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I have an Acer Extensa 5620Z laptop which I bought in Spain. After a year or two the screen went dark and I was told it was something to do with the light. The price I was quoted for repair it was very high. I opted to buy a separate screen which I have used ever since.
Is it possible to take the connecting screen off a laptop? Could I just use the main body and the keyboard etc?
Thanks

The original fault is the backlight - repairable, quite a common fault.

With the appropriate manual/instructions and tools it is possible to remove the screen competely. The main difficulty is the dismantling as there are often hidden clips and screws that you just don't ever seem to remove without making ugly damage to the casing....

You could always use an external screen AND keyboard/mouse.

Thanks. The price I was quoted in Spain was almost the cost of a new laptop. Since I returned to the UK I had another quote which was a lot more reasonable. However,I bought this laptop late 2008 so don't really want to spend on it. I have had the screen sitting on my desk by the side of the laptop. Twisting to look at it constantly has caused back problems! I wanted to site it straight ahead if possible but of course the other screen is in the way. What I wasn't sure of,was that if I tried to dismantle all of the screen and take it completely off would the laptop work without it?

It's possible, but it really varies by model and what checks it makes during POST (power on self test).

If you want to do it properly, you'll need to strip the body of the laptop down - not done one of that particular model before, but it shouldn't be too hard. Usually two cables to undo, one for the display and the other for the inverter power. Disconnect them and try to power the laptop back up (carefully).

If it boots, remove them from the chassis, disconnect the hinges and remove the screen.

It's possible the WIFI antennas are routed around the edge of the screen too, so you might need to do something with those too - usually thin cables that are black/grey, don't damage either end of the cables.

BG

Open out the laptop as far as it will open (but don't force it beyond its natural stopping position) then:

Buy a monitor riser, or, make one by putting a piece of wooden board across two piles of books, and put the monitor on the 'shelf' created - with the laptop screen tucked underneath.

Or, hang the monitor on the wall using a VESA bracket (assuming its a flat-screen monitor), or you can obtain several types of monitor bracket that will clamp to the edge of your desk/table, raising the screen higher than the laptop.
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Paul

Or, put the screen in front of you, the laptop to one side (or in a drawer) and plug in a wireless usb keyboard.

Thanks for all your replies, much apprecieted.
I think I will try your idea pfb5.
It seems the most simple and more within my teccy capabilities!

The experts above answered your questions, as posted, directly and precisely. But sometimes you have to think outside the box to see the real problem!
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Paul

I prefer to take the box apart and make it work

With my luck and expertise I would probably take it apart and it wouldn't work!!

Replacement screens seem common enough

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/acer-extensa-5620z-screen

Also videos on how to actually complete it are readily available. Ive replaced many myself and not yet had a problem. Worth keeping in mind if it has "damage" from something say being dropped on it you may be able to get it repaired under your home accidental damage insurance....

Thanks for your reply Phildamb. This happened in Spain and it was just that the backlight stopped working,no accident or anything. I didn't have contents insurance then. Just taken it on recently but probably not worth pursuing what with penalties and excess etc. . I am managing quite well with pfb5 suggestion of using the laptop screen as a shelf to put the monitor on to. As this computer is a bit past its sell by date,I think I would rather put the money towards a new one! They are a lot cheaper here in the UK.