My girlfriends Sony PCG-nv170 lap top has a weird problem with the LCD display.

When you turn the laptop on, the display come on, the backlight flicers, then shuts off. When, when windows turns on and it hits the display drivers (I assue) just when it comes on, the light turns on again, flickers, and shuts off.

If at any point while it is on, you close the screen and open it again, it flickers and shuts off.

I figured it was the Inverter. I really didn't have time to deal with it so I took it to CompUSA. They said it was the invertor or the LCD itself. They charged $250 for the inverter (which I know is a rip off, I can get it on-line for $70). Either way, they tried the inverter (so they say), and siad that it wasn't the inverter, that they need to replace the whole LCD. (They also so that the LCD is $900, so you know where I told them to shove their LCD). I picked it up, (By the way, I put a stop payment on the inital $140 service fee to them because I had the rudest service ever).

I figured I'll order an LCD display and do it myself. Thing is, I just don't feel right about them saying it is the LCD itself. I still feel it could be the inverter, that they just didn't try it right.

Is there any chance that it's not the LCD but some sensor that is internal in the Laptop itself, that is not in the LCD unit?

Anyone ever encounter this before? Any ideas?

Thanks