Laptop screen going haywire after shutdown if the screen was physically moved

[Cube777]

Hi,

About a year ago my laptop screen sometimes wouldn't work (especially after physically moving the laptop) after I shut it down, and the tried starting it up again. I got worse and worse, and I bought another one, working on that one as a laptop, since it became impossible to use the one with the screen without using a external monitor. Since I was basically using the laptop just like a desktop, I decided to remove its screen completely, I opened it up and saw that it might be kind of hard to remove it since I didn't know how to remove the hinges. I closed the laptop up again and when I turned it on, and the screen worked again! It was funny since I didn't make any changes to the screen's hardware. I still used it as a desktop since I already had the other laptop. Yesterday, after shutting it own and starting it up again the screen has the exact same problem, so I opened it up again, did nothing to it, closed it up and it worked again!This morning I had the exact same problem again, so I opened it up, closed it and at first it didn't work, after restarting again, it worked! It always works even after I hibernated the laptop, the problem only ever comes after I shut down the laptop. Here is the things that didn't work to help solve the problem:

1) I updated the graphics card's driver direct from Intel's site
2) I upgraded to Windows 7 from XP

I don't think this a software problem, I also once took the laptop to a repair service and they said that they needed to replace the whole screen, but I didn't proceed with the repair as the screen works perfectly (when it turns on, off course). I think the problem may be at the hinges of the screen, as the problem only occurs after I tilted the screen (although not while the laptop is on, only after I restarted the laptop). Some pics of the screen:

The screen when the problem occurs, it makes all types of patterns and colors, although they are consistent each time the problem occurs:

The screen with the bezel removed:

What I presume to be the inverter:

What I presume to be the video cable:

LCD screen flippen onto the keyboard:

Left hinge:

Right hinge:

This cable was loose the first time opened the screen, so I just taped it down and insulated it:

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[grebgonebad]

Hi!

This is going to sound a little stupid seeing as you have already disassebled your laptop, but are you sure all the connections are sound on both the screen and the motherbaord? sometimes a loose connection can send distorted signals through to the screen.

Also, are any of the cables frayed, is all the insulation still in one piece?

The main reason for laptop monitors failing in my experience is because of the cable than goes from the screen to the motherboard. This cable normally routes around or close to one of the hinges, which after excessive use can lead to the cable being damaged internally. The damage might not even be obvious.

 

[Cube777]

Thanks for the quick answer, I have not yet opened the the laptop self, so I have not checked the connections on the motherboard itself, but all the insulation in the screen itself looked fine, and from what I could see, all the connections was okay as well.

 

[grebgonebad]

Okay, well this still doesnt eliminate the possibility of internal cable damage, but it looks like its probably not this. My next step would be to take a look at the motherboard connections and see if any of them are damaged or loose. If they are, you've probably found your problem.

I seriously doubt that the problem would be caused by an out of date Driver or conflicting program, but nothing is impossible. I know you stated above that you have already updated the GPU drivers, but try updating all the other drivers as well, just for good measure.

You say that the screen only goes funny at a certain angle or when you tilt the screen? This is more likely to be some internal cable fraying. sometimes after continuous use the cables inside the insulation can bend and fatigue crack. This would mean that if the cable were to be manipulated in a certain way, the cables would break contact leading to a loss of throughput.

If after checking your motherboard connections you dont find any problems, try and find a replacement screen cable on ebay or somwhere. It should be relatively cheap. This should solve the problem.

 

[Cube777]

The screen works fine while the laptop is on (with screen at any angle), but after the screen has moved, the next time I restart the screen won't work. This doesn't happen if I hibernate the laptop(although the computer turns off), just when I do a shutdown. I'll update all the drivers I can think of, as well as open the laptop's case to check the wiring to the motherboard. Thanks for your help! I'll update the post if one of the above solved the problem.

 

[grebgonebad]

It is a very strange problem admittadly.

Are you saying that when the laptop is on, you can freely move the screen without problem, but teh next time you start it up after doing so, then the problem occurs?

 

[Cube777]

Yes, just like when you update a computer, you can work on the computer freely, but the update only applies after you restarted the computer.

 

[grebgonebad]

That doesnt sound like a hardware fault then, providing its consistent. Im really not sure why its doing what it is in that case then. The best advice I can offer now would be to do the basic stuff, like clean up the registry, run Ccleaner and do a defrag. You could also try doing a system restore to a time when this problem wasnt happening, or you could reinstall windows, albeit this is a bit extreme...

 

[Cube777]

I regularly defrag my laptop, clean up its registry, the problem started occurring a year ago (so I don't have a system restore point before this), and I have changed from XP to Windows 7 since then, and I normally don't go 5 months without re-installing Windows 7 (I can't stand a slow computer). I'll still try to update all the drivers, and if that doesn't work I will have to live with it Thanks for all your help!

 

[grebgonebad]

No problem, I'm just sorry I couldnt do more. =)

I know exactly where your coming from with regards to reinstalling windows, I dont think ive had it on for more than a few months at a time. lol.

 

[Cube777]

Hi! I finally got around to checking the connection on the motherboard as well, and the was three cables that was missing insulation, but they were all ground cables, so they were probably not the problem. Then I decided to turn the laptop on with the cover where the video cable connects to the motherboard still open, and move the cable while checking the screen. As I moved the cable in different directions, the pattern changed, so there is probably a bad contact inside the cable somewhere. I already ordered a replacement from eBay, and it should solve the problem. Than you for your help grebgonebad!

 

[grebgonebad]

Hi! I finally got around to checking the connection on the motherboard as well, and the was three cables that was missing insulation, but they were all ground cables, so they were probably not the problem. Then I decided to turn the laptop on with the cover where the video cable connects to the motherboard still open, and move the cable while checking the screen. As I moved the cable in different directions, the pattern changed, so there is probably a bad contact inside the cable somewhere. I already ordered a replacement from eBay, and it should solve the problem. Than you for your help grebgonebad!

Absolutely no problem at all! Glad I helped! Good luck replacing the cable!