Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 January 27

= January 27 =

How do I remove the lines on my screen?
They've been appearing on my screen since last year. This is a H-P Pavilion dv4-2165dx. This is the phone's capture of the laptop screen having problems. I couldn't take a screenshot because miraculously enough, the strings disappear in that screenshot, so they remind me of vampires not appearing in mirrors. That's why I had to use my phone instead.

Now how do I fix the screen so the lines will be gone once and for all? Thanks. --66.87.75.81 (talk) 23:05, 27 January 2015 (UTC)


 * The fact that they don't show up in a screen shot tells us quite a bit. If the problem was with the output from the graphics card, then they would be in the screen shot.  So, you must have a good output from your graphics card, but a hardware issue with the screen, that adds those lines.  The good news is that this probably means hooking it up to an external monitor will give you a clear pic.  The bad news is that there's no easy way to fix the laptop screen.  My suggestion is to use an external screen when you can, and learn to live with the lines the rest of the time, until you are ready to replace the laptop.


 * Oh, one other thing you could try is different screen resolutions. At some resolutions the problem might be reduced or eliminated.  StuRat (talk) 23:42, 27 January 2015 (UTC)


 * I suppose it's worth trying another resolution, but it won't help if the screen itself is the problem, which it almost certainly is (as you said).
 * You don't have to replace the laptop to fix the display. You can buy a replacement display and install it yourself. There are a number of them on eBay right now for ~$75 US. -- BenRG (talk) 01:58, 28 January 2015 (UTC)


 * It might be that the problem is in the connector between the graphics adapter and the screen. I have seen a few similar problems fixed by opening up the laptop and carefully cleaning and re-seating the ribbon cable connector. You could also install a new cable. A quick search for /[your model] + ribbon cable display/ got me to these instructions . SemanticMantis (talk) 14:15, 28 January 2015 (UTC)


 * Yes, since that cable is bent every time the laptop is opened or closed, the wires can be damaged or their connections at the end can come loose. However, if either was the case, I would expect the lines to be intermittent, varying as the laptop was opened and closed, but the OP didn't mention that. StuRat (talk) 17:00, 28 January 2015 (UTC)