M7700 Crippling Display issues!

So recently when I randomly browsing the web / doing anything on my laptop (nothing demanding) my screen starts displaying crazy lines (mostly horizontal) all over the place (that also are moving around everywhere constantly) that makes it impossible to do anything. The only way I can turn my computer off when this happens is to hold down the power button. This is about the fourth time this problem has occured. When I turn my laptop back on right after I turn it off from the lines, the problem persists. Everytime it has happened I have air-blown everything clean which seems to fix the problem. It just happened now, and the previous time it had happened was the previous week. It's not an overheating issue either, because the first time this happened, it occured as I turned it on after hours of non-use.

What do you think the problem is? Video card? (NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX 256MB) LCD issues? Something else?

Thanks for your help.

 

Wont be the LCD. It sounds like your card is artifacting. This is when random "artifacts" appear on the screen, like "lines" and "dots". You should ring up AW.

Could be a lose display connector though :/

Next time it happens try shaking/hitting it

 

My 3 year warranty ran out this summer; and I've read on a different website that Alienware no longer has parts for the m7700 (buying a new laptop would be cheaper than trying to repair this).

I think I would 'like' to believe the display connector explanation, it always seems to happen after I carry it around in my backpack (off of course, lol) or just moving it in general. Is there a way to get to the display connectors to resit them or something?

 

welcome to nbr kingkluck,

please view this post I made yesterday:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=315673

the situation is very similar. It is most likely a loose connection (on the LCD ribbon cable).
If the ribbon cable trick doesnt fix it, flip your laptop over and remove the 4 screws which hold the graphics cover on. Than remove the 4 screws which hold down your 7800GTX. Remove the graphics card and clean the two rectangular ports with some rubbing alcohol and q-tips. Than reconnect the graphics card, and screw it down. Than try powering the system up again.

4500th post

K-TRON

 

I think I may have found an easier method than the one you mention in your post

Code:

4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/alienware.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3941&p_created=1108670200&p_sid=9Vx7mMhj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9ODQsODQmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9mbmwmcF9zY2ZfNj0yMDUmcF9wYWdlPTImcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1tNzcwMA**&p_li=&p_topview=1

 

i am not talking about that connector. You can also do that if you want, but its not going to solve anything unless its loose.
The connector I am talking about is on the back of the LCD. I have the AMD version of this system, so I am not pulling your leg. I know the system inside and out. The intel and AMD system share the same design and practically everything but the motherboard, cpu and memory.
You want to check the connector on the back of the screen. Everytime you open the lid of your system, the ribbon cable bends and flexes. If you push the lid back too far, or move the lid too fast (opening or closing it) you will slowly pull the cable out of the connector on the back of the LCD. When one of the 30 wires or so become loose, problems start occuring.
Checking this area is crucial to fixing the problem. Please make sure that the cable is cleaned, firmly connected and taped in place.

K-TRON

 

Ah, I see. Do you know if there's any online guide with pictures on how to do this besides your description in that other post?

If not, do you know the model number of the case so I can do some google searchin'.

Thanks again for the help.

 

kingkluk, honestly, make another 11 posts, and send me a PM (personal message). You need 15 posts to be able to send and receive PM's

I have some diagrams, but it would be best if they could only be between you and I.

I sent you a PM. (somehow PM's are now allowed to be sent to users with less than 15 posts)

K-TRON

 

Do 11 more posts on this thread, I don't mind - and I'm sure a mod won't mind considerring the situation

 

Just an update. I was about to take my screen apart to reset the cables but first I decided to update my video card drivers which were about a year old and the problem strangely hasn't occurred since. I somehow doubt this problem was caused by outdated video card drivers... but here are links to screenshots and a short video of when the problem was happening so you can determine if I've just been lucky or the new drivers actually did something:

clanrogue.net/alien.jpg
clanrogue.net/alien.mov

 

There is no way an outdated video card driver can cause that. Unless the driver somehow ecame corrupt, or you modified the driver the wrong way.
I am glad that everything is working now for you, but I think it working is pure coincidence.
I still recommend spending the say 30 minutes to reconenct the cable on the back of the LCD, just to be sure that everything will contnue to work properly.

Links for the picture and video kingkluck posted:
http://clanrogue.net/alien.jpg
http://clanrogue.net/alien.mov

K-TRON

 

Your computer is the Clevo D900 with the AW head slapped on the front of it. That means if you need any parts what so ever just look for Clevo parts which should be much more widely available.