Laptop checkerboard screen?

hey guys im having some problems with this laptop i got from a friend - he got a new one because the screen on this one is kinda messed up and he just didnt want to fix it

i took some pictures with my digital camera and one screenshot (which i transferred to the desktop pc im using now)

here the are:

CAMERA:

SCREENSHOT:

so what do you guys think? is it a problem with the graphics card that needs replacement or maybe an updated driver or a reformat will do the job?

(btw the checkerboard is there when the computer starts up - its not like it comes up only after i log in)

#477134

does this happen when booting?

#477135

yea it does - it starts up right after i press the power button and the longer i keep the computer on the more colors lines i see

also, when i just sit and look at the screen closely, thinks sort of flash and it looks like some of the checkerboard lines are moving or disappearing and reappearing, kinda like its getting refreshed every second but it never gets any better

#477136

it's a hardware problem then... probably the video card or your monitor

#477137

will reformatting the comp fix the problem?

#477138

no or i doubt...

#477139

it could be that the display has been set to the wrong number of colours, try fiddling with those too. I remember back in '98 when the computer got set to 16 colours and i spent 2 days looking for a virus...i did figure it out in the end

#477157

thats what happens when you have a PC laptop... I think it might be the LCD screen...

#477163

...I think it might be the LCD screen...

if it was a damaged lcd then it would not be evenly distributed like a checkerboard it would have random dead spots (Just a thought)

#477174

thats what happens when you have a PC laptop...

Why do you have to throw that out? no need for that we know you are a mac fan cool there is no need to degrade PC since this discussion isn't about that. .

I suggest you reformat it wouldn't hurt you to do so since you will probably get a fresh install so if you do.... It will be a step closer to getting some of the laptop's performance back. It ususally takes me about an hour and a half to get everything going when I reformat. I am thinking it is the videocard though hopefully its not I saw this same problem somewhere else I don't remember where but as soon as I find it I will get back to you. Good Luck.

#477175

ok thanks i will try a reformat and post the results

#477176

if it was a damaged lcd then it would not be evenly distributed like a checkerboard it would have random dead spots (Just a thought)

It also wouldn't be in a screenshot though... that is the weirdest part...

#477179

Does that at booting ? I'm afraid (like g510) that it is hardware

MacOS9fan : that kind of reaction isn't appropriate

Usually a pattern is an hardware memory problem, I already got one of these.

(And, he took an screen of it, then it can't be the LCD or the video output of the graphic card. It must be the memory chip that gets everything corrupted, sometimes it just happens (and it sucks))

EDIT : Mac Intosh said it quicker than me xD

#477182

yea reformat didnt work so im just oging to take it apart and see how a laptop is put together

valuable learning experience i guess =/ lol

#477198

Boot from a Linux live CD, to check if it's a Windows problem. If it is, then it might be a driver problem.

#477206

I suggest ripping it open and checking connections.

Valuable indeed. Especially if you forget to unplug/remove the battery

#477496