On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 20:57:36 -0600, electron206 wrote:

I was on my computer when my Flat Screen Monitor went black. Just
suddenly black, no prior indication of a problem. It's a HP 1740.

As far as I know, this monitor has a florescent bulb to light it.

I'm thinking the bulb died, but I'm noticing that the indicator LED is
now flashing, not solid "ON". This light is right next to the ON-OFF
power switch.

Pushing the ON-OFF switch does not seem to shut it off either. I
unplugged it, then plugged it back in and that light just flashes. This
makes me think that something else in the circuitry fried. (Just a
guess). It would seem to me that if it was just the bulb, everything
else would function normally. But I've never worked on one of these
monitors, so I dont really know.

I do have electronics knowledge, and used to work on Tv sets and the old
CRT monitors, but it's been years.....

So far I have not even been able to get inside this thing. I got the
plastic case off, and now there's a metal case, which has screws along
the edge, but then there are wires or plastic strips that hold the shell
together.

If it just needs a bulb and they are not too costly, I may fix it, but
if it's more than that, I'll just trash it. But just for the heck of
it, I want to get inside of it. The problem with stuff built like this,
is that as the layers come apart, flat ribbon cables need to be
unplugged. Even if I can get it apart, how the hell can anyone test
them, when stuff is unplugged. Ideally, it could still be plugged in,
and I could measure voltages, etc.... That dont seem possible. I
suppose like most modern electronics, it's just a throw away item.

This is almost worse than taking apart my laptop computer.

If by chance I can get it open without destroying it in the process, is
there a way to test the bulb? Is there a way to test the whole unit
without having layers plugged in to those ribbon cables.

It looks to me like this is one of those factory only repairs, where
they know exactly how to disassemble it, and have extension cables for
those ribbon cables, and special tools to open the case.

It's stuff like this that made me quit repairing electronics. The old
stuff was so much easier to work on. Even the old vacuum tube stuff. (I
guess I'm showing my age)!

Thanks in advance for all help!

I have a similar ase here only in my case I know the problem is with the
LEDS backlighting the unit.
Like you I recall burning myself on tubes even before hybrids.
I'll just try reflowing some stuff and continuity testing the lighting
circuits however your problem seems rather more complicated.

I googled the info to pull mine apart.
If I cannot figure it out and fix it in 2 hrs. out to the trash she goes.
I've several adaquate units scored from the thrift stores as well as four
CRTs