something happened to my portable dvd player

atari2600 · 09-04-03, 11:21 AM

i have an RCA RC5400P portable dvd player and have had it for about 2 years. used it once and awhile, mostly on flights.

all of a sudden the screen went dark. movies still play, i can hear them and i can BARELY see a faint picture on the screen but its so dark now.

any ideas what happened and how to fix?

thanks.

JimRochester · 09-04-03, 04:34 PM

From what I've heard, portables are basically disposable because they cost more to fix than they are worth. A new screen would probably set you back almost as much as a new unit. I rarely get extended warranties but did get one on mine because they are prone to breakage and very difficult to fix. Good luck. Nothing is worse than when a toy breaks.

atari2600 · 09-04-03, 06:42 PM

so im basically screwed?

pcdoctor · 09-05-03, 03:06 AM

Probably if the unit is no longer under warranty.
If you are brave, you could open it up and make sure all cables are connected and not corroded.

atari2600 · 09-05-03, 03:59 AM

hell ive got nothing to lose now.

Ozymandius · 09-05-03, 11:25 AM

Sounds to me like the backlight went out. That happens alot with laptop LCDs so I imagine it happens alot with other LCD products. It actually might be worth it to get it fixed. Backlights are relatively inexpensive and are somtimes user replaceable. I replaced the backlight in my laptop and it cost me about $50 for a $2500 laptop, so I would imagine that portable DVD players are a bit less expensive...

Worth a shot.

Sponge

09-04-03, 11:21 AM	#1
atari2600 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 7,548	something happened to my portable dvd player i have an RCA RC5400P portable dvd player and have had it for about 2 years. used it once and awhile, mostly on flights. all of a sudden the screen went dark. movies still play, i can hear them and i can BARELY see a faint picture on the screen but its so dark now. any ideas what happened and how to fix? thanks.

09-04-03, 04:34 PM	#2
JimRochester DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Rochester, NY. USA Posts: 8,549	From what I've heard, portables are basically disposable because they cost more to fix than they are worth. A new screen would probably set you back almost as much as a new unit. I rarely get extended warranties but did get one on mine because they are prone to breakage and very difficult to fix. Good luck. Nothing is worse than when a toy breaks. __________________ Pan58" Plasma,Pioneer vsx91, SONY s350, Toshiba A35, Def-Tech speakers supercube sub. Most wanted BD: Aladdin/Armgeddon/BATB/BevHillsCop/BigRed1/BTTF/Bugsy/DieHard4(R)/Gettysburg/GrossPoint/Honeymoon Vegas/JrsicPrk/LionKing/MemphisBelle/Midway/Mohicans/PearlHarb(R)/PT&A/Raiders/SoundMusic/Stripes/Sleepless/StarWars/SPR/3King/TinCup/Tombstone/Tora/TrueLies/USMarsh/WhileUSleeping.

09-05-03, 03:06 AM	#4
pcdoctor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 605	Probably if the unit is no longer under warranty. If you are brave, you could open it up and make sure all cables are connected and not corroded. __________________ My Home Theater On A Budget

09-05-03, 11:25 AM	#6
Ozymandius Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Diego, CA & L.A. Posts: 96	Sounds to me like the backlight went out. That happens alot with laptop LCDs so I imagine it happens alot with other LCD products. It actually might be worth it to get it fixed. Backlights are relatively inexpensive and are somtimes user replaceable. I replaced the backlight in my laptop and it cost me about $50 for a $2500 laptop, so I would imagine that portable DVD players are a bit less expensive... Worth a shot. Sponge __________________ # of DVD's: 398 and going up # of VHS's: 3 and going steady # of LD's: 12 # of BD's: 47 and going up

09-04-03, 06:42 PM	#3
atari2600 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 7,548	so im basically screwed?

09-05-03, 03:59 AM	#5
atari2600 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 7,548	hell ive got nothing to lose now.