Fixer wrote:
"Pete Zahut" dont@bother wrote in message
...
Paul wrote:
Pete Zahut wrote:
Got the above laptop and it's just developed a problem with the
screen/display - there's a 65mm column at the right-hand side of
the display that's gone dark. Applications open up properly and
you can see the whole width of the app, but it doesn't go the
whole width of the screen - sort of full display but not full
screen if you see what I mean. Also, don't know if it's relevant
or not but the taskbar at the bottom seems to be twice as tall as
normal and isn't drag-able back to it's usual size - cursor also
distorts in this area. I'm not explaining it very well, so have a
look at this photo:
http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q...nt=laptop1.jpg

At first I thought it may be a display driver issue but I've
uninstalled and reinstalled without success. I've also used a
program called #1-TuffTest Pro (http://www.tufftest.com/ttp01.htm)
that is self-booting, operating system independent and never goes
anywhere near Windows, but shows the same results, so I would say
that that rules out any Windows driver issues. Picture of that test
he
http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q...nt=laptop2.jpg

Any ideas what's wrong and how to fix it?

TIA,

Pete

Have you done a graphics driver update recently ?

No - uninstalled and reinstalled driver to try to fix the problem,
but not updated.

It looks like a mismatch, between the actual LCD panel,
and what the software thinks it is driving.

Paul

Yeah, I'd agree with you there Paul - except for the fact that I've
even used the Recovery CD/Partition to restore the laptop to the
state it was in when it left the factory and the display is still
faulty even then.


Ok the way to tell if its hardware or software causing the problem
is when the machine starts to boot drop into the BIOS whatever it is
for your laptop, F2 for Dells , Del for some others but anyway
whatever it is for your machine. If the problem is there in when you
look in the BIOS its the LCD panel or Cable or Motherboard port. IF
it's not there then it's a driver/application, error. Of course you
could also connect it to an external monitor and again if its there
then its the grapghics card or motherboard port or software/drivers
and if its not there then it's the LCD or cable

Thanks Fixer. The problem is still there when looking in the BIOS and even
when running a Linux LiveCD so it's not a Windows driver issue. The problem
is *NOT* there when viewing on an external monitor, so thanks to your
suggestions I'll try a new screen cable first as that's the cheapest )

Thanks mate,

Pete