Screen Problem 9260

So the screen on my 9260 has been acting up lately. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it other than it seems as if there is static on the top, bottom, and occasionally in the middle of the screen. It is a bar that spans the length of the LCD and seems to occur more frequently when my battery isn't at 100%.

It's similar to how the screen flickers when the computer is picked up (assuming that isn't isolated to me as well), but the problem seems to occur less frequently when I'm not using my Zalman cooler.

Cliff notes:
Screen has staticy bars appear when battery is not full and on the Zalman.
Having a full batt and being plugged in nearly stops the problem.

Possible causes/solutions?

 

I snapped a picture with my camera phone so the quality sucks, but I circled the problem area. The screen flickers a lot and bars show up. That huge hole in the middle is something new.

 

could be interference...? i dont know but the most likely problem is a loose monitor cable, just wait for a pro to answer...otherwise get it fixed under warranty...

best of luck!

 

might be a loose LCD cable connection.

seems that way.

simple fix for warranty.... less than an hour really.

 

Yes my problem seams similar to yours. In my case it got worst with time before I sent it to repair. It used to flicker (like an intermitent very mild light bulb behind the screen, but not uniform) on the boot screen, then went on to when actually running in the OS. In bright images it was almost unnoticible. Then some pixel noise (pixels would change colour in a line or several) once in awhile started to apperar (like static interference).

It doesn't happen always. Sometimes I switch the beast on and it is there, sometimes it takes an 10 mins, an hour etc etc. It started happening when using the ZALMAN cooler, but I think is just a coincidence. If not maybe maybe powerdrain? I don't know.

Anyway, I've sent it to repair, strangely the supplier did not noticed any problems but sent it anyway to the distributor (that is suppose to have labs there to test it and fix it (Spain)).

By the way natasdrol:

"It's similar to how the screen flickers when the computer is picked up"

I don't think the screen is supposed to flicker when the notebook is picked up. It never happened to any of my 3 previous notebooks. Maybe some other can testify if it is normal on Clevo's.

Trance
PS: Takes less then an hour and weeks in process in my case at least I believe. Not really good service as the supplier couldn't even give me an estimate on the date of fix and arrival (I only had it for 1.5 weaks before I reported the problem). I wish there were stores in shopping malls selling these things as it would just be a quick swap. We Portuguese are really nice people and knowledgeble but very disorganized in general terms, especially when it comes to online services.

 

Yeah the flicker when I picked it up was kind of the notice to me that somethign wasn't quite right. Is there anyway I can open her up and fix it myself? Or would it be safer to just send it to xotic to fix?

 

You can, I personally think its a loose LCD cable ribbon as well. The question is do you feel comfortable opening it up? If you don't then I'd send it in. Otherwise I'll try to dig something up on how to get at the cable ribbon for you. It more than likely got jiggled loose during shipping.

 

It looks like the major question is, if I do open it up will my warrenty be voided. If it is, I'll just send it in, if not I'll open her up myself

 

do you have a fan running close by? i know when i use a fan near my monitors, i get something that looks somewhat close to what you posted.

could also be drivers..

are you overclocking? might be a sign from the heavens that you went too far.

 

No overclocking and I am running the Zalman NC1000 (I think that's the model #). The problem usually stays until I adjust the angle of the monitor a few times. Usually it stays away after that, but sometimes it occurs again

 

well if it goes away when you adjust the screen, then to me it sounds like loose wire(s). i would call your vendor to see if opening up your rig will void the warrenty.

 

Hey Wujen,

How do you go about getting to the LCD cable ribbon? Also how do you remove the GPU? I was able to remove the fan and heatsink, but was puzzled in going about removing the GPU. Any information / pics would be greatly appreciated.

 

I noticed that color dissortion this morning, when i was playing BioShock, and there are 2 possible reasons that i can think of:

1: I did have a fan running near by
2: My system was running somewhat hot, although i did have the fans running full.

I restarted my system, and directed my fan toward the computer and things were okay after that, it was running a bit cooler, but i suspect the main reason was some sort of interference from the fan...

Also a note, i only saw the dissortion and color warp while in the game window, and at the menu bar at the bottom of the vista desktop, i went to the Ctrl-Alt-Del menu and it wasn't there.

 

Its actually becoming more frequent when i web browse, and now the screen randomly "Shakes" twice in a row and then stops, like it comes in waves...

I am resting the notebook on a hardcover book on my bed, the airflow is fine, any ideas? and anyone else experiencing anything like this?

 

Could be interference of some sort. I'd take the laptop to a friend's house and plug it in the AC outlet there and see if you get the same thing. If so its your cable/adapter , if not then something at your place is causing it.

 

Just wondering, where do you guys place your ac adapter? mines behind the comp right now

 

Mine's a little behind too. Anyway a quick update. I used the laptop at work and the problem was there. I got an RMA from Sager (which was actually local) and I drove it in on Tuesday.

When I got there, the screen thought it was a car with a mechanic in it. Meaning, the problem went away...-_- The guys at Sager offered to replace the cable anyway and run some tests. If the problem continues at home then I'll know it's something there.

Thanks for the responses.

 

So it IS interference...Thanks a lot natasdrol.

I am having less problems as well, I think it also varies where I am sitting. (Although i don't move my laptop around much.

 

Did anyone figure out what this problem was. As I've had my Sager 9260 for about 1.5 weeks now. I can seen horizontal foggy white bars going across the screen during the SAGER logo load screen and windows OS logo screen. Tend to only see it slightly if screen is black once in XP Pro SP2. But I think it is slowly getting worse. I don't think it is the operating system as I did a fresh install and also because the SAGER logo screen is when the bios load up. I did notice that the bars would move if I move the LCD screen up and down.

Is there a simple remedy for this or a way of checking the monitor cable myself. I've just got the thing and bought it from XoticPC (US) and I live in the UK. So if I can fix it myself I'd rather do that unless it's unavoidable.

I don't use an external fan or notebook cooler so I don't think it's interference. Also problem only occurred recently.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Hi,

I told you it that it does get worst! In my case also the "engeneers" could not detect it. I wonder what conditions make it happen.

I worked with mine about 10 to 12 hours a day, maybe that is what is required in terms of testing nevertheless a defect.

I sent mine back for replacement. A pain as I need it for work and now I have to wait until stocks a filled back up again. Been waiting aproximately for about 3 to 4 weeks.

As far as I know 4 people in the forum have similar problems regarding the LCD. Maybe a bad LCD batch or something ... unlucky.

Trance
PS: Another simptom. Say you are on XP when it happens. You put a black background. Take a window (say the Task Manager). Move it around and you will see darker horizontal bands following the window up and down (at least with mine it happened). I call it severe ghosting.

 

Yep that sounds like the same thing (ghost bands). At first I couldn't see any bands while in the operating system, but I can now, e.g. on black web pages etc.

How much worse will it get? I probably won't send it in straight away and see if it gets better or if I can find a non-return solution. Does anyone have any ideas what this might be??

 

how long did u notice these problems from when u received it? Ive had my 9260 for 3 months at least and i havnt seen anything weird yet.

 

I've had it for about 1.5 weeks before I noticed anything. I think from what others have said this problem seems to crop up fairly early, so you're probably alright.

The bands move up or down if you move the screen up or down, or if you tap the side of the screen gently. Not sure how LCDs work but that would suggest a wire or something maybe loose. Any laptop LCD specialists hanging around the forum or a Clevo reseller know what this is?

 

I noticed a few days after receiving the unit. I think I got my unit sometime in the begining (between the second and the nineth) of August and on eleventh I was reporting the problem to my supplier.

If after three months you have no problems like this one I doupt you will have it

Trance
PS: Yes tapping would make it happen to.

 

I am having the vary same problem as TechnoWhore the white ghost bands at the sager and windows boot screen or during any black screen. My 9260 is not even 2 months old and this just started out of nowere.

I live in Canada and need my laptop for work I can't go without it for the 2-3weeks it will take to ship. If it is just the LCD cable can I just open it and plug it back in? or will this kill my warranty?

 

Maybe this is a more general problem. 6 people with the same problems looks to me a pattern that needs to be dealt in a way that does not happen again to anyone.

Meanwhile it would be nice if someone made a sketch about what to look for and how to open the LCD properly.

Trance

 

I just wanted to revive this thread in the hope that someone found a fix to this problem...

I am still having the ghost lines at boot screen, and rarely when i play BioShock... and i get mad horizontal lines and screen dissortion at random times at the desktop screen.

I havent tried to open my computer and was wondering if the lcd ribbon was accessible from the back panel of the computer.

Thanks guys.

 

im having the same ghost bands issue now....almost a year afer i purchased it. Is there a fix to this or am i going to have to send it back for repairs at sager before the one year warrenty runs out?

 

Search for "LCD cable fix" or ribbon instead of cable... i forget which. From some people it was the inverter which had to be replaced. (in which case you just have to unscrew the 8 screws on the LCD cover and switch it out). Some people, LIKE ME, had an apparently crimped or loose LCD cable. Next time it happens, try pushing on the lower left of your LCD, it may stop it for a second. If it does thats your problem. To fix this, there are pictures in the thread i told you to look for. basically, you have to take out the keyboard (RELE easy), then the metal plate under it (two screws, easy). Then, lift the black bar which houses the power button and capslock light. Under that, you'll see where the LCD ribbon connects to the mobo. Reseat those. It worked for me.

found link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=238319