I have a Toshiba Satelite laptop and a few days ago a single grey line appeared across the lower portion of my screen. Yesterday, another grey line appeared across the upper portion of my screen. Does anyone know what this is?
Bubala 0 Newbie Poster
rbennett 0 Newbie Poster
ok....
You might have a bad power inverter board. This is the board that powers back light to the lcd.
Or....
This is what it sounds like.. Check your RAM. You might need to reseat it or it could be bad. If you have two sticks of ram in your machine you might want to try booting your machine with just one of the sticks and then swap it with the other if the problem persists. Remember that you can only touch the RAM when the machine is off... Otherwise you could damage you machine by shorting it.
Hope this helps!
Raphael
TallCool1 81 Practically a Posting Shark Team Colleague
I have a Toshiba Satelite laptop and a few days ago a single grey line appeared across the lower portion of my screen. Yesterday, another grey line appeared across the upper portion of my screen. Does anyone know what this is?
It is probably a bad display. The LCD is addressed by rows and columns and it sounds like the drive contacts to the display itself have become dirty, or the display-drive electronics are going out. Is the display active or passive? The answer will provide more clues. You can probably find out on Google if you don't already know from the product literature.
Rin 0 Newbie Poster
I'm having a similar problem as well with our monitor
we have windows 2000 and recently a horizontal line
which keeps changing colour (usually it's red/pink/blue/yellow)
started to appear on the right side of the screen
it sometimes disappears but it always comes up again
could this possibly be a trouble with the RAM as you've mentioned?
TallCool1 81 Practically a Posting Shark Team Colleague
I'm having a similar problem as well with our monitor
we have windows 2000 and recently a horizontal line
which keeps changing colour (usually it's red/pink/blue/yellow)
started to appear on the right side of the screen
it sometimes disappears but it always comes up again. Could this possibly be a trouble with the RAM as you've mentioned?
I assume you are talking about an LC display. If so, the problem is never RAM. Instead, it is usually a bad contact between the driver circuitry and the display panel itself. This happens because the contacts are secured by pressure, not gripping or soldering as is true with most other electronics; this is a major failure point for LCDs--and one of my biggest gripes about them.
Here's what I have suggested in the past, and it reportedly has helped in more than one case: monitor repairman that I am (or once was), it sounds like bad contacts between the driver electronics and the display itself. One relatively easy test for this problem is as follows:
With the unit on, gently grasp the left and right edges of the display. Gently twist the display (no more than a few ounces of pressure) as though you are wringing out a towel. See if the display flashes, changes, etc. This may even fix the problem by "wiping" the contacts of dirt or oxidation.
awveek commented: u r really cool man. I've had this problem & tried everything. I'm in uk and a pc tech person told I need a new lcd display. I my self tried ram exchange and opened up the laptop. but pressing the screen as u hav told worked like magic. Thanks a lot +0
DMR 152 Wombat At Large Team Colleague
I'm having a similar problem as well with our monitor
we have windows 2000 and recently a horizontal line
which keeps changing colour (usually it's red/pink/blue/yellow)
started to appear on the right side of the screen
it sometimes disappears but it always comes up againcould this possibly be a trouble with the RAM as you've mentioned?
The first thing to do would be to narrow down the location of the problem by (assuming this isn't a laptop):
1. Trying a different (known to be working) monitor on the machine. If that monitor exhibits problems, you can start looking inside the computer for the cause.
2. Put the monitor with the display problem on another computer. Obviously, if the monitor still has the problem, it's the monitor that needs repair.
3. Make sure you don't have anything which throws a magnetic field sitting to close to the monitor (speakers, for example).
Bruno Saraiva 0 Newbie Poster
I assume you are talking about an LC display.
I have the same problem with my Toshiba Laptop. It is an active LC display. The problem is not software related, as the gray line appears immediately anytime the display is on. It does not appear when using the laptop's external video output. The twisting and shaking method did not work; I also dismantled the screen frame looking for any sign of bad contacts, but found nothing. Could it be on the video board output cable? Were anyone lucky on solving the problem?
Tks!
bobchang 0 Light Poster
If any of you are getting lines on your LCD display (like a horizontal or a vertical), it's usually a bad LCD display (the panel itself has a very "partial", or "localized" failure). Someone here mentioned twisting the display - which you can do on laptops - that might make the problem go away temporarily, but in my experience, it (the problem with the lines) will be here to stay. You can either replace the screen panel, or you can remove the screen panel and have it shipped to repair facilities that specialize in LCD repairs - both of which could entail considerable cost, effort, AND expertise.
A lot of folks will toss out the word "inverter" when there's an LCD problem, so let's get it straight once and for all: the inverter is just a power board that converts your laptop's DC power into high-voltage AC current, and this AC current is used to power the backlight tube (or tubes) of your LCD screen - to "light the screen up", if you will. The inverter is also responsible for the brightness adjustments in your LCD display. Hence... if your screen lights up and you can adjust the brightness on your screen, then the inverter is doing its job and you can rule it out completely.
Speaking of brightness in LCDs, some LCDs will give you a perfect image that's got a "pink" tint to it - that'll be, in the vast majority of the instances, due to a burnt-out backlight tube. It's just like a florescent tube that's on its last legs. You can either replace the LCD, or have the LCD delivered to a LCD repair facility that'll replace the dimming tube for you.
Now, if your computer's LCD is completely black (doesn't light up) but you can still hear the rest of it working, then it can be an inverter that's failed or, in the event that your computer has been impacted, it can also be a shattered backlight tube inside your LCD. Anyway, my point it: if the screen lights up, it ain't the inverter.
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
I have compaq Evo N160.Laptop is just 1 year old & still in excellent condition.I got the vertical lines problem.My screen is full of colour lining from top to bottom as I start the laptop & it remains permanent.This lines changes colour at some stage when screen pic changes or when I run scan disk on HDD.Though the laptop works fine with external Vga monitor.
I would like to tell from when does this problem occurs......some days ago some ant(small insect) has entered my laptop through DSL cable(lan card).& very next day I got this problem
I have shown to 2 laptop tech person.One of the tech person diagonsis that inverter board is gone(which I knew now he was wrong).Second tech person says that either display ic or display cable is gone.Someone says that the whole display should be change.
I request to give right guidance to me...
Tks
If any of you are getting lines on your LCD display (like a horizontal or a vertical), it's usually a bad LCD display (the panel itself has a very "partial", or "localized" failure). Someone here mentioned twisting the display - which you can do on laptops - that might make the problem go away temporarily, but in my experience, it (the problem with the lines) will be here to stay. You can either replace the screen panel, or you can remove the screen panel and have it shipped to repair facilities that specialize in LCD repairs - both of which could entail considerable cost, effort, AND expertise.
A lot of folks will toss out the word "inverter" when there's an LCD problem, so let's get it straight once and for all: the inverter is just a power board that converts your laptop's DC power into high-voltage AC current, and this AC current is used to power the backlight tube (or tubes) of your LCD screen - to "light the screen up", if you will. The inverter is also responsible for the brightness adjustments in your LCD display. Hence... if your screen lights up and you can adjust the brightness on your screen, then the inverter is doing its job and you can rule it out completely.
Speaking of brightness in LCDs, some LCDs will give you a perfect image that's got a "pink" tint to it - that'll be, in the vast majority of the instances, due to a burnt-out backlight tube. It's just like a florescent tube that's on its last legs. You can either replace the LCD, or have the LCD delivered to a LCD repair facility that'll replace the dimming tube for you.
Now, if your computer's LCD is completely black (doesn't light up) but you can still hear the rest of it working, then it can be an inverter that's failed or, in the event that your computer has been impacted, it can also be a shattered backlight tube inside your LCD. Anyway, my point it: if the screen lights up, it ain't the inverter.
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Hmmm... did you capture, detain, and interrogate that ... ant? The ant could've sensed a pile of sugar inside your laptop, you know... Was there a spill involving soft drinks, Starbucks coffee, or HagenDaas ice cream?
If your screen is full of vertical lines (scrambled) , but external video is okay, then here's my take: my troubleshooting would start from the motherboard's video connector on up (including the motherboard's video connector, thru the video cabling, then to the LCD). If you haven't done laptop repair before, then I wouldn't advise you to start now - since it is unclear to us which part is bad: the LCD, the cabling, or the motherboard's connector. If you haven't spill anything onto your system, then the motherboard's video connector is probably okay, so I'll eliminate that. Video cables don't usually go bad, but hell, these things are assembled by folks who get paid $5/day to repeat the same process 200 times, so the slightest miscue or offset during the assembly process could cause premature wear (read: damage) down the road. So in general, the cabling must be inspected thoroughly. If the cables appear intact and solid, then it must be the LCD.
I would take it (or ship it) to a shop that knows CPQ laptops so they can narrow it down for me. The possibilities are: loose cable, bad cabling, and bad LCD. A CPQ shop should be able to get replacement cables for $20 - $30 (even though its only worth 50 cents), plus installation labor. If it is a bad LCD, then their prices could be outrageously high ($600 and up), plus labor.
Now you know (nah, you probably don't) and I know that 14.1" EVO LCDs can be found on eBay for a hun'erd some bucks - they're used, but I wouldn't even hesitate for one second if I can get a good, used one, or even a flawed one (like one with a couple of dead pixels) for less $$$. Anyway, ask your CPQ shop whether they'll install a part that you provide - some won't, but many will, and they'll charge you a bit extra to do that. I would think that if the LCD is really gone, then you can still limit the repair bill to around $300 (screen from eBay plus labor), which is very reasonable.
How's that sound?
Bob
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
First thanks for your help bob.
The ants are not 1 or 2 but they were in quite good nos.Its takes me whole day to get them out of my laptop.First I didnt knew it was ant inside the laptop but when I started my laptop in rutine suddenly to my surprise vertical colour lining comes on screen nothing else.
I called compaq autorised service center & told about the probelm they said that screen is gone bad & display panel should be replaced(they havent shown the laptop) which will cost about 700-750 USD.So I decided to take to local tech.
Next day I shown to laptop tech who is servicing compaq laptop.He said display cable need to be changed.I agreed & he gave me quotation(150 USD).But after 15 days long time he called me & said he was unable to get the same model cable so he cant get it done.
Then I show to 2nd tech(repairing all branded laptop).he diagnosis it in 5-6 hours & told me that he has checked display screen & display cable by replacing with same model laptop & it found absolutely ok.He told me that there is problem with only inverter & nothing else,he also told me that he has cleaned the inverter card by sweeping ant who burns off in that card.I asked him to install inverter but he said it will takes time to get the same model(Evo N160) inverter to work.Its been 1 month now till didnt get any reply from him.
Then I shown to 3rd tech.I first told him about diagnosis made by 2nd tech & also told him does he have that inverter avaliable with him than only I will give him for repair.He said he will try other model inverter & it probably should work.I gave him a laptop & after 4-5 days he told me that he has checked the inverter on other model & it works perfect.He told me that there was an short circuit in display cable which he has repaired & now there is problem in display IC which he is not getting.(I received laptop with loose screen fitting comfirmed that he has opened screen)He said he will call as soon as he get it..its been 15 days now he didnt called up.
Atlast I shown to authorised HP-compaq service center.The guy checked laptop with external vga(I didnt think he has opened the laptop) for 5 hours & said that the whole screen need to be changed.I told him about the diagnosis made by other tech before him.He said if there is problem in motherboard or display cable the external vga wouldnt work.(Is it right?).I asked him for quotation & today only he gave me quotation of 550 USD including labour charges,Also described in quotation that if they found any other parts to be replaced at the time of repair they will give another quotation.
Now as you mentioned about ebay I have already placed a bid on motherboard of Evo 160(35 USD) though seller not giving any warranty or guarantee that it will work.but I have in my mind that if I get only working display IC from it to get my problem solved.(Please advice if I should purchase the motherboard or not).
Waiting for your right guidance..will greatly appreciate your kind efforts solving my problem.Pic of screen attached.
TKS
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Jesus H. Count of Monte Cristo... I think you've managed to touch upon the dark side of laptop servicing... I still think there's sweet stuff inside your laptop - which is what attracted the ants.
What speed is your EVO and how large is the LCD display? If it is around 1GHz, then it might be cheaper to buy a used EVO system off of a reputable eBay vendor, or anywhere else, for that matter, stick your hard drive into it, then put your original system up on eBay for sale as parts - you'll be surprised at how much money it'll fetch...
I would probably not go and bid on a motherboard thinking that I'm gonna get working parts out of it: (1) there are many different EVO models and they aren't interchangable with one another, and (2) these parts are manufacturered onto the motherboards and things like connectors are damn near impossible to remove. The thing that pisses me off is that your system has already been gone thru by three incredibly incompetent "technicians" - I mean, these guys might as well have been auto mechanics equipped with crowbars - and who knows what kind of damage they've done to your laptop while they were "working on it." I have to tell you that when I performed repairs, approximately half of the work I did was to fix damages that were caused by other incompetent techs - and these were the absolute worst kinds of damages inflicted on top of the original hardware failure.
It's like a guy is dying - the 1st doctor came and carved out his liver, which didn't fix the problem; the 2nd doctor came around and removed his head and then took his head apart to find problems inside. So now the guy is deader than dead. Well, if you take the body + the liver + the head to a 3rd and real doctor, how is he supposed to know how the man should've died, or lived? That, unfortunately, is the scenario that you ran into...
So... if you spend $500 on a used, replacment EVO system, and you eBay yours for $250, then I would think it's a fair bet. You'll put all these "technicians" out of business, of course, but that's fine with me.
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks for your reply & kind support.
I agree it might be sweet things inside laptop or maybe the reason is DSL wire attached to lan card which makes the way to ant to enter inside laptop.
Size of screen is 14.1" TFT & it has 1 GHZ processor.& the motherboard I have bid is of same model i.e Evo N 160(The part no. of motherboard is same 251368-001 which I checked on other site)
Regards the possibility of damage made by the 3 tech.I would like to tell that there is no changes on screen image before or after the inspection made by this tech i.e the lines comming after inspection remains same as it comes before.(Auto compaq service tech has not opened the laptop & told me the problem of screen & nothing else).
I Certainly agreed with your suggestion to purchase an another same model laptop than to repair it.But I am in India & we dont have ebay in India.So does it still advisable to purchase laptop from ebay(USA).I have tried to find the same model laptop in India but didnt found any.Some one has place the same model(Evo N160) on ebay at 559$ with 87% positive rating & he have mentioned the payment option of personal cheque,money order/Cashiers cheque.I am sending you link to guide me if its safe to do the transaction with this vendor as I have no past experience of purchacing things from ebay. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3478863742
I really appreciated your help.Hope you will guide me the best.Also would like to know where you located.
Tks
bobchang 0 Light Poster
I'm situated in the Cultural Sahara (aka Ka-li-fore-nia) - sorry guys... I had thought you were overseas. Anywho... since your machine is still working, there's no hurry at all (is there?) So why not take your time in locating a replacement?
A used 1GHz machine with a 14" screen and DVD/CD-RW should fetch no more than $450 in an auction. The thing about eBay is that when it comes to computers, buyers will end up paying tourist prices 99.999% of the time (of course, you'll benefit also when you're selling yours), so it pays to be patient. You should choose a vendor who deals with laptops with a very high (>96%) positive rating - and one who'll ship overseas. As for bidding on working laptops, always place your highest bid within the final 20 seconds. It's brutal, and we Americans are famous for wanting to overpay with our credit cards...
If you're able to load Windows without having to use your EVO restore disc, then you really don't need to buy the exact same EVO as a replacement, do you? So broaden your scope in your search...
My assessment of computer technicians remain the same, as I have seen far too much of the ... worst case scenario from these turkeys for me to alter my opinion anytime soon. I still think that you had a spill, and that cleaning up the motherboard's video connector with a q-tip and the proper solvent would be the 1st thing that I'd try. My experience: over a 50% success rate in cleaning up spills. Your spill looks to be a recent one - since the ants are going after sugar. Give it more time, and the sugar turns into corrosion, and the ants won't even touch it.
Now... I would also consider buying a new machine, too - since new ones are under $1k US, and should have at least the same, if not more, features than your old one. I bought my daughter a new Dell laptop two months ago for $700 (and kept the free digital camera for myself...) and it's vastly superior to any of my machines. I'm also willing to bet that a service shop in India will be willing to pay you up to $500, or more, for your old one. So that may be still another way to go, too.
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks for you genuine help....
I am 100% agree with you its a spill only as the tech guy told me that there is some rust(corrosion) in the inverter card of laptop which he has cleaned.
I wish I could get your help in buying laptop from ebay,If you can purchase laptop on behalf of me checking it throughly & I will buy it from you ,ofcourse paying you some extra for your efforts.I might trust you more than a guy at ebay.So if it is possible for you to do so I will really appreciate it.I can pay by cheque,credit card or paypal.The guy at ebay has given the payment option as wire transfer..do you think it is safe?
Tks
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Nah, can't do that. I can, however, look around to see if I can find you any good vendors who'll stand by their products. What I was trying to say earlier was that since it'll be cheaper and easier for you to get a replacement machine, then you shouldn't restrict yourself to the EVO, right? What's the general laptop situation in India? Are they as cheap, and who sells the most? Are the models the same as in the US? I know a lot of models sold in Europe and east Asia contain just enough variations to make servicing in another country impossible...
bobchang 0 Light Poster
In my last post, I meant "region", not country - since within the regions the machine line-up are largely the same. Some manufacturers offer international warranties, too. I've had the pleasure of opening up "international" laptops and ordering parts for warranty service - what an ... experience that was. But that's a story for another day. Anyhow, just wanted to clarify that.
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Dear Bob,
I would like to tell you one more interesting thing....I had power on my laptop today & certainly after few minutes I got an horizontal lines....this line overlaping the vertical lines & increase gradually..& cover-up whole screen.
What do you think about it?...
Tks
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
The Reason behind buying Evo N160 is ...I have already sold this laptop to someone & he wanting the same model.Also he refuse to take the money back & asking(requesting) me to get the same laptop.Thats why I am interested to get this laptop.
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Horizontal and vertical eh... But external is still okay, I take it. I don't know. See, here's what I think: the ants invaded your EVO, which tells me that (1) the sugarly goodies were probably not in your inverter (which is located inside the screen housing where they can't get to), but in the lower portion of your EVO; (2) given the problems you're having with the LCD but not external video, the spill was probably pooled around the base of the LCD connector on the motherboard.
Every bit of signal that the LCD receives comes from that connector - so my suspicion is that corrosion is beginning to build around the affected area. The LCD connectors on these CPQs are built sturdy, so if there's a spill or even corrosion, they can be cleaned out pretty well. The addition of the horizontal lines is probably due to the corrosion spreading, that's all.
Don't understand the logic at all behind your buyer wanting you to get the same laptop. Looks like a conditional sale with multiple strings attached to me...
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Also, I guess I was trying to steer you away from the EVO-series. I like it, but I think it's a disaster waiting to happen. Why? I'm fundamentally opposed to machines that are lightweight with a lot of moving parts (swappable this and thats). The EVO's predecessor - the Presario 1700 series - have been pretty much a disaster after the 1st year. The casing on these machines are simply too lightweight and not strong enough to hold the computer together over time. Hence, the hinges will break, the LCD plastics will also break around the hinges, the lower portion of the unit will also, guess what?, break around the hinges, and the entire unit flexes and grunts each time you open and close the screen lid. The battery, the empty insert, DVD module, FDD module... they all carry different weight and the laptop will bent and torque differently depending upon which is inserted. Enuf said...
If you wanna look at a great, used machine or a poorly-built one, look no further than eBay: a great machine, when used, will be sold in one piece; a poorly-built one gets sold for parts. I had another post asking about Toshiba 2805 hard drive upgrades - you can't find these Toshiba 2805s being broken up for sale on eBay - no keyboards, no DVD drives, no case parts... nothing! And that's after the machines' been on the market for 2-3 years. That's the sign of a great laptop. I'm not advocating you getting one, of course, but ... if you can liberate yourself from the EVO and look at other choices, then my suggestion would be to look for used laptops that are sold as laptops, not in bits and pieces.
[Moderator's edit: Post edited for slightly inappropriate language]
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks again Bob.
I understand what you say..I probably buy another laptop than EVO if I have to buy for myself..but I have already sold my laptop(screen problem) on Indian auction site & buyer wants the same,so I have to get him one same model.Also getting handsome return from it so I can utilised it in repairing my problem laptop.
I have already find one vendor on ebay to whom I have chatted last night..He also sent me recent pic of his EVO with & without power on laptop.I asked him to reduce 50$ & he agreed by selling direct to me than putting on ebay again.I also get his pasport copy with his photo,address & cell no...I agreed to send money via wire transfer...Please help me if I am doing right thing or not..Do I need to take some more proof from him while dealing with him.
Regards
bobchang 0 Light Poster
So you're doing the private-sale route, which, according to just about everybody, is considered a high risk maneuver. I however, have had the pleasure (and good fortune) of going thru several private transactions outside of eBay and they turned out to be incredibly satisfactory to me, so ... good luck to you.
Thanks again Bob.
I understand what you say..I probably buy another laptop than EVO if I have to buy for myself..but I have already sold my laptop(screen problem) on Indian auction site & buyer wants the same,so I have to get him one same model.Also getting handsome return from it so I can utilised it in repairing my problem laptop.
I have already find one vendor on ebay to whom I have chatted last night..He also sent me recent pic of his EVO with & without power on laptop.I asked him to reduce 50$ & he agreed by selling direct to me than putting on ebay again.I also get his pasport copy with his photo,address & cell no...I agreed to send money via wire transfer...Please help me if I am doing right thing or not..Do I need to take some more proof from him while dealing with him.
Regards
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks for all your needful help....I appreciate your work at daniweb.You seems to be an interesting person,I would like to chat with you sometime on yahoo or msn if you dont mind for it.
Best Regards
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
My id on yahoo & msn is Mr_Indiar.Hope to get one from you..Tks
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Dear Bob,
I am getting the working motherboard of Evo N160 at 75$.So if you guess for sure that its motherboard only that causing the lineing problem.please guide so can I replace the whole motherboard to make my damn laptop working?
Regards
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Waiting for your reply Bob.
Tks
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Oh... Don't have a yahoo or msn id. Now as to your other question regarding buying a working motherboard, you're asking me for an assessment that's based on the results of three pretty darn incompetent technicians with whom you've consulted and paid. If indeed they've tested the screen and the cable and the inverter (all huge if's), then there's nothing left but the motherboard (the inverter is a non-event).
Here's a re-cap:
(1) the CPQ center you called did nothing but speculate on which part had gone bad and quoted you an LCD - they're fired!
(2) the local tech who said it was the cable but couldn't get one... If he couldn't get a good cable, how'd he know yours was bad - he's fired, too!
(3) the guy who "cleaned" your inverter.... probably lied thru his teeth since if anything, the inverter was the only part that's known to be 100% good - he's fired on the spot! I'll hire him just to fire him.
(4) the 3rd tech who replaced your cable then claimed the LCD was bad and didn't even assemble the screen back properly (since you could tell that it's been opened) - he's probably the worst of 'em all. I mean, how'd he know the screen was bad if he couldn't get one? Fired, fired, fired!
Anywho...I'm just hoping that none of the above "techs" have ripped you off - I know you've already paid them for their incompetence - but I'm seriously hoping that your EVO hasn't been "butchered" - there's the original failure, plus all the potential additional failures from being worked on by these ... auto mechanics.
But ... if you had to take these auto mechanics' words for granted, then buying a systemboard is the only remaining thing to do... :cheesy:
Indianr 0 Newbie Poster
Hmmm....I dont think if any of this tech has made any minor or major damage to my laptop(dont have that much guts).As the line comming before & after I handed laptop from them is same,nothing change.
....If I "take it" that the all tech are wrong since no one has get my laptop working & If I go with the opinion of compaq service center tech, I need to replace the screen...right?..Now if I have to made my mind to change the screen only, than I knew one good tech who is importing new screen & parts of laptop(Also giving 1 year warrany on screen).I told him about my problem(but not told anything what other tech said).His word lay with the compaq service centre man(screen fault)....He will replace the screen & if screen works fine he will do checking to other components...What do you think,changing screen first is an easy & appropiate task to find the right fault?..
Expecting needful help.
Tks
bobchang 0 Light Poster
Duh.... You seem to have forgotten about the ants. Now I didn't believe for one nanosecond that the spill got onto the inverter (it's a little piece of power board that would've shorted and left you with a dark screen and it would've spilled onto the LCD, too), so my thinking is that the spill residuals are still on the motherboard. So that's an issue that's begging for attention before you go any further.
That's the primary reason why I think these guys are auto mechanics. It only takes less than 20 minutes to disassemble the entire system to see what the hell had attracted the ants, and thus far no one has done it.
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