffs (i5, i7, ultra-thin, ultra-light...), you can get a good one for 350$ or less.
Or turn your old one into a desktop as previously mentioned, and buy her an iPad.
1ed wrote: Momma's laptop screen is gone. When she turns it on it is just a gray screen. Hooked it up to my monitor and all is well. Computer is 4 years old and wondering if anyone has changed out the screen and if so where did you get it and is it a DIY project? I think she is getting a new computer what would you do? Thanks Ed
Your next step to keep Momma happy, is back up her hard drive NOW.
Then whatever else you do or try, her data will be secure.
I have replaced laptop displays. Google "replace display,your model #"
Chances are you will find a complete tutorial with arrows and circles. Parts are usually available on ebay.
When my 3 year old pulled our old gateway off the desk and ruined the screen, I replaced it. Cost about $60. Another of his favorite past times is to pop off keys. One he chewed until it was little pieces , (fortunately it was not used much) I have had to move a couple tiny rubebr springs around from not used keys to regular used ones. I also took it apart to replace the thermal paste for the processor due to overheating. This thing is 7 years old now, but it only gets used for web surfing and being an itunes music server, so as long as a little of my time and a few dollars can keep it running, I will.
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there are many places on the internet to buy replacement screens at reasonable costs.
I did so on my HP pavilion with a 17" screen a few years ago. dropped it and broke the screen. Figured 1 hour to replace the screen was better than days with a new computer setting it up, transferring and installing all my old applications, etc. Cost was under $200 for a 17" screen. Came with detailed instructions on how to install it for my model of computer. Screen is equally as good, if not better than the original screen.
do a search on something like "replacement laptop screens" and you'll likely find lots of sources.
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UPDATE:
Put a new screen and inverter and still the same problem. Hooked it up to a Monitor and it works fine. So I guess I'll have to get an estimate and then compare that price to a new one.
Thanks for all your input. Ed
I just sold my hardly used Dell that I spilled a glass of wine on the keyboard and fried the motherboard and hard drive. The computer shop I sold it to put the screen in another customers Dell for $75.00. Might check with a couple of your local computer shops, not Best Buy.
Chuck
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There are three possibilities - the display driver is bad or has been set to something other than that display, the light up fluorescent tube in the screen is burnt out, or the monitor is actually all bad. I suspect it is one of the first two. The tube can be replaced. If you are comfortable you might be able to do it yourself. But be sure to get the part where it can be returned - just in case. Or get an estimate at a repair center. You can check the settings of the display driver - perhaps even update the display driver with her laptop connected to your monitor.
Laptop prices have risen a bit in the last year, so replacing it may be more expensive than you would figure now.
my dw cracked her screen,i got a new new one on line from canada,sorry can"t remember the website but it came up on google search also instructions on replacement. It was a pretty easy project but be careful screws are very tiny and easy to lose.new screen was very inexpensive and better quality than original(samsung 1080 vs orignal lg 720) been 2 years now and works fine.
Swapped screen and inverter and it still did not work.
So I took it to a repair place and the guy thinks it is the motherboard and maybe the video card. Will know Monday so I hope it is easy fix. Will update when I get call. ED
Swapped screen and inverter and it still did not work.
So I took it to a repair place and the guy thinks it is the motherboard and maybe the video card. Will know Monday so I hope it is easy fix. Will update when I get call. ED
That is strange...If the laptop works with your desk top monitor, I don't see how the motherboard and video card can be bad. If the motherboard is shot, it is not worth fixing on a 4 year old laptop, IMHO.
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, (fortunately it was not used much) I have had to move a couple tiny rubebr springs around from not used keys to regular used ones. I also took it apart to replace the thermal paste for the processor due to overheating. This thing is 7 years old now, but it only gets used for web surfing and being an itunes music server, so as long as a little of my time and a few dollars can keep it running, I will.
2007, DD 
2008
