help - laptop screen probem is driving me dotty!

Craig_W_2

I've got an HP ZD8000 laptop with a display problem.

First, I've had the machine for five years and found it to be largely very good and reliable. In common with other owners, my machine has had overheating problems. But they were easily cured with a laptop stand and regular air-cleaning (a foot pump aimed through the vents).

But recently the screen has developed an irritating "dotty checkerboard" fault with the display (see images below). The screen now always shows a minimum checkerboard effect but this worsens with any scrolling, when the dots are duplicated again and again. The problem makes images and videos look horrible.

The rest of the laptop's functionality is fine.

I have Googled around and seen that there have been many problems with this laptop and its screen. But I cannot find out how to solve this particular problem.

Anyone any idea what the problem is and how to fix it?

Screen shot of white screen showing red dots:



Screen shot of white screen after scrolling:



Screen shot of black screen showing blue dots:



Screen shot of black screen after scrolling:

Craig_W_2

57 views and no replies.

I guess the problem is worse than I thought.

Is it terminal?

sho_me_da_money

The problem is not something that can be resolved by a fix via your OS.

It is definitely a hardware issue, which indicates either one of the following:

1. Onboard video card/controller is f**ed
2. Screen is f**ed

Considering you've owned the lappy for 5 years, the warranty has likely expired therefore, Ill some this up in 2 words for you:

It's f**ed.

Craig_W_2

Thanks, show me da money. Faith in MSE restored.

Problem 2 sounds expensive. The sceen will cost £100 ish according to Google:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=replacement+laptop+screen+hp+zd8000&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=6CP&rlz=1R1DVFD_en-GB___GB356&prmd=ivnsfd&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=gfGaTYbOIoaEhQerz93RBg&ved=0CFcQrQQ&biw=1440&bih=710

Is problem 1 as expensive? How do I find out what I would need to buy and/or do to fix it?

Also how do I find out which of the two (the screen or the card/controller) is causing the problem?

sho_me_da_money

It's difficult to diagnose. Even as an IT engineer I cannot determine if its the LCD or the video control that has gone.

Actually scrap that, there is ONE way. You could hook up an external monitor to the VGA controller and use the monitor as your primary and only display. If the issue disappears, we can safely assume the LCD has gone. If the issue still exists i.e. dots still show up on the external monitor, the on-board video controller may be f**ed.

To replace, both are expensive as each other. The absolute sure fire way of determining the cause for concern is to have the manufacturers technical department diagnose the problem - they have the spare parts to narrow down the problematic hardware. I have no idea if there is a fee for this but drop them a line and see what they say.

victor2

I'd have to concur with sho_me_da_money's diagnosis. If it still works with an external monitor connected, then it's problem 2. If not it's problem 1.

Craig_W_2

Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

I'm off to find a VGA cable and a functioning screen then to find the tech dept for HP lappies.

Hammyman

I'm afraid that it is a hardware fault. It is either the onboard graphics RAM or the GPU. If the laptop uses system RAM for video RAM, you can try running the laptop with each memory stick on its own to see if it sorts the problem. You may find your OS crashes though.

sho_me_da_money wrote:

It's difficult to diagnose. Even as an IT engineer I cannot determine if its the LCD or the video control that has gone.

Oh. Dear. It is extremely easy to diagnose Checkerboard pattern is ALWAYS indicitive of VRAM or GPU. The other screenshots are also nothing that a LCD controller failure can produce.

I suggest that if you do software as an IT engineer, you stick to it. Hardware faults are obviously not your bag.

Craig_W_2

Hammyman, are you saying it is definitely not the screen? But either the VRAM (?) or the GPU (?).

If so, what do I need to do to fix it?

Hammyman

Sadly if taking the memory sticks out and putting them back one at a time doesn't cure it, 99% a new laptop motherboard. It could be that there is a dry joint (most likely if you flex the laptop and the image changes) and a re-flow/re-ball would possibly cure that but its a couple of hours labour to take the board out plus the cost of the repair plus the cost of putting it back together. Unfortunately many used boards you buy on Ebay are likely to be faulty (personal experience) and a new one makes the whole thing beyond the point of economical repair especially if you pay someone a couple of hours to do it.

There is a remote possibility it is the panel (it is definitely not the cable) but in the decades of experience I have, its always the graphics card, whether the GPU or the video RAM - the same fault happens on desktops, both onboard and separate graphics cards, as well as laptops.

closed

reseat video connector on main board, reseat graphics chip, press around on the keyboard and edge of the screen when it happens, if no difference, time for a new one

put the model number into youtube search