Three groovy colored stripes running vertically across my screen...

E

eking

New Member
I have been searching online for help on this for a long time and all I get is... nothing! I bet one of you will know immediatly what the fix is. :good: Please help... one of my notebooks (6 year old compaq C500) has what started as one green line and has now become 3 lines running from the top of the screen to the bottom. On the near left side and the absolute far right side is a 1mm wide green/red strip. On the near right side is a 1mm wide reddish/white stripe. I'm guessing it is not the screen. :confused: Do I replace the video card or the ribbon(?) that runs form the card to the screen? I apprecaite any help! Thanks!! :D
 
you can't replace the graphics card on it but you can try updating or reinstalling the drivers. Idk about the ribbon cable for the display but it might be that the graphics chip in it is dying which isn't fixable, you'd have to replace the entire motherboard with one off ebay and how old that thing is a new 3-400 buck laptop might be a better idea if you can.
 
jonnyp11 said:
you can't replace the graphics card on it but you can try updating or reinstalling the drivers. Idk about the ribbon cable for the display but it might be that the graphics chip in it is dying which isn't fixable, you'd have to replace the entire motherboard with one off ebay and how old that thing is a new 3-400 buck laptop might be a better idea if you can.
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Hmm, thanks! I don think it is the drivers as I replace the OS so often that these stay current. I'll try that though for good measure. Maybe I will just replace that ribbon thread and see what happens. It's my nock-about computer so it doesnt have to function %100 but these lines are annoying! Thanks!! :D
 
This is either faulty or overheating VRAM. Check the temps, if they're fine then itll be the VRAM gone down the toilet.

At that point if you're going to bin it, try baking it.
 
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bigfellla said:
This is either faulty or overheating VRAM. Check the temps, if they're fine then itll be the VRAM gone down the toilet.

At that point if you're going to bin it, try baking it.
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Thanks bigfella! :good: These are stationary lines. Does that have relevance to your diagnosis. Also, about a year ago before the first line showed up my screen used to go black and this spooky, large white circle appeared in the middle and decreased in size before it disappeared and the screen went completely black again. :confused: I would restart and all was well. (I fear next a little girl with really long hair covering her face and a long white dress will arrive at the door! :rolleyes: WTF! The girl part I made up but the rest is no lie!) Also a year ago, the occasional bizarre colors flashing across the screen which went away when I hit it. :o Nowadays, and for over a year though just the 3 stationary, vertical lines, that used to be intermitent Thanks! :D
 
You've probably killed it if you haven't attended to the issue in a year.

If its heating issues, you can fix this by cleaning out dust from the fan on the graphics card and more advanced enthusiasts will reapply thermal paste too.

Its more than likely buggered though. Time for a new one. A new $400 laptop will own your old one in terms of peformance and work.
 
I guess it is the screen. You need a 15.4 LCD and you can get it on Ebay or other websites. Vertical lines well defined are 80% caused by a bad screen ,15% by cable and 5 % video controller IC. There is no way to diagnostic ,you should try with a good screen first.
 
vedadoSmart said:
I guess it is the screen. You need a 15.4 LCD and you can get it on Ebay or other websites. Vertical lines well defined are 80% caused by a bad screen ,15% by cable and 5 % video controller IC. There is no way to diagnostic ,you should try with a good screen first.
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Complete nonsense.
 
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