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| Author |
Message |
lizzieb
Guest
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 Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject: Laptop graphics problem |
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Hi - I have been given a laptop that displays vertical lines on the screen
immediately it powers on. It will only start in safe mode and the lines are
there and they are there when connected to an external monitor. I have run
a hardware check from bootable CD and lines are displayed with certain
colours. Can I be sure the graphics card is faulty (onboard graphics) and
could I use an external video card to check this
http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=155181 I haven't got one of these but
thought it might be useful in my tool kit.
Thanks
Liz |
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Bill Eitner
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Laptop graphics problem |
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lizzieb wrote:
| Quote: | Hi - I have been given a laptop that displays vertical lines on the screen
immediately it powers on. It will only start in safe mode and the lines are
there and they are there when connected to an external monitor.
|
If the lines are there in safe mode, you can be pretty
sure it's a real hardware issue and not a configuration
or driver issue.
| Quote: | I have run
a hardware check from bootable CD and lines are displayed with certain
colours.
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And lowering the resolution and/or refresh rate or
reinstalling the driver has no effect? If so, I'd
say you're on the right track.
| Quote: | Can I be sure the graphics card is faulty (onboard graphics) and
could I use an external video card to check this
http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=155181 I haven't got one of these but
thought it might be useful in my tool kit.
|
I'm not familiar with the concept of an external video
adapter, and based on what I read here:
http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUC2015V
I'm not sure whether the product you mention relies on
the primary display adapter or not.
Let us know what you discover.
--
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smackedass
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject: Re: Laptop graphics problem |
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,
| Quote: | Hi - I have been given a laptop that displays vertical lines on the screen
immediately it powers on. It will only start in safe mode...
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Lizzie, hmm this is interesting, at least it didn't cost you anything, it's
not your main computer, and it's more something that you can play around
with, right? If it only starts in safe mode, there could very likely be a
chronic hardware problem. Very possibly the mobo...
| Quote: | and the lines are there and they are there when connected to an external
monitor. |
Again, esp. because the external VGA port does the same thing, could very
well be the mobo...
| Quote: | I have run a hardware check from bootable CD and lines are displayed with
certain colours.
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Some laptops, most Dells, also have an onboard diagnostic program that can
be reached from the boot menu. Dell's tests the graphics left-right,
top-bottom, every which way, and it might be worthwhile to try this, if
possible.
| Quote: | Can I be sure the graphics card is faulty (onboard graphics) and could I
use an external video card to check this
http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=155181 I haven't got one of these but
thought it might be useful in my tool kit.
|
It's good to know that this gadget exists; I don't know how this will
actually help you troubleshoot the problem, because if it does work, it
doesn't mean that (in the worst-case scenario) that the mobo won't need to
be replaced. And, in the best case scenario, you'll have to use an external
monitor in order to use the laptop, which defeats the chief purpose of
having a laptop.
My own admitted point of ignorance here, is, is the graphics card integrated
(probably is)? If it isn't, and it you think it's worth the time and
aggravation to crack the case, deal with 6,000 different screws, and then
deal with matters, it might be worth your while. Personally, I don't think
that it is.
Best Wishes,
smackedass |
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