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Screen flashing, scrambled, appears dying; LCD or cable to blame?

I've had intermittent screen problems with my HP g4-1015dx notebook since a few months after I bought it. The problems started out as a shimmering magenta "filter" that appeared over my screen. These problems would usually go away after I powered off for a while, and wouldn't reappear for months. I do not believe they have anything to do with the GPU or motherboard, because external monitors work fine even when the laptop's built-in screen is on the fritz. The problems appear at both the pre-boot screen and after booting my OS.

Lately the magenta shimmering has been appearing more often, until things took a turn for the worst last night. At first the screen appeared to have ghosting at the left and right sides. Now the screen looks black with horizontal flickering lines at first. A faint version of the expected screen (pre-boot splash screen, boot loader menu,Starting Windows screen) appears in the background. After the computer gets past Starting Windows, the screen goes black with no flickering or faint image at all. It does appear that the backlight is on.

From the beginning it seemed like this was a problem with either the LCD, or the cable connecting the LCD to the motherboard. If this is correct (please correct me if I'm wrong,) is there a way I can isolate the problem to either the cable or the LCD? I suppose that I could open it up and try re-seating both ends of the cable, but that wouldn't rule out a bad connector on the LCD or the motherboard. Could the issue also be temperature-dependent?

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impossiblescissors, it would only be temperature dependent if the same magenta hue appears on your external monitor (you said it does not), hence your GPU appears to be fine. Unless you measure the LCD cable on both ends with an ohmmeter and check the resistance, there is no other way to check it. The color change can often be caused by a loose connector, or by a damaged connector causing an intermittent or failed contact on just one pin. I'd replace the cable and see if it will make a difference (of course make sure it is properly seated) and if it does not, than the error is most likely the LCD. Download the service manual from here to disassemble your computer and take a look at the cable

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Thanks! i downloaded the service manual a few weeks ago. When I find the time I'll have to open it up and do the resistance check. In terms of thermal dependence, I was thinking that temperature might be affecting the cable's connections, but this doesn't seem likely.

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Hello

I had a very similar problem with my HP 15 n019wm laptop (used hand me down)

It would work fine for a week at a time.

Then I would go to boot up and the screen would scramble before it could get into windows.

Like purplish and whitish static after a TV station is off the air.

I could actually put pressure on the area around the keyboard and sometimes get it to boot up fine

I finally disassembled it completely (not that hard - watch a youtube fideo - all I needed was small philips, small flat (flipping up cable locks) and a guitar pick (stiff one)

The only thing I could see is that the thermal paste on the CPU or GPU or both chip is completely dried out.

Ordered some Arctic Silver thermal paste and got some 90% alcohol and well see when I put it all back together.

Got a keyboard for it on Amazon for $20 and might just put in a new SSD if it boots up fine.

Saw a tip and will also try an external monitor

Just fyi incase it helps.

Michael

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impossiblescissors will be eternally grateful.
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