# PDA screenlight question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pda-screenlight-question/302797>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 7, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pda-screenlight-question/302797 "2005-05-07T06:18:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Jimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimpy)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pda-screenlight-question/302797/1 "2005-05-07T06:18:49Z")

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My Toshiba 335e’s screenlight died, although other than that it works perfectly, if I’m in bright enough light to see the screen. It’s almost 4 years old, but it suits my needs and many of the accessories will work only with the 330e series Toshibas, so I’m not looking for a new one.

This brings up two related questions–

A) Can this be fixed?  
B) Can this be fixed without paying a Toshiba authorized service centers a lot of money (I’m not opposed to paying to get it fixed, but it could end up coasting more than a PDA)?

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**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pda-screenlight-question/302797/2 "2005-05-07T07:22:42Z")

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With most backlighted LCD screens I’ve taken apart, the light element is a separate unit from the LCD screen. My guess is 99% this element could be replaced. The problem is going to be to get one cheap enough. Normally new replacement screens on older laptops and PDA’s cost more then just buying a used unit.

What I would do is try and track down a PDA like yours that has a working screen but a dead CPU. It can even have a cracked screen if the light element is separate.

A word of warning if you attempt to replace this yourself. LCD screens are somewhat brittle outside of their holders.

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**Author:** ![Jimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Jimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimpy)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pda-screenlight-question/302797/3 "2005-05-07T07:32:05Z")

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Thanks.

Since posting, I did a quick look through ebay and [amazon.com](http://amazon.com), and I’ve noticed that there are hundreds of the 330/335/355’s fairly cheap out there. I’ll probably get a replacement. The alternative of fixing it looks like work.