Laptop screen flickering cyan when tilted at an angle

[ComServant]

I don't use Tom's Hardware too frequently, so I apologize if this is in the wrong sub-forum. I checked the "Read before posting" threads of multiple subforums before posting, but I'm not sure if I got the right one or not.

My 'Compaq Presario CQ60' laptop is having problems. When tilting the screen at different angles, parts of the screen selectively gets either discolored, or those parts selectively turn entirely cyan (Like RGB (0, 255, 255) cyan). If I tilt the screen about 25 or 35 degrees from being almost shut, the screen turns entirely bright white.

When plugged I tested the computer by plugging it into an external monitor, it displayed fine even whilst the built-in laptop monitor was discolored (i.e. the laptop monitor was displaying cyan at the exact same time the external monitor was not) - thus, I doubt it's the video card.

Here's some pictures I took to illustrate what's happening:

Normal:

Weird:

Look at how it selectively targets only parts of that window (only one child-widget)... and only the pure white parts at that.

Also weird, but in a different way: (notice the unusual red waves in the Vista 'shut down' screen)

And here's a video that really illustrates it better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGY9leCCro

I'm not very hardware tech-savvy (though I am software tech-savvy), so please bear with my confusion and lack of terminology.

Based off of the details I gave above, and the screenshots/video, what would be your best guess at the defective part? How would you recommend I go about troubleshooting it to confirm it's that part?

Last time I opened up a laptop, I accidentally snapped the webcam connector wire. :lol:

I really appreciate any help you can offer. I'd much rather spend $50 on a replacement part, then $350 for some computer repair shop to fix it. But I'd also rather spend $350 on a computer repair shop, than have to spend $1500 for a new laptop.

 

[David 617]

the screen has a cable that runs through the hinge to your motherboard. although you might be able to find it on ebay, i dont think you want to take apart your whole laptop. im not even sure if a repair srvice will do that.

 

[ComServant]

Well, if the laptop is unusable now (thus, 'broken'), what harm is there in trying to repair it, even if it only has a 5% chance of success, if failure doesn't cost me anything? (Because in this case, 'not doing anything' and 'failure to repair it' and 'completely messing it up' all equal the same result: buying a new laptop)

All I need to know, is what piece I'm supposed to replace, and how I can be relatively certain that it's actually that piece that is broken.

 

[David 617]

what i meant, is that i dont think you will be able to put your laptop back together after.

if you want to try, here is what you need -
(they are the same cable, im just giving u 2 options of where to buy it.)
http://www.maksent.com/servlet/the-1872/Compaq-Presario-CQ60-15.6%22/Detail

http://www.dhgate.com/new-lcd-cable-for-hp-compaq-presario-cq60/p-ff8080812ec76a4e012ed1d288867704.html

 

[David 617]

double post. sorry.

 

[ComServant]

Thanks very much. It's worth the $15 dollar investment, if I can save 100 times that much, even if just the slim chance.

 

[David 617]

i was just thinking, it might be that the cable is just loose... if you have time, maybe take it apart, re-seat it, and see if that helps.

 

[dkjazz]

was discolored (i.e. the laptop monitor was displaying cyan at the exact same time the external monitor was not) - thus, I doubt it's the video card

 

[ComServant]

was discolored (i.e. the laptop monitor was displaying cyan at the exact same time the external monitor was not) - thus, I doubt it's the video card

I'm not sure what the point of this message was - you quoting me from above, did you have any comments about that quote?

 

[ComServant]

Best answer selected by ComServant.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

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