Thinkpad 600E LCD CCFL Replacement

These pages show some pictures I took when I replaced the backlight CCFL in the LCD screen of my Thinkpad 600E. This is a small diameter fluorescent lamp, sort of like what you find in office lighting (just a lot smaller).

I had the typical symptom for a long time: reddish tinge when first turned-on. That lasted a year or something. Then it started to blink when first turned-on. That didn't last so long. The problem, of course, was the CCFL tube.

These pictures show the re-assembly only (although if you want a clue about how to get it apart in the first place, you can traverse the pictures backwards). I took the screen apart, just to see if I could get to the CCFL without breaking stuff. Once I pulled the old CCFL and measured it, I ordered a replacement. It was only $10, but the shipping was $15. They had a deal where you got 'em for (maybe) $8 if you bought three (same shipping). On hind site, I should have bought three and sold the other two on eBay. Oh, well. I happened to get my CCFL from www.moniserv.com, by the way. It was an MS26361, but if I were you, I'd pull your current tube, measure it, and make sure to get one that will fit. I think I remember the diameter seemed a bit smaller on the one I was ordering than what I measured, but I just got one the same length, or maybe a mm or two shorter.