Screen goes black, can be restored by tilting to certain angles
I think, using the forum, that I've narrowed down my problem. How can I tell if I need a display data cable or an inverter cable ?
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You just need the cable if it's working when you move the screen. Here's how to replace it: MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement
Here's the cable:MacBook Santa Rosa/Penryn Inverter Cable
Here's how I get to the display end of it: MacBook Core 2 Duo LCD & Inverter A1181 (fast method) Replacement
Product
MacBook Santa Rosa/Penryn Inverter Cable
$14.99
Guide
MacBook Core 2 Duo LCD & Inverter A1181 (fast method) Replacement
Difficulty:
Moderate
—
1 hour
Guide
MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement
Difficulty:
Difficult
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1 - 3 hours
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That was it. All done! Thanks so much!
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An inverter issue would mean that you can still see an image on the screen but it's very faint and dim. If the screen is completely black, it's most likely a data cable issue.
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there is a faint image visible
That sounds like a bad inverter. Easy fix:
Scott, it works when tilted.
so,do I need the cable, the inverter, both, or only one?
Oh, my bad. Missed that detail. Just the cable should fix it then.
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4/15/14- Hey everyone, I want to tell you I just fixed my screen. Early 2009 2 Ghz core Duo macbook, I had the same problem many people are having. It started probably a year ago. all of a sudden my screen would only light up if I tilted the screen at certain angles. I left it this way for a year and it kept on getting worse and worse where the screen kind of lit up at random. It progressively got worse with the screen lighting up less and less. Finally this past weekend the screen went dark for good. No amount of adjustment or tilting the screen worked. I started searching for solutions online. I came across this forum and other forums. I decided since I am broke I was going to start with the easiest solution first which on another forum was to unplug the inverter board from the connections at each end and then reattaching them and making sure they were seated right. I did that, and lo and behold it worked! Screen works beautifully now and lights up right away. I would have replaced the inverter cable or inverter board if needed. I am not a techie, it was a little intimidating but I had comfort that I had you tube and various forums to fall back on if I go stuck. overall it was a relatively easy fix.
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Hi Robert. I have the same macbook and I'm having the exact same issue... had to tilt screen to a certain angle for it to light, and it just went dark for good a few days ago. Does the other forum give you step-by step instructions on how to unplg the inverter board and then reattach? Please post any details. Thanks!
@Carolyn, you can find those instructions on here MacBook Core 2 Duo
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it's a macbook A1181 2.4 GHz core 2 duo
by Matthew Seltzer