T61 working on external display only

Hello,
I'm new to the community but it seems my problem is not. I have found some answers in others' posts but not quite what I'm looking for.
I have a t61 from 2008 type 7664 R6G with a non-working LCD. I bought it with this problem hoping to swap over some components from a non-working model that I have already.
The screen was very dark so I proceeded to swap over the inverter, then the LCD panel, then the whole assembly with the screen cable and all. I know these components are in good working order as the laptop from which they come has a diferent problem (not screen related).
Each time I changed a component I tried switching on my t61 to see if I solved the problem. I didn't!
My t61 will only work with an external screen.
I've made sure that the Config options in the BIOS are correctly set to boot to the Thinkpad screen and the brightness is set to max without success.
Please note that the OS has been upgraded from Vista basic to 7, I'm not sure if this may have an effect.
Can someone please help? I'm at a loss what to do next!
Thanks.

If it doesn't start every time from the external drive after setting it with Startup Disk, then you have a defective system on your external drive. If it's not a major problem you may be able to fix it by doing the following:
Boot from your OS X Installer. Be sure to use the installer for the version of OS X you have installed. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (or Utilities menu if using Tiger.) After DU loads select your OS X volume from the list on the left, click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now shutdown the computer for a couple of minutes and then restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (3.0.3 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.1.1 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
Remember that if you shut off the computer you need to be sure the Firewire drive's power is turned on before you turn on the computer (unless the drive gets power from the Firewire port.)

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Hello Siôn Dafydd,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
I understand that you are using an external display with your MacBook Pro and when you close the display on your MacBook Pro, the second display turns off. It sounds as though your MacBook Pro may not be connected to power while using with display closed. Please read over the attached article for information on using a second display in closed-clamshell mode.
How to use your Mac notebook computer in closed-clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display - Apple Support
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Hi all,
I have used archlinux for some time, but since I've upgraded my desktop computer, it has me puzzled.
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Last edited by psyflash (2008-12-23 21:22:24)

The reason ubuntu showed only 1 master is because it uses the pulseaudio output plugin. Uninstalling or disabling pulseaudio makes alsamixer behave as normal. However, you can simply achieve the same effect by telling alsamixer to use your card specifically, which is usually card 0. ie
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T61 working on external display only

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