Thinkpad L460 failed to display, what might be the problem?

Hi @collinslule8669

Try connecting an external monitor to the laptop's vga or mini DP port and check if there's a display shown on it coming from the laptop. Don't forget to press the F7 key (or Fn + F7) to toggle the display from the laptop screen to the external monitor.

If there is a display seen on the external monitor, switch the display back to the laptop screen and then try shining a flashlight at an angle close to the screen and check if you can see any images on the screen at all. They will be very faint if they are there, so trying this in a darkened room may help.

If there are no images to be seen on the laptop screen, it could be a faulty LCD (video) cable (or cable connection either end, motherboard or LCD panel) or a faulty LCD panel.

Here's the hardware maintenance manual for the laptop. Go to p.101 (107 of 114 pdf) in the manual, to view the procedure to replace the LCD cable which will allow you to check if all is OK.

If the cable is OK it's probably a faulty LCD panel. As there are 9 different LCD panels that can be used for your model, the best way to find the exact replacement is to remove the LCD panel as described in the manual and look for the Lenovo part number on the back of the LCD panel itself. Search online for the part number to find suppliers that suit you best.

If there are faint images seen on the laptop screen, then there's a backlight problem. This could either be a faulty backlight power supply circuit on the motherboard, a faulty LCD (video) cable (or cable connection either end, motherboard or LCD panel) or a faulty LCD panel.

Check for voltage on pins 1→ 3 of the LCD cable connector on the motherboard (and LCD panel). If there is voltage (at both ends) it's a faulty LCD panel. If none at the motherboard LCD cable connector, it's a motherboard problem and the schematics will be needed to find out what's wrong.

If there's no display on the external monitor, then there's a motherboard problem or the PC is not passing POST (power on self test).

Try starting the laptop and then quickly press the F1 key a few times to see if you can get into BIOS with a working display on the laptop (you can't use and external monitor when the laptop is in BIOS only the laptop screen is connected)

You could also try a power refresh in case it's a corrupted BIOS that is preventing a normal start.

Turn off the laptop (if it's on) and disconnect the charger (if connected), remove the main battery from the laptop and then open the laptop and disconnect the RTC coin cell battery from the motherboard (see p.84 (91 of 114 pdf) in the manual linked above.

Press and hold the laptop's power button operated for a full 30 seconds and then release it.

Reconnect the coin cell battery, reassemble the laptop, reinsert the battery, reconnect the charger and check if it turns on with a display OK.