You hear the crack of glass as your notebook computer falls to the floor and your mind immediately starts calculating the cost of buying a new computer and wondering if your budget can afford it. Your computer is not that old and you really don’t want to have to buy a new one. Don’t worry you are not alone. Each year it is estimated that more than 3 million notebook users break their screens. Unfortunately, most notebook users that encounter this problem as well as IT professionals are unaware that there is a cost-effective alternative to purchasing a new notebook; instead you can replace your notebook screen.

ScreenTek, a Houston based company, www.screentekinc.com offers customers replacement notebook screens at an affordable price that makes repairing your system much more cost effective than buying a new notebook. In addition, screen replacement is less time consuming than having to transfer all your data files, applications and personal settings to a new notebook. By replacing the screen, a notebook user can save an average of $700 per breakage incident based on the 2006 average cost of a new notebook computer. This cost savings when extended to the more than 3 million notebook users per year that break their screens can represent a $2 billon industry-wide savings opportunity.

Most notebook makers carry a limited supply of replacement screens for any particular model due to their cost and uncertainty with respect to future screen replacement demand. ScreenTek claims they carry screens for more than 90% of notebooks that are less than 3 years old including both Apple and PC. Furthermore, these screens are the exact same screens you would buy if you purchased a replacement screen direct from the notebook maker, but for significantly less.

A typical 14.0” wide screen for example direct from one of the large notebook brands could cost between $600 and $900, but from ScreenTek the exact same brand new screen would only cost $295 retail.

So how do they provide prices lower than the notebook makers? Well, it is a combination of volume purchasing from the screen manufacturers and high pricing maintained by the notebook makers.

Now you may think that replacing the screen on your notebook is a daunting task, but with ScreenTek’s easy to understand notebook screen removal instructions and a couple of tools, this task took only 30 minutes to be up and running again. But if you feel uncomfortable replacing the screen yourself, ScreenTek will replace the screen for you at no additional charge.

To begin you just need a few tools to complete the task; a screwdriver and something to pop off the rubber grommets, like an exacto knife. Make sure your notebook is unplugged and the battery has been removed. The instructions below represent the typical removal process, however, each notebook may be different.

Step 1: Removing Rubber and Plastic Grommets	Step 2: Removing Screws from Display Assembly	Step 3: Removing Front Bezel
Step 4: Removing Screen from Internal Brackets	Step 5: Disconnecting Video Data Cable	Step 6: Unplugging Power Inverter Cable

1. Locate all grommets (screw covers) which may be facing you on the display assembly or on the side of the display assembly. Remove them by picking them off with a pointed object.
   
2. Remove all screws from the display assembly that were located under the grommets.
   
3. Starting on either side of the display assembly, insert your fingers between the screen and the front bezel and work your way around. The bezel will unsnap. If you are having trouble, work it from side to side until it unsnaps. You may have to slide the latch open to unsnap the bezel.
   
4. Lean the screen with its internal metal brackets forward away from the rear plastic bezel enough to access the screws securing the screen to the bracket. Remove the screws and then lay the screen on a piece of soft cloth on the keyboard.
   
5. Lift up on the piece of tape (if any) securing the video cable to the rear of the screen. Then using your finger nail, slide the video data cable out of the video data connector port.
   
6. Locate the inverter which is a slender device underneath the screen that provides power to the backlight. Using your thumb nail, slide the inverter cable plug out of the inverter.
   
7. You have now removed your notebook screen. To install your replacement screen, follow the steps above in reverse order.
   

And that’s it; your computer is back up and running with a new replacement screen.

So the next time you or someone you know breaks their notebook screen, remember there is a cost effective and time saving alternative to purchasing a new notebook. And if you think this can’t be done, check out a few of the customers below who successfully and easily replaced the screen themselves

Testimonials:

"When my lap top screen first broke, I was pretty upset. At that point, I was left with two options; buy a new laptop at a cost close to $1000 plus set up time or send my laptop into HP, pay close to $700 and wait 4-6 weeks. Thanks to ScreenTek I was able to save close to $400 dollars and have the screen sent to me in two days.” -- Chris R.

“My laptop is working perfectly! I'm so happy that you could get me the screen for less than half the price that IBM wanted me to pay.
Also, you were very friendly and the process was hassle-free. I have already told a few friends about you guys and I will recommend you to anyone with an LCD screen problem.” --Christine B.

“The installation went smoothly and it works perfectly. Definitely a bargain compared to what IBM wanted to charge.
There are a lot of laptops I support in our department so if more have screen issues, we know where to look.
Thanks,” --Andrew S.