Windows 7: Display problem, Help needed!

Hi, I have a display problem with my HP pavilion dv4 laptop. Please, can anyone help me identify and solve what's causing it? I attached a video file. I had encountered this problem last month. It was partially resolved, after the display driver was downgraded from Windows 7-64 to win vista-64. I stated partially, because I still saw a screen flicker/blinking/disruption every 4 seconds which will last for 2-3 minutes every windows startup. I just ignored it, since it's not disruptive.

Now, it's different. It won't stop. I deeply appreciate whatever help that can be extended regarding my problem. Thank you in advance.

-nat

Capture_20100802.zip

The GPU could be dying - does this happen no matter what you are doing?

yes. it won't stop. What do you mean by GPU could be dying? Layman's term please. What can be done to prevent it?

A friend of mine stated that it might be an LCD problem.

The GPU could be at the end of its life, or the LCD could be broken. If it won't stop and its under warrranty send it back to the manufacturer. Otherwise try a different GPU drivers which may help.

it stopped after nearly 2 hours. Does this mean the video card need to replaced?

Hi nat.

The GPU is another term for a graphics card. Most laptops don't have a replaceable graphics card, so the GPU in this case is an electronic chip that is located on the laptop's motherboard.

There could be a couple of reasons for your problem, but the most likely is that the graphics chip is failing. Laptops tend to get very hot inside the case, and heat will eventually cause the components to break down or malfunction. This happens a lot when the cooling vents are blocked, or the laptop is operated while sitting on a blanket from using it in bed for example. The other possibility is that the connector that goes from the main board to the screen is partially broken or loose. This connector passes through the hinge assembly between the part where the keyboard is and the screen, and it can get pinched or come loose if it wasn't put together properly in the factory.

If the laptop is still under warranty, it's probably best if you contact HP and find a service center locally. This isn't something that can easily be fixed without specific tools and experience. Even then, it isn't a simple task (I know from experience).

I hope that helped a little.

Another vote for sending it in to get fixed.

~Lordbob

hi,mellon head! Thanks a lot for the info. I'd contacted HP. I'm just curious, why do they advised to restore the laptop back to factory settings before sending it to them for repair ? Does it solve the problem ?

Another question: if the GPU dies, does it make the laptop unusable ?
-nat

Hi nat. It usually doesn't solve the problem, it's just a convenience for their techs. When it's restored to factory condition and they try to fix it, they don't have to deal with any software or settings that they don't understand, or haven't used before. It just makes the repair go more smoothly because everything is set to the defaults they ship with.

Usually, yes. The GPU is actually the chip that controls the video output. No GPU = No picture. It may be that just your LCD screen is on the fritz. I don't know if you've tried to plug into an external monitor to see if the graphics problem happens there, but if you were able to get a good picture on a regular monitor, I would think that your LCD was messed up.

One thing. Make sure that you back up your hard drive in the laptop before you send it in. They're asking you to restore it to factory condition, and that usually means that you'll have to reinstall Windows from your System Restore Setup disks. They also may "restore" the hard drive by wiping it. Either way, I wouldn't expect your data to be safe and still in place when you get it back. Just a heads up on that one.

Good luck with it, and post back to let us know how it goes.