OK, the second-hand screen arrived promptly. Delivered to me for around AUD78 all up - well that is cheap. Sadly it sure looked cheap and moderately beat up compared to my existing screen and surrounds.
I set to work with the manual to hand. First time I've done any serious surgery on a laptop. Even with step by step instructions and diagrams, it's a tricky job. Exactly how the bits clip into place, how the wires are routed - it helps if one is familiar with it. But I eventually got there without breaking anything. Turned it on and it (almost) all worked.
The screen is fine - cannot even see any hot or dead pixels! The only thing not working is the overhead keyboard light. Unfortunate since I sometimes use this.
Also I have a T43 and received a replacement from a T40. Missing was one antenna wire - for the bluetooth card. No problem since I have no interest in bluetooth!
I did look at the option of putting the replacement screen panel into the existing screen bezel - aah no! I got the old one apart but only with a lot of effort (11 screws!) and excessive bending and I couldn't get it all clipped back together. I'm also sure that if I tried to pull the LCD screen off the adhesive I would likely damage it and never get the antenna wires back into place!
So, I'm back in action when I thought I was up for AUD hundreds at a minimum, or even a new laptop!
