HELP - did my cat just ruin my laptop screen?

Quote from VorlonFrog : No, they typically don't specify the exact panel, because they often use multiple panels from multiple suppliers. It's not unusual to see three or four different brands/models of panel in a single model laptop.

OK well, since this would be a huge hassle for you to do, especially with shipping it and ordering the part, blah blah...how about first, I see if I can do it myself? I am meeting my girlfriend at the gym in half an hour, but when I get back I'll Google for some step-by-step instructions on how to do whatever it is you're saying has to be done, and then I'll see if it sounds like something I'm capable of on my own.

Typically, you have to remove the glued-on rubber pads, and the tiny Phillips screws holding the lid together are behind them. Then you unsnap the LCD bezel from the lid by prying it apart (gently). There are more tiny Phillips screws holding the LCD panel to the lid. Often, the hinges are difficult to unscrew, because the Wi-Fi antenna cables run through/around them.

Um.

Do you have an external monitor you can hook up and test first? Just to verify that the screen is really the problem? (It probably is but I always like to make sure before I horse around with the fiddly tiny screws)

"fiddly" is quite a polite term for those little farkers, IMHO.

Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh

Kitty cat killed the video screen.
Kitty cat killed the video screen.

In my mind and on the couch, we can't get up we ate too much.
Beer glass fell and ruined your day, put the blame on tv tray.

Kitty cat killed the video screen.
Kitty cat killed the video screen.

Quote from VorlonFrog : Typically, you have to remove the glued-on rubber pads, and the tiny Phillips screws holding the lid together are behind them. Then you unsnap the LCD bezel from the lid by prying it apart (gently). There are more tiny Phillips screws holding the LCD panel to the lid. Often, the hinges are difficult to unscrew, because the Wi-Fi antenna cables run through/around them.

Awesome, I'm going to do some Googling. I think. Or I may just chuck it all and send it to you.

Quote from veritablequandary : Um. Do you have an external monitor you can hook up and test first? Just to verify that the screen is really the problem? (It probably is but I always like to make sure before I horse around with the fiddly tiny screws)

No, but I have this old laptop that works just fine. Any way to test it with that?

Quote from VorlonFrog : "fiddly" is quite a polite term for those little farkers, IMHO.

Quote from emelvee : Oh-a-aho oh, Oh-a-aho oh Kitty cat killed the video screen. Kitty cat killed the video screen. In my mind and on the couch, we can't get up we ate too much. Beer glass fell and ruined your day, put the blame on tv tray. Kitty cat killed the video screen. Kitty cat killed the video screen.

Who knew you were so witty?

<insert pun about laptops, cats, and beer>

Quote from AbbyGabby : OK well, since this would be a huge hassle for you to do, especially with shipping it and ordering the part, blah blah...how about first, I see if I can do it myself? I am meeting my girlfriend at the gym in half an hour, but when I get back I'll Google for some step-by-step instructions on how to do whatever it is you're saying has to be done, and then I'll see if it sounds like something I'm capable of on my own.

Honestly, you MAY be better off spend a few extra $$ and buying a whole top assembly on eBay. What that means is rather than taking apart the "shell" that houses the actual LCD panel (and webcam/wifi antennas/etc) and replacing the panel, you can get the whole piece already together. The toughest work comes from installing the new panel itself - sometimes clips don't go back together the right way, etc. Just a suggestion to look into.

Quote from AbbyGabby : Awesome, I'm going to do some Googling. I think. Or I may just chuck it all and send it to you.

There are probably YouTube videos, possibly even for your specific model.

Quote from AbbyGabby : No, but I have this old laptop that works just fine. Any way to test it with that?

Use an HDMI cable to plug it into your TV?

Quote from Frogstar : Use an HDMI cable to plug it into your TV?

Now that I can do!

That'll just help me make sure that it really is the LCD panel, and that it's not something else, right?

Pretty much.

Quote from AbbyGabby : Now that I can do! That'll just help me make sure that it really is the LCD panel, and that it's not something else, right?

Yuppers.

i just finished talking to Dell Support online
they're having the new parts shipped to a local tech
the tech is gonna come to my house and fix my screen
it's all gonna be covered under warranty

Quote from AbbyGabby : i just finished talking to Dell Support online they're having the new parts shipped to a local tech the tech is gonna come to my house and fix my screen it's all gonna be covered under warranty

So should I not have just sent a link to this thread to Dell?