Acer 4315's screen has gone all weird. HELP

I just turned on my laptop (which is rare, I normally just sleep it, but Windows Update was harassing me) to find that my screen is showing weird, everything recognizes it as 1024x768, and that is the res it is operating at (and at 49Hz, with no option to change it), and to the right and bottom are copies of the corresponding edges.

Anybody got any ideas as to what is wrong?

 

that machine has the intel X3100 graphics adapter doesn't it??

if so, my first step would be to try re-installing the newest INTEL GRAPHICS DRIVERS...

 

Thanks, but it does this also in the BIOS screen, which implies it is something more sinister than just drivers. I guess I'll just have to take it in to get fixed, it's still under warranty so I don't wanna go take it to bits

 

Remove the HDD, and then boot into the BIOS. Does it give the same weird screen ?
If the bios uses the entire screen then the problem is software related. If the bios only uses a strange portion of the screen then you have a gpu problem or a connectivity problem.

Also try using an external monitor, and see if it gives the same problem. If it does, then the problem is not the LCD, but the GPU or some software.

Since it is already under warranty, it is best you don't open. Otherwise, if the above doesn't fix it, you could have tried reseating the LCD ribbon cable on the motherboard, and the ribbon cable that goes behind the LCD.

 

try what andy suggests if possible...

but, if the problem is happening at the BIOS SCREEN it likely either RAM on the motherboard (the X3100 has 8megs of dedicated video ram)...and that color change is usually indicative of BAD RAM.... OR, it is possible that it could be a loose video connector (but that usually flickers or comes and goes especially when raising or lowering the lid).

you are 100% correct,,, if under warranty, don't do anything to void your warranty, and replace any upgraded compents to factory spec if possible before sending in.....
if not possible be sure to document the upgrade and inform the service rep of the upraged ram or what ever... and also enclose a letter between the keyboard and LCD (when lid is shut) on that letter have the RMA#, serial#, problem description, ways to duplicate problem if intermittent, info about upgraded part, and your shipping info... the easier you make thier job, the quicker you will get the situation solved.
it would suck to send in a 300gig 7200rmp drive and get back an 80gig drive and have no real proof of what you sent in,,, that's why it's good to send it back in stock configuration...

also you may want to backup your data,,, one of acer's favorite testing methods is to do a factory restore and see if the problem presists.... so it is also a good idea to request the HDD not be re-loaded..... and hope they listen to you.

but i'm with you... contact ACER tell them you think it is bad RAM on the MB, they will ask you to do this and do that... just claim to have tried that and it didn't help.... i'm used to sending an EMAIL and just getting an RMA # from problem description.... get your RMA # and send it to the repair center, probably Texas if in the US.... and call to document any upgrade parts being sent... make sure a service rep notes anything like that in your case... but it's best to ship back stock... that way they can't try to claim your upgrading caused the damage doe to ESD or some BS like that.....

CYA, they sure try to cover thiers....

good luck, hope you get it back soon

 

Okay, I was just about to chuck Ubuntu back on the machine, as that's what shipped with it, and in the process I disabled the BIOS's quiet boot function cos it annoys me. All of a sudden, everything went back to normal, and even if I put quiet boot back on, it still works. I think the morale of the story is to reset the BIOS before worrying too much, cos it seems like Acer really screwed up on this revision, and there unfortunately aren't any newer ones out.

Thanks to everybody for your ideas, and I will keep them in mind should I ever incur the problem without such an easy fix.

 

i'll keep the little problem and fix in my mind.... thanks for replying with your solution, maybe it will help others down the road...

and i'm sure there will be a BIOS update soon... BTW are you checking the

http://support.acer-euro.com site?? they tend to have files added there sometimes months before the same files get added to the US site. so there may be a new BIOS there

edit::: HERE is the EXACT link to your BIOS FILES

 

Bother. It's back intermittently, some colorful language and a restart seem to have fixed it for now. I do wonder if the ribbon cable is loose, and if it isn't quite seated on bootup the panel is detected wrong.

How long does it take to pull a 4315 apart, I'd rather spend 30 minutes and risk my warranty than spend 3 weeks of it being shipped off only to have them push a cable back in place.

I should say that external monitors do work, which means the chipset is fine, but I will still update the BIOS (thanks bigozone) to make sure it's not a stupid bug.