Acer Aspire 5920 Screen Issue

I have an Acer Aspire and it's been good to me mostly; however, I have an issue that I was wondering if anyone could help me with. My screen will flicker occasionally and it has only gotten worse. Sometimes changing the angle of the screen stops it, other times plugging it in stops it but sometimes neither work.

 

'Flickering' as in the image is being interrupted (threatening to go black)?

If so ... there's a possibility your back-light is the issue.
This is the most common problem in laptops.
If your laptop is under warranty, call Acer or go to the store you bought it and inform them of this.

 

I have exactly the same problem with my new 5920 bought in July of this year.

Adjusting the lid to change the screen angle seems to sort the problem.

Is this an inherent problem in some 5920s ??

And can anyone suggest a more permanent solution other than playing with the screen angle thru the lid ??

I don't really want to bother sending it back to the seller as I bought it on-line from a retailer in Germany and for the time being it is a just a minor annoyance in an excellent laptop which is otherwise working well (provided of course it does not get worse !!)

 

I've got this issue also, i got it from PC World, so i went back there and told them, and they said they'll repair it, come back in 1 week, so i did, got it, now its been 1-2 weeks and its happening again.

What they did was replaced the Screen, not sure what the issue it, i would like to know a way to solve it also

 

Seems like a lot of us with the 5920 are reporting the same problem.

Same story with me unfortunately. Bought 5920g off internet co. back in October 08. Ok for a few weeks and then the screen started flickering. Sent it back to Acer Warranty and they have replaced the "infuser". However within a couple of days it has started doing the same again. Called Acer and they have told me I will have to send it back again!!!

Looked on other forums and there are other people reporting the exact same problem with this model of laptop. Wonder if there was a faulty batch out there?

If anyone has anything to add or workaround please let me know.....

 

I also have been monitoring this thread for a few months. I bought a Acer Aspire 5920 in March of 08 and the screen issue has been on and off for several months.

It's discouraging to hear that some of you have sent in your laptop for warranty repair and it's not helping. That leads me to believe it is a software issue.

Has anyone tried to reinstall a bare bones Vista system without all the Acer software crap??

Also is anyone planning on installing the new Windows 7 system on this unit??

Thanks for keeping in touch!

 

Hi everyone. I have had the same problem. My screen was jumping, the backlight goes on&off and the only way to stop it was adjusting angle of lid. I have sent my acer to repair and they have changed the inverter, fee days after I got my laptop back nevertheless I happend again. I was very pissed of so I called Acer Center and had a litte talk about sending laptop without repair. Same day I sent it back to Acer and in 5 days I got it back. The problem was the broken LCD cable.

 

OK that makes sense. Anybody tried this repair already without sending their unit in for service?

I found a service manual available online thanks to another 5920 screen repair thread.

 

http://www.newlaptopparts.com/html/partdetails.asp?ref=124&category=cables

You can probably also find this part cheaper on ebay.

It is not really a user serviceable part. If you take your laptop apart to replace the cable, you will void your warranty. If you are already out of warranty, you should get the service manual before attempting to replace this part. You can find the service manual for the 5920 by doing a search for "acer aspire 5920 service manual blogspot".

 

Thanks for those suggestions paten. I found the manual. Looks fairly simple. I just got a reply from Acer Tech Supp directing me to send it in, but the last thing I want is to have a situation like Shamtu's where the notebook gets shipped back and forth a couple of times before a resolution.

It's concerning that Acer Tech Support didn't fix this issue on the first try for a couple of posters here. I still have a few months on my warranty so I might just hold tight and see if anything else conks out first. It's been a great unit so far even though it was CHEAP. Just this darned screen thing...

 

Well, to be honest I'm not going to fork out $57, if they dont fix it next time i put it into repair (3rd time) then they shall be replacing it with something with the same specs

 

Ive been having the same problem with mine. Went back twice. On the 2nd time, they didn't even repair it because they said they couldn't find the fault with it. But an hour after i got it back it started. I wrote them a letter asking for a replacement or a better repair job, but haven't had a reply yet.. I'm starting to get annoyed!

 

Same thing. Sent it into Acer. They didn't even do anything. Said it was a software problem, reinstalled Vista, and that was it. However, in the process they managed to delete all my other partitions, including ones Vista wasn't even on. Problem still persists. Really pissed now.

I have no intentions of sending it back to Acer. Can anyone else confirm that a new LCD cable does the trick?

 

I´ve got the same problem!! I bought my laptop in Oct/08 from Amazon.co.uk while I was in Germany.

The problemas are excatly the same. Now I am in Brazil and can´t even use my warranty here!

Has anyone tried to change the LCD cable and it worked??

I am really frustrated!!!!

 

Here's yet another. Do I smell class action suit here? A customer brought his in today with a completely black screen. It's not a burned out back light. I haven't cracked it open yet, but I'm betting its a broken video cable. Thanks to all who are posting here. I am going to continue to monitor this thread and I hope you will too. This notebook has a lot of nice features and it's a waste to see things like this happen. Acer needs to come clean with their customers and fix the issue right. They seem, more than other notebook makers, to have more than their share of issues like this.

 

Well well well. A couple of months since my last post and people with the same problem are continuing to find this thread for some explanations. Glad you're all finding a little comfort here like me.


I have not replaced the LCD cable yet but I have been able to take off the power button and indicator cover by removing the 5 screws that hold it on according to the service manual. From there I can at least look at the cable and lightly try to reset its position as it goes into the lid hinge. I can't tell if the LCD cable get "scrunched" inside the hinge after some weeks of opening and closing the lid or not, but since January I have had limited interruption with the screen issue after lightly resetting its position a couple of times.

That's been a temporary solution so far. It goes about 3 or 4 weeks until the screen issue comes back. Tonight was the 3rd time I tried this since January. I'll probably break down and do the cable replacement soon now that my warranty is almost up.

I can't BELIEVE how Acer is sending back peoples' notebooks after service with this issue unresolved. I emailed those numbnuts two months ago and specifically referenced this thread so I don't know why they can't figure out what their problem is with this model.

 

Another one here. Had it about 6 months, bought it when PC World had them reduced.

I noticed at first just some slight colour distortion which I originally thought was some sort of virus/spyware/adware even though I'd been careful. I did a full scan and found nothing, thought nothing more of it.

Recently the screen has been flickering even more, especially when I re-adjust the angle of the screen. At the minute it's not really a problem, but if it keeps deteriorating I want to get it repaired while I still can.

Not to take this post off-topic, but also has anyone noticed a problem with the volume control? Sometimes mine will lock up and not allow me to change the volume in any way either until I restart or it just decides to click back in and work again.

I'm kind of glad I'm not the only one suffering with this, but at the same time it sucks that we are all having this problem.

 

Mine went back for a 3rd time after it wasn't repaired the 2nd time. I've had it back for a week now. The LCD cable was replaced and also i had a gap on the back where they hadn't fixed it the first time. So far so good. But its making me paranoid that i keep thinking i see it flickering. Anyways. If it goes again, i'm requesting a replacement. The woman i spoke to in the complaints department said that if it had have been repaired the 2nd time and become faulty i would have been able to get it replaced.

I've had nothing but trouble with it. On the day it was supposed to be delivered it was in a van with other parcels that were stolen. Luckily mine wasn't stolen and was delieverd the next day. Its like it has a curse.

Just glad to know i'm not the only one with problems. But its strange because i've got friends with the exact same make and model, who haven't had a problem.

If it becomes faulty again, i'll let you know

Sam
xxx

 

Hi. I've been monitoring this post since before Xmas. I'm another gullable idiot who bought this same effing laptop from the effing idiots at PC World.

It has become so annoying that I think I should begin anger management. I have been hoping against hope that someone would find some quick fix that would save me from dealing with PC World.

I spoke (emailed in fact) directly to Acer support using the warranty document which came in the same box as the laptop, but stupid STUPID STUPID ME! It could never be that simple, oh no. Because PC World buys the warranty liability from Acer when they buy the laptops. So you have to deal directly with PCW.
So I then emailed The Acer Guy, who was very helpful:

My email - "Please could you tell me if you are aware of any "known" issues with screen flickering with the above laptop. I purchased the Acer Aspire 5920 in August 08 and it began flickering about 2 months ago, but very intermittently. Since then its become a lot worse.
The problem I have is that my life sits in the bowels of this laptop and if I take it back to PC World, I'm afraid that the laptop will disappear for a couple of weeks whilst its being repaired. The more info I have the better, so I can be armed when I call the PC World Tech Monkeys on their premium rate telephone line, hence the question above. Many thanks in advance!"

His response (bear in mind he's in the US) - "Hi Toby,
Well I thought the best thing to do here was to send your mail onto someone at the top of the Acer Support chain, so at least you'd know what you're up against.

He just got back to me with this.

Not good news, but now you know.

Michael

"Unfortunately in this case, an Acer Repairing Center will have to replace the inverter on the notebook, so .... either he brings it to Acer RC by himself or he'll have to have it sent by PC World.
regards
Simone"

END

The final email is the one from Acer Support US. They don't say its an inherent problem but perhaps that could be read into it(?)


Now this is my quandary - do I in fact speak to PCW tech and run the risk of losing my laptop on more than one if not 3 occasions for weeks at a time, to have a quite possibly known issue resolved or repaired, or do I fork out the cash and do it myself.
I'm over half way through my 12 month warranty. I am self employed and the laptop is an integral part of my business so I need to weigh up the real cost to me if I lost the laptop for weeks on end compared witht the cost of a part which I could fit myself in the space of a couple of hours.

Do we in fact know that the screen flicker is due to a faulty LCD cable or is that just conjecture on the part of the PCW pr*cks? Acer US thinks its an inverter.

Has anyone had either replaced, and then the screen flicker continue? Or was it resolved?
Has anyone replaced the LCD cable themselves? If so, did it work? was it easy? And finally how much did the part cost?? Same questions for the inverter?

Regards,

Toby

 

Has anyone considered that it could be bad ram? I have a 5920 that is one year old and is out of warranty. It just started the same screen problem about 2 months ago. I had an Acer desktop that started the same screen problem and then had booting problems that they couldn't solve. The computer went totally down. They thought it was the motherboard. So one day I took out ram 1 at a time and when I got the bad ram out it worked just fine and never had another problem. I plan to upgrade the laptop ram and see if that fixes it...

 

I'm not by any means experienced enough to comment but would be interested in the result.

 

Did the Ram upgrade today... Replaced crappy NANYA Ram with Corsair enhanced for Vista. It actually recognizes all 4 gig. So far so good... none of the screen issues wiil post here again if I have any jumping screen.

 

To actually replace the inverter is a pretty easy job, it sits just below the lcd screen behind the plastic, all you would need to do would be to take off the cream plastic casing on the screen (6 screws), the you will see it sat on the bottom, with 2 connections, unplug it, plug the new one in then away you go. Don't know if it would solve the problem, but it is easy. The only thing i'm pretty sure it would do if you changed it yourself would void the warranty. You can pick one up on ebay for around £20 (HERE). Obviously you'd need to check the part number against the one in your machine to make sure it was the right one.

 

My fix didn't work... major screen jump this morning as the laptop warmed up... laptop runs great with 4 gig but still have screen jump.

 

Thanks for the report back SammyJ. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "gap on the back", but if your LCD cable was replaced and you haven't had any more problems then I for one am glad to hear that some progress is being made in addressing this issue.

Please let us know of any changes in your 5920's condition.

 

trrpa it was worth a shot. I think the LCD cable is the consensus for the source of most screen problems here.

 

Shamtu posted the results from Acer replacing his inverter back on Page 1. The result -- screen flickering problems, another call to Acer, and another appointment at the (NON) service center.

 

Came across this thread after pulling my hair out for over two months. Glad to hear it's not just me with the problem.
To everybody in the US and UK, its obviously a bigger problem for Acer than they'd like to admit.
My story - I live in France, bought the 5920 last October and started to notice flickers around Xmas. Tried to solve the problem myself (uninstalled software, changed the screen resolution, virus scanned and updated drivers etc).
Finally emailed Acer in April and got a response straight away asking me to send it back to be repaired. (To the Acer France Repair Centre).
Sent it back on the 12th April then nothing for 1 MONTH!
Finally got it back last Friday, 17th MAY with a notice attached stating they'd changed the graphics card. I was annoyed by the wait, but pleased to have a laptop back.
It's now Sunday, 19th May and the bloody thing is playing up AGAIN!
I'm calling them first thing Monday, but why do I have a feeling this is going to be another months wait with no result?
Going to try and talk them into sending a replacement as I REALLY need this laptop for my work. Another MONTH without a laptop means LOST revenue for me!...........Perhaps they'll fork out for my lost earnings?

 

its due to a rather flimsey connection on the back of the LCD about a third of the way up on the left.
the cause of the connection becoming loose is, tight hinges.
when you close your screen the screen flexes.

all i did to fix the problem was take the screen to bits with it still showing a black screen/windows running.
i used an electrical sealant to hold the connection in place.
no more flicker or vertical lines across the screen

the laptop was a 7110 with the 17" screen + rotating web cam.

only do this if your warranty is up or your very brave
Good Luck
Phil

 

I've had this problem since early 2008. I've sent my laptop to Acer a total of five times. I've even extended my warranty because of this.

EVERY TIME THEY RETURN IT THE PROBLEM RETURNS. I am so angry with Acer. I will never buy another laptop from them again. I am seriously thinking about taking this case to Watchdog - please let me know if you're willing to participate. I'd also like to let reputable websites and magazines know about this problem.

It's definitely a hardware fault, as moving the screen fixes the problem - so it should e repairable. But obviously Acer don't know how to repair it.

I refuse to send the laptop back to Acer again - it takes time and effort to package the laptop every time and I simply refuse to give them any more of my time.

I've sent them an email with my issues, now lets see what they have to say...if they cant fix it, I'm definitely taking this further.

 

ok im going to post some photo's of the offending connection without my mod.

i used to sit with the laptop on my lap and any sharp movement would set the sceen of.

we need to troll a few forums and see if this is a bigger genral proplem

i'm up for it

EDIT: first search on google
i found this
http://www.techsupportforum.com/har...4-acer-aspire-3620-laptop-screen-problem.html
http://www.1-script.com/forums/Acer-Aspire-5630-Laptop-screen-display-problem-article47584--25.htm

about the 5th post down on this one.
http://www.devhardware.com/forums/m...ravelmate-8104wlmi-screen-problem-212060.html

last one ATG
http://www.testfreaks.com/forum/f9/acer-aspire-4315-screen-problem-3512/

i must say this seems to be a common problem with the screen connection, and most are having trouble getting it fixed by acer...but for the amount of laptops sold,someone should have spotted it a long time ago.
hope this helps
Phil

 

I just wanted to mention that I bought an Acer 5920 about 18 months ago; and I have exactly the same screen flickering problem; which has grown gradually worse over time.

I'd agree that it seems to be a phyiscal problem (rather than software); since I'm out of warranty I may well try replacing the inverter / lcd cable myself.

PH

 

Yep that sounds about right. You said you were going to post some photos??

Thanks for the tips.

 

I'm in the same boat here.

Bought the laptop in August and by around November/December it started to act up, getting progressively worse.

Sent it off for repair in January, got it back and it worked fine until around early April where it's started again and got progressively worse.

I need my laptop for my work (self employed) so sending it away just doesn't seem worth it to me.

But more worrying is the fact that it just starts happening again after a while, so once you're out of your warranty it becomes a problem you have to pay for.

 

OK so I had limited success with my LCD cable after taking off the LED power button cover and minimally "repositioning" the cable a few times earlier this year. I think a week was the best I got out of it.

So this time I took apart the LCD Bezel and screen and unhooked the LCD cable from the the back of the LCD screen, along with the connectors on the inverter, then plugged them all back in and re-taped the LCD cable to the back of the LCD screen.

It's been 3 days and so far not one jump on the screen. We'll see how long this lasts but if the problem remains solved by simply disconnecting and reconnecting the LCD and inverter cables I might just gasp.

I'll keep my situation updated. Crossing fingers.

 

So, to keep those interested up to date. Sent the laptop back to the Shop I bought it from (FNAC) who sent it back to Acer after testing and confirming there was a problem. AGAIN 3 weeks later went to pick it up from the shop. There was a note attached from Acer to say they have tested it and that they haven't found a problem.
WOW! Customer service!
Got the thing home and after 2 hours of use the problem returned.
Went back to the shop who AGAIN sent it to Acer, who replaced the video and graphic cards after another 3 week wait, and now guess what! The problem is still there!!!!!
I have noticed one thing though. If a phone is near the laptop it will trigger it off, or when there is a thunder storm it has the same effect.
Back to the shop tomorrow to give the thing back and get a refund or replacement, enough is enough........

 

2 weeks and counting and not one jitter, shake, or stutter out of the LCD display since I unhooked the LCD cable and inverter connectors and re-connected them, then re-taped the LCD cable to the back of the screen.

Crossing fingers to see if this thing can make it a whole month.

 

OK, been testing this problem for a few days now. Now that I've had the graphics and video card changed it can't be those at fault.
It seems that whenever I place a telephone (mobile or handsfree landline) between the wifi box and the laptop the screen goes wild if I recieve a phone call.
Also, if I sit too close to the fridge the thing gets the hump and flickers......
Can't get back to the shop before Monday, so will keep up the experiments over the weekend.....

 

1 month and counting!!! NO SHAKES OR JITTERS from the LCD after disconnecting, retaping, and reconnecting the LCD cable.

Looks like I have avoided sending my Aspire to the Acer Service Center. I can definitely recommend using my methods at this point because it's not just a coincidence.

 

not sure if its already been stated (didnt read whole thread) but it could have something to do with the 8600M GS

nvidia have stated they released a faulty batch or two (hundred)

some manufacturers did a recall but acer havnt, and from what ive heard acer arnt being very helpful with this issue

the second i see the signs of my gpu failing ill be upgrading the gpu...

hope i helped sorry if its been mentioned above

cheers
mtarm1

 

Hi Terry, any recurring problems yet? I went back to the store where they told me it would be another 3-4 week wait and they would never replace the laptop, just juggle the parts around.
Have decided to not send it back as I'm really in need of a laptop, and will NEVER buy an Acer or buy from that store again!
I'm thinking of going to a repair shop down the road to get it repaired out of my own pocket, using your method. It seems logical it's that. Just wanted to know if it really is the source of the problem.
Thanks in advance....

 

My wife's been having the same problem with her laptop ( Apsire 5920 ) for several month's now. Last night I removed the LCD Bezel to examine the LCD inverter and I noticed a few things that might be contributing to the problem.
1. the service manual shows 6 screws holding the LCD at it's base, her's had only 4
2. where the LCD cable is taped to the back of the LCD there is also a plastic tab sticking up from the back panel

To resolve the second issue, I cut a slit in the OEM tape for the tab and added additional tape closer to the connection.

This seems to have resolved the problem for now.

 

Thanks Johnny,
I'm thinking of fiddling myself as I cannot do without a laptop for several weeks. For someone who has no laptop dismantling experience do you think this is an easy job, do you know of a guide online? Or would you recomend going to a pc store for them to do it? How cheap would it be?
Thanks in advance

 

Hi Terry, same question as above really. Mine has got progressively worse to the point where it is almost cutting out until I jiggle the screen back and forth to get it to come back on.

I have very little dismantling knowledge and am slightly worried that I'm gonna ruin my laptop trying to fix this.

Is it simple and do you know of any guides?

Thanks in advance,
Jay

 

Google *cough*SG_AS5920G*cough*

 

I'm having exactly the same problem with the Acer Aspire 5920 I brought for my daughter in April 09. The Screen started flickering in June 09 .Sometimes changing the angle of the screen stops it but I fear it's getting worse.
I took it back to the shop I brought it from, but they said they coudn't find anything wrong, but would send it back to acer for me. But from comments I've read I'm not sure that would help much. I was wondering if hooking it up to an external monitor would make any difference? May be I should let Acer look at it First?

 

Hi there
I have had this problem repaired once and now it's happening again. Had another Acer previously and that screen packed up with the diagnosis needed a new motherboard. I am very disappointed with Acers and will not be having another one after this. Seems to be a weakness in any model of Acers

 

triturbo has the right idea! I found the service guide from the info in the beginning of this thread. Lots of self-help info here.

Mine was as easy as using a screwdriver and maybe another plastic screwdriver to pop the covers off. Just be careful and always make sure you aren't transmitting any static charges or electricity with your fingers.




My screen shakes are STILL GONE. Two months so far. Good luck to all. It's just a crying shame ACER isn't any better of a company to appropriately deal with this issue. I guess it's time to email this thread again to their repair dept and just flat out shame them for poor customer service.

THUMBS DOWN ACER. Booooooooooooooo

 

I've never had any problem whatsoever with an external monitor. That was originally how I determined it was the LCD.

 

Excellent suggestion johnny z. I seem to remember the plastic tab you were referring to. It's just amazing how retaping the cable seems to do the trick. If there is a defective part I wish it would just give out already.