142 31 Days Before Your CompTIA A+ Exams phones and MP3 players, digital cameras, expensive laptops, dashboard displays, ATMs, point-of- sale systems, watches, and even fish finders that use sonar can be very pricey and warrant repair over replacement. An LCD screen that is dark and can be seen only from an angle means the backlight is either not powered or is broken. If it takes a long time for the screen to get bright or some places on the screen are brighter (or darker) than others, plan on replacing the backlight. Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, have a similar effect. If the LCD screen is pixilated, check the video source first. Often, streamed video and even digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber, and cable Internet service provider (ISP) connections can fail to pro- vide a proper high-definition (HD) signal. If the source is the problem, try downloading the file entirely and running it locally. If the screen flickers or randomly changes color, check the physical connection; it might be loose. On a laptop, this is no easy task. The ribbon cable that connects the LCD to the motherboard is hidden in one of the hinges. Know before you go. Read up on the repair of that specific laptop before you pick up a screwdriv- er. If the screen just flickers (no color change), the problem might be the inverter that powers the backlight, not necessarily the light or cable. If there are fantastic modern art designs with lines and radiant divisions like a cracked windshield, the screen is cracked and needs to be replaced. If the screen is still bright, the backlight is not broken.