Computer Screen

Typo · Sep 14, 2009, 05:19 PM

So I am not very bright when it comes to repair or diagnosing technology problems.

My laptop's screen has been acting up, at least I hope it's the screen and not the computer

The screen has little spasms, where it skips, shorts out, freezes, I have to press on it in order for the picture to unfreeze or sit still.

So I was wondering if anyone could give me a clue to if it is the screen or my actual computer? (crosses fingers it's her screen)

Thank you
Sparrow

VickiesPath · Sep 14, 2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversparrow

So I am not very bright when it comes to repair or diagnosing technology problems.

My laptop's screen has been acting up, at least I hope it's the screen and not the computer

The screen has little spasms, where it skips, shorts out, freezes, I have to press on it in order for the picture to unfreeze or sit still.

So I was wondering if anyone could give me a clue to if it is the screen or my actual computer? (crosses fingers it's her screen)

Thank you
Sparrow

I'm a certified pc repair technician. That doesn't necessarily mean I know what's wrong with your laptop but I'll give it a shot. What is it you are pressing on? If you are actually pressing on the screen, is it a soft screen or does it have hard plastic over it? Pressing on the screen to make it sit still or unfreeze is not a good sign. Can you clarify a little more exactly what it is doing and what you have to do to fix it?

Typo · Sep 14, 2009, 05:33 PM

I'm having to press on the actual screen or the back of the screen, errm I do believe it is a hard screen. It's been going on for a week now and I have no idea why it's started, I'm really careful on how I handle my laptop since I use it for school, it travels a lot, back and forth everyday, but it is in a protective case and I carrry it in my backpack, a few months ago I started having this thin green vertical line on the right hand side of my screen, but really didn't think to much of it, now it's progressed to if I don't hold hte laptop just right, or I don't hold the screen for a few minutes or jostle the laptop while moving around the screen starts flickering and I have to press on the actual plastic screen,till it stops or it will freeze up, (computer is still running and working fine just can't see what I"m doing) and I Have to press on it till it decides to unfreeze.

Ty Vickie for helping ((((((((((((((Vickie)))))))))))))))))

VickiesPath · Sep 14, 2009, 05:53 PM

In the hinges that attach the lid/screen to the bottom part of the laptop, there are wires that connect the screen to the motherboard, which is in the bottom part. One of two things is happening. Either your monitor (screen) is failing (I'm wondering about that because of the green line you described) or the wires that are running from the screen to the motherboard inside those hinges are being pinched or are fraying. Either way, this is not good news for your laptop.

You are going to have to have it looked at by a bonafide repair shop. But, before you go much further, do you back up your data regularly? If you do, then you need to do it immediately if not sooner. If that screen goes completely dark on you, you'll have to hook your laptop up to an external monitor in order to get a picture to do a backup. If you've not ever backed it up, it is critical that you do it asap. If you know someone who is knowledgable with computer stuff, keep them in mind in case your screen does go out. They can help you hook an external monitor up to it and do the backup.

If your laptop is still under warranty, this would be covered. If not, then consider the following. If this is a really expensive laptop, it might be worth the cost to fix it. If it is not really expensive, you might want to consider buying a new one. Even the ones you get at WalMart are not that bad these days. I've seen them and they are not too bad.

Anyone else you know who might be a certified technician can look at it and probably tell you pretty quickly if it's the screen going out or the wires being pinched or pulled.

Good luck. Sorry this is happening. I know how maddening it is.

I used to repair laptops. They are tricky little buggers. The reason is, once you start taking them apart to repair them, sometimes it's a work of art to try to get them back together the same way. And God forbid you drop a screw!