Hi Ernie! First of all I'm cheap. I was looking for a monitor that I can use on POTA activation with my Pi 400. I use to have a Windows 7 laptop that finally broke and was on a closed and I learned that you can repurposed the laptop screen for use it like a second display or in my case, the monitor for my Pi 400.
It's a project on itself, but works. Here are the steps I take:
. I carefully remove the screen from the broken laptop, leaving the hinges attached to the screen.
. Carefully removed the bezel and the screen from the back plate and keep all this parts for later reassembly.
. In the back of the screen I found the model number and take a picture of the sticker to be sure.
. I Google "LP173WD1(the number in the sticker) screen controller drive board" and find an Amazon link to a vendor of my particular screen for $37 Canadian.
. I ordered it and received? it in about 15 days. The board came with the cables and other little boards for basic controls (power, settings, bright, contrast, etc).
. The board powers with 12V (I use an old 12V 800 mah) and the inputs are HDMI, VGA and even composite.
. I connect everything, reassembly the screen on the bezel and used a piece of wood to attached the hinges.
Please excuse my English,
73, Jorge VE3EAD? ?
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