Laptop LCD Screen

[mkylman]

This is not programming related, but my laptop screen has been goofing up lately...by that I mean that it will flicker and then the display will go completely white, I have to pinch it(or mash it between my hands) to regain display. Also there are these weird multicolored lines in certain parts of the screen, but they disappear when the screen is "bent", which is dangerous to do anyway...It's a dell inspiron 4000, it was a "gift" given to me by one of my mom's friends, it was not taken care of very well so the screen suffered...it is still functional but I am looking around for a used screen on eBay and found one for like 60 bucks, but it's like 21 bucks to ship it...I took it apart the other day to see if there was something pressing on it or something, but I discovered nothing...But I was wondering if anyone knew exactly what was wrong with the screen?

Thanks in advance,
Mkylman

[SlyMaelstrom]

Are you sure it's not the battery or power supply? Maybe it's not getting enough voltage and is starting to do funky things. Your symptoms sound like it's the display itself, but I wouldn't be doing what you say you're doing to fix it. It certainly isn't going to help it in the long run. Whether it's the screen or the battery, looks like you're in the hole about $60 or so bucks... I don't think laptop displays are easily repaired without a background in engineering.

[mkylman]

I don't think that it's the battery or the power supply b/c 1) I rarely use the battery 2) I just got a new battery 3) I just got a new power adapter 4) These symptoms were present when the laptop was given to me, back in May/April...
Yeah, it does seem as though I'll be in the hole 60 bucks...There's another one which is 85 bucks, plus 15 bucks for shipping...I'm 15, poor, and don't have a job...so chances are I won't be getting one soon :-(

[Mario F.]

Does this happen especially when you are watching videos? (Even if small ones from inside a media player on a webpage)

[mkylman]

it happens whenever, the lines are always there though...The screen blanks out at random, and once it does it once it's gone for almost an hour...I've tried hooking up an external monitor to circumvent the issue, but the laptop won't recognize it...But no, it happens anytime...It's really sensitive about when you close it, that seems to worsen the lines and the possibility of it blanking out...It blanked out a lot when I took it to school one time, so I think that it has a lot to do with opening and closing it, and it being smashed shut in general...I just don't know what is specifically wrong with it...

[Mario F.]

Ok. Might not be the same as I experienced. Or it might. The lines thing perked my ears.

My Toshiba model had vertical lines rrunning across the screen. Suddenly it would crash. This developed up to a point I could hardly use it anymore. It turns out it was a flaw on this model in which chips or something were not properly soldered onto the motherboard. I benefited immensely since my warranty had expired. But the fix got obviously covered by it.

Who knows you get that lucky. Turn it in and ask for a quote before fixing. If the problem is faulty design, they'll fix it free of charge.

[mkylman]

Who would I go to to have them check it out? I have the vertical lines too...They change colors and disappear depending on how much pressure is on it...You experienced that too I take it? Sadly I don't think it's a design flaw b/c I have a few friends online, one who's got the same model I do and he hasn't had any problems w/ the screen, idk though...But yeah, who would I go to to have it examined?

[Mario F.]

You would take it to a dell representative somewhere around your area. Mind you that not all toshiba satellite 6000 pro experienced this problem. It was a big number, but not all. These things have to do with small changes to their production lines or machines becoming uncalibrated(sp?).

But still the problem seems distant from mine. The problem wasn't the screen itself. But the graphics card. And yet, it may be related in the sense it can still be a building flaw. No hurting to at least get a quote.

[mkylman]

Right, right...So I would have to go to a Dell store? I've got like no idea where one of those would be...Well I do some searching and see what I can find, thanks dude;