NP350V5C-A0EUK display issues on Startup

My Samsung laptop(NP350V5C-A0EUK) with Windows 8.1(originally 8) has been getting an intermittent issues on start up were it comes up with garbage displayed. It looks like this:

http://i.imgur.com/wD49D9d.jpg

This can happen from a cold boot, a restart, or when waking from hibernation, it never happens when the system has already started and displayed successfully. Testing with an external monitor connected confirms that the system is loading up just fine and its just my laptop display that's corrupted.

This event seems incredibly random. Sometimes it won't happen for days, sometimes Windows will be displayed and its only the Samsung boot logo that was corrupted and other times Windows doesn't display either in which case I have to just turn it off and on again until it decides to work.

Any ideas what could be causing this? What's weird to me is it only happens at boot. If the hardware was failing wouldn't it happen at other times?

 

My first thought is that the connection for the display cable is getting loose (it is subjected to stress when opening / closing the computer). However, you say that the problem can occur after reboot. Nonetheless, I would start by removing / replacing the connector for the display cable to the mainboard in case there is a poor connection.

Another possible exploratory test would be to disable any Fast Boot option in the BIOS (or Settings) in case this fixes the problem by giving the BIOS more time to probe the connected hardware.

John

 

I guess I could try the connection though I'm wary as its not something I've ever had to do before. I've tried just wiggling the lid around when its on to see if the connection is loose but it handles it fine if the display has already loaded. Also there never seems to be a problem with waking from sleep even if the lid was shut and opened again.

FastBoot is already disabled so its not that.

 

OK. I still wonder if it is an intermittent hardware problem. However, it would also be worthwhile checking if there is a newer BIOS (see this thread) and you can reinstall the graphics driver.

You can also use the external monitor to check what (if any) the internal display properties are reported as when you get the problem. This may give some further clues as to the nature of the problem.

John

 

Took me a long time to reply to this as it kept working for a long time. It doesn't show in the display properties at all when I encounter this problem. The problem now escalated to the extent that its just a blank screen now, no garbage at all..until it randomly works again. Still the problem only occurs when booting and never when waking from sleep or anything else.
I guess I'm going to have to check that connection anyway.