Probably LCD is the most fragile part of any laptop or other hand-held device. When you drop your device on the corner or bend too much, you will definitely crack the screen. After this your computer becomes unusable. What to do next in this situation? First of all, try to evaluate the situation and see how old your laptop is. If you planned to upgrade to newer, then it is the right time – you can sell parts of broken laptops on eBay or the local market. Anyway, if you have a bit of engineering steam, you should fix it.
Replacing LCD is an easy task, then the only problem you may face is finding the right LCD. Laptop screens are pretty much standard. All you need is to find the right size and type. If you are not sure, remove the broken LCD from the broken laptop and look at the back’s sticker. You will find screen model numbers like LTN154X3-LOD. Then number 154 indicates that the screen diagonal size is 15.4-inch. LTN indicates that the manufacturer is Samsung. You can find pretty much all codes by googling it.
You don’t always need to look for an LCD from the same manufacturer. But be sure to check visually if sockets and connectors are the same and at the same positions. Also, an inverter should be the same. Don’t forget fixing points – they need to be exact; otherwise, you won’t replace them.
Once you know what to look for, you can try different sources. The obvious one is eBay. Depending on your LCD type and size, prices may vary from $50 to 250 dollars. If you don’t want to risk shipping it – try local dealers for OEM replacements. If your laptop is quite old and LCD doesn’t have to be new, try to search classifieds for LCD panels or even laptops with blown motherboards. They usually sell cheaply. They are a great source for LCD panels.
So you have your LCD – the rest is an easy task – removing the damaged panel and placing a new one. If you need a little help, there are many resources and videos on the internet with help when experiencing problems with your laptop screen. But practically all work is to unscrew, open LCD panels, unplug cables, and replace the panel. Then connect everything as was before, and you can switch the laptop on to see if it works.
Always be careful when carrying LCD with your bare hands. A small bend or harder push may crack it. I had such experience – grabbed LCD on a corner with a single hand and it cracked. So always two hands and gentle movement.