I have a Dell Latitude D500 notebook and of late, the LCD display has been acting rather strange
I have a Dell Latitude D500 notebook and of late, the LCD display has been acting rather strange. Sometimes on booting up, I get a display which shows a white background with a series of color vertical lines across the screen. When that happens, I would need to switch it off for a while (sometimes for a whole day or two) and it would be working like normal again. This problem has been occurring intermittently for the last two months now. I have been doing some research on LCD screen on the Net but have not come across anything like this. A friend suggested that I remove just the screen from the laptop and wrap it up in plastic bags and freeze it in the freezer for a day. This freezing technique is something he found on the Net but that was for an issue regarding reviving “dead” hard-disks. I am just not sure if it works the for “temperamental” LCD screens.
First of all, I would try to find out what part of the notebook is causing the problem – the display assembly or the motherboard/video card module. Hook up an external monitor to the VGA port on the notebook and turn the computer on. Set the notebook to display video on both screens – internal LCD screen and external monitor and wait until the video fails. If the video output fails only on the internal screen and the external monitor displays it normally, them most likely the problem is somewhere in the display assembly. If the video fails on both screens, then it’s the motherboard/video card fault and it’s not related to the notebook display assembly. In this case, you’ll have to replace the motherboard or the video card, if it’s a separate module.
As you mentioned above, the problem is intermittent, so it might be just a loose connection. I would try to reseat the video cable on the motherboard and on the back of the LCD screen. If it doesn’t help, then I would probable try replacing the video cable, because it’s a less expensive part in the display assembly. Here’s Dell Latitude D500 notebook service manual, it shows how to remove and replace notebook parts.
When the LCD screen displays a bad video, try to twist the display a little bit by moving top right and left corners into opposite directions, apply some tension on the screen and see if the video changes somehow. Don’t twist it too much or you can break the screen, be very gentle. If the video changes somehow, for example lines disappear, or more lines appear, or you can even get a normal video output, then most likely it’s the LCD screen failure.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
This is what’s up, more than likely. How dirty is the fan? Is it khaki or brown colored? If so, or even if not, the fan, cooler, and whole insides should be checked for dust, resulting in the comupter overheating, which will cause images, freezing, crashing, your color’s and resolution to automatically decrease, you know…….. Another thing to check out is that the fan is on the bottom left hand corner, and it blow’s out of the back right near where you plug in the power cable to the back of your computer, so make sure your rubber boot’s are on the bottom corner’s as they are suppose to be, try to sit your back left hand corner of the laptop over the edge an inch or two. I’m sure the problem is over-heating. Maybe your fan’s burned up as well, who know.
February 16th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Hi.. I have a DELL INSPIRON 6400 with LCD has bottom band horizontal blank/grey. How can I do? Thank You.
January 24th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Hi … I need help … Pretty please? I have a Toshiba Satelite P35-S6112 17″ notebook. I’ve had it for a few years now. About a year ago, it started to develop vertical lines a couple at a time. After researching the problem, and determning if the problem was in the display by hooking my notebook up to an external monitor, I purchased a new display and installed it. Four day later, two new lines … then another and another. Is something causing the the lines or is it my bad luck and it’s just another defective display? Could it be the display harness is defective and it is causing the lines? If it is possibly the display harness/cable, will the vertical lines not be present after the display harness is replaced?
Thank you very much for any and all ideas and suggestions.
Felecia
July 27th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I have just encountered a problem with my Dell Latitude D620. The keyboard stoped functioning properly, it’s supprising that the dead keys are only for numbers 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,0. I tried all the way to key in the charaters in but there appeared nothing. I guess that because it was overheated for some hours yesterday. What should I do?
October 29th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
I have a Dell Latitude C600 and have the same problem. I replaced the motherboard with a brand new one thinking that this would solve the problem, but the problem is still there. The screen sometimes turns red and sometimes turns a very light color then it starts to get those lines in it. Sometimes it will just start working by itself.
I had attributed the problem to overheating because at the same time this happened the fan quit running and the laptop got pretty warm. So I was really surprised to see the brand new fan on the new motherboard not working either, along with the same funky problem with the screen.
But I’m really not sure if the heat is actually the culprit, because the screen came up red the very first time I turned it on after replacing the motherboard and it hadn’t had a chance to heat up yet.
It has the latest (A23) bios, just like the old MB. And I put new ram in it too. But the processor is the one I took out of the old MB.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:52 pm
I have a Dell Latitude D500 that locks up when you boot it up. The fans spin for 4 seconds and stop. the hard drive churns for 4 seconds, stops. it sits and does nothing. If I unplug the display, then the bios screen shows and then XP launches – I can then reseat the display cable to the motherboard and the laptop works fine until the next boot.
The problem does not happen if I remove the display cable and use an external monitor.
so
motherboard, video, or display – what do you think I need to replace?
August 29th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Hi,
I am having the same problem with my Dell Latitude D510 as JL in the third post…with the image.
Any idea what his exact problem was and how he resolved it? And if not, could I get his/her contact details?
The display behaves strangely, sometimes its frozen and other times it works perfectly. Very grateful for any comments.
BR/ Gaurav
August 27th, 2007 at 2:43 am
Just to echo what many others have said already:
I have a Dell Latitude D620, and I have recently started to experience the vertical stripes problem. I noticed that if I just pushed the screen back or forwards a little, it would go back to normal. However, as of late, that has not ben sufficient to get rid of the stripes. So today I had to connect an external monitor in order to see what I was doing. (The external monitor works perfect, btw.)
I then found this thread and I can confirm that both the advice about twisting the display and the advice about pressing firmly just below the display (about 1.5 inches to the right of centre) made the stripes go away temporarily. A few minutes ago I pressed down for a while and perhaps even firmer than before, and the stripes have not returned since. Now I’m afraid to move the display at all in case the stripes should return again
So it looks to me as if the problem is some loose cables or something similar. If the problem returns, I’ll have to open up the computer and see for myself, I suppose.
Thanks for the advice so far in this thread!!!
July 18th, 2007 at 2:53 am
I have exactly the same problem as JL (judging by the look of the screen), but permanently. From the startup on I just see those irregular vertical lines (I can’t even see BIOS).
And the problem continues even if I leave it on for hours, or turn it off for days.
External monitor works great.
Backlight works great.
I have twisted, shaken, etc the LCD screen. I have unplugged and plugged (and twisted) every cable related to the screen. Absolutely no change.
Small (probably irrelevant) detail: the colour of the lines change according to content being displayed.
Thanks so much for your help.
June 21st, 2007 at 3:15 pm
well i’m trying to update my driver cause my games are telling me too, so i tried to see if windows would find it but didnt so i looked for the newer version but couldnt download it cause of errors on the web page
Display driver know is- ATI Mobility Radeon IGP 7000 version 6.14.10.6493
The one i need is-ATI Mobility Radeon IGP 7000 version 6.14.10.6525
P.S- The ATI manufacture doesnt show the driver updates now, Because its such a old graphic card if u could give me a link to where i could download this driver it would be very helpful thx
OO also could u make sure the download, Downloads, cause last time the download took me to a error page
April 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Hi there
I have a Dell inpiron E1505 laptop
and everytime I watch a Video using WMP 11, Power DVD 7…everything is fine, but when I close the player the screen starts flashing and there’s nothing I can do but shut it down…..But it only happens when I unplug the AC adapter.
I have reinstalled windows, did every update, downloaded every driver, I don’t know what else to do.
I hope you can help me.
March 24th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Hi,
I have a Fujitsu Lifebook C Series and recently the screen has caused me some problems. The colors are all messed up as in when the color should be black it is red. Then when I try to change the color it says that I only have an option for 16 bit. Also I when I try to change the pixels it doesn’t work and stays at the same setting. What is the problem?
February 21st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Hey so i tried just updating my display driver from the manufacturer but they didn’t have the driver! So i was wondering if u could find me a update for it.
ATI Radeon Mobility 7000 IGP
version:6.14.0010.6497(English)
Windows: windows xp professional
I really need this update
Thank you so much
Nate
February 17th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Nate,
Usually you can download new drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
February 17th, 2007 at 12:17 am
I have a Toshiba Sat A75 or something like that I think I know what my problem is I just want to know if I have the right solution.. I purchased this laptop with a broken LCD screen I was just using it for my CarPc with a screen in my car connected by the VGA I think my VGA on the laptop has a short in it now where I would bring it in and out of the house connecting it to diffrent monitors it worked fine at first now I can only get it to work in the house by pulling or bending the VGA cord (which is also messing up my cord) I was wanting to know if I could use KINAMAX USB 2.0 to VGA & SVGA Adapter or Extend to 2 Monitors instead of the VGA on the back of my laptop just connect the usb to the laptop and the VGA to my screen will that work
February 15th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Hey do u know where i can update my display driver.
Driver details:
Mobility Radeon 7000 IGP version 6.14.10.6497
Windows version: Windows xp
Thanks!
February 6th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Nate,
I want to play games, build or buy a desktop PC. Upgrading memory will not help much.
February 4th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Also i play a lot of world of warcraft and counter-strike and i was going to buy a gig of ram for my computer but sence i cant upgrade my video card i dont know what i should do
please help!
February 4th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Is that video card a stock kind that come in all Toshiba Satellite A65 notebooks?
If i cant put any new video cards in my laptop what would you suggest i do sence im a gamer?
February 4th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Nate,
You cannot upgrade the video card on a Satellite A65 notebook, it’s integrated into the system board. Yes, it’s uses ATI chip, but the chip itself is soldered to the motherboard.
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:56 pm
im wondering whether i can upgrade my video card on my toshiba satellite a65, its not integrated graphics its an ATI mobile 7000 …
aNY HELP?
January 19th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Hi there I have an HP Pavillion dv4000. Everything works fine but when I hook it up to a secondary monitor the monitor seems to faintly flicker. All connections seem to be okay on the outside. What can I do to correct this? Could something have come loose inside?
Thanks for your help,
Duke
January 12th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I have a Dell latitude C600. Recently my laptop just wouldnt power on. The led lights on top will start blinking and nothing comes on screen. I tried evberything with the RAM but no luck. I am right now in the process of taking it apart and trying to figure out something. If by any chance it is a BIOS issue then how can i reset the bios? Anyone has any clue what to do in this case?
January 7th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I have a similar problem, I think. I have a Toshiba Satellite P35-S6292 ( a wide screen laptop)and this has been happening for a few months now. I get very narrow Cyan vertical lines across the entire screen. It comes and goes constantly. I thought it heat related but it does not appear to be.
It will come and go constantly. Tipping the laptop, twisting or otherwise puling up on the screen. especially near the hinges will make it come and go, as will tapping anywhere on the keyboard surface of the case.
From the Laptop Freak. This comment has been published here.
January 5th, 2007 at 10:01 am
I am having a similar problem. I have a Dell C400 and when I turn it on, a white blank screen pops up and stays there sometimes for 5 or more minutes before it kicks in and finally the desktop is visible. The computer is still working in the background because I have connecting USB devises and heard the computer activating the devises. Do you know any way I can fix this?
December 1st, 2006 at 11:43 am
Hello!
I have a similar problem. Occasionally, my Toshiba Satellite M30-309 will display random, small vertical colored lines (usually over graphics) for a short time and then they will disappear (though sometimes the screen will flash black for a second, or occasionally nearly everything will turn to a black square and I have to reboot). I originally thought it was an overheating issue, but I’ve noticed that it does this at random times despite the temperature especially when the laptop is resting on my lap. I also installed a Temp/Fan Control Utility that tracks my computer running at, usually, between 35 Celsius and 45.
I’ve also noticed that orientation of my notebook (such as how it is sitting on my lap) effects whether or not the lines appear (though I can’t pinpoint exactly where is best). Most importantly, I just noticed that, when the lines appear, if I firmly press down on my laptop to the left of the touchpad (where the Internal WiFi card is located) the lines will go away (though I’m not sure if that has always been the case).
Any ideas on what I can do? I don’t have an external monitor to plug into so I can’t check if it is a motherboard problem.
Thanks a lot!
Mike
November 19th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
David,
I afraid that you might have an issue with the motherboard. A failed FL inverter board wouldn’t affect the video output on the external monitor. It’s hard to say what’s wrong because the issue you have is not a common one, even though it sounds like the inverter board issue (except the external monitor part).
November 18th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Hi,
I have a old Dell smartstep 250N, 2.4gHz CPU, 1400×1280 SXGA 15″.
Last week the external monitor output stopped working.
Then this week the LCD started flickering then went blank (dark). Switch off then on again lasts a few seconds before going blank. Boot into the bios screen lasts between 5-20 seconds then blank same booting with floppy and CD. After reading some other comments had a look and can see a image on the LCD. Shine a light on it can see it fairly well. So one would suspect the inverter ? but why would the external monitor be gone as well or just coincedence? (external monitor does work with other pc)
Have tried the Fn display button, the ATI monitor selection, wiggleing wires and cables, twisting display, pressing various bits of the case etc.
any ideas / comments will welcome
November 16th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Bunzino,
In the comment 25 you mentioned that the external CRT monitor works perfectly so I assume that the motherboard functions properly. Can you boot the laptop into Windows with the external monitor attached? Can you work in Windows with the external monitor?
From my experience, if the internal LCD screen displays a bad video (vertical or horizontal lines) but the laptop works perfectly fine with an external monitor, then it could be a bad video cable, loose video cable connections or a bad LCD screen. You’ve reseated the video cable so it’s not the connections. So it’s either the video cable fault or the LCD fault.
November 16th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
John Ament,
Check the laptop with an external monitor. Can you get any external video?