Sony Vaio Dodgy Display

emmahip

Hi all - I've got a Sony Vaio laptop, about 4 years old and the display has suddenly become garbled, as though it is showing everything on the screen three times all slightly out of sync.

I've tried doing a System restore and putting all the Bios settings back to default but it makes no difference. When it boots up, before the Windows XP loading screen comes on the screen is filled with dollar signs.

I suspect the on-board graphics chip may be fried - anyone else got a theory?

Thanks!

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

emmahip

bump! no ideas anyone????

Belnahua

emmahip wrote: »

bump! no ideas anyone????

Have you an external monitor you could plug into it, or borrow one, to try?

vyseyboy

Try it with an external monitor. If it seems to work fine, it might just be a loose video cable within the laptop. Then you could maybe try lifting the keyboard to get at it, but it might not be as easy as that.

emmahip

Thanks guys - will try it tonight and post the results!

emmahip

Display is the same with an external monitor.......

emmahip

Finally sussed out how to get into the thing!

Checked the video cable - it wasn't loose, curses.

Still got the same problem :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Outside chance one of the pins in the cable is loose????

Belnahua

If I remember right, Sony's use a different TFT technology, which is meant to give a sharper image.

I think given your description, your first instinct's are right. It's U/S.

The only thing I can think of, is to boot it up into SAFE MODE and see how that goes. If it's still garbled, then it is U/S. If it is then ok, check that the display is set to 1024x768@60Hz, then reboot and see how that is. Although Sony's are widescreen? Which might be 1024x800?

emmahip

Tried safe mode and no go... this sucks!¬(