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Question

What could be wrong with my screen?

Mar 3, 2018 3:22PM PST

So here is an interesting thing that has been happening to my laptop screen. Sometimes it will go to confetti/plaid. So like random colors and lines.

Now, sometimes if I tap the screen it comes back. Also if I adjust the screen back or forth, sometimes that brings it back. So at this point I am thinking, obviously the screen is bad.

But other times, both of these methods don't work. But putting it to sleep and waking it again fixes the problem, which is a typical sign of a driver issue.

So I have both signs of a bad screen, or a bad driver, and I can't figure out which it is. I have tried updating and refreshing drivers, which haven't helped. And I have taken it apart, and everything looks fine.

Anyone have any insight on this, or some testing to try to figure out what might be causing it? I don't want to buy and install a new screen if it isn't necessary.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Just checking.
Mar 3, 2018 3:32PM PST

Are you on Space Ball One?

All kidding aside, this is usually a failing GPU but I don't see any PC detail. Tell more.

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Beeps Sweeps and Creeps
Mar 3, 2018 5:06PM PST

Yupp, I got the beeps, the sweeps, and the creeps lol.

The Laptop is this model exactly.

It's a Dell 15.6 inch model. It's got a GTX960M, 8GB of RAM, and an i5-6300Q intel processor.

Hmm, interesting. So it might be the graphics card. Didn't think about that. Do you know if there is a way to test this?

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Thanks for that.
Mar 3, 2018 5:15PM PST

Always fun when folk know such trivia.

OK, that's a nice enough setup. Before we go further, it must be out of warranty.

What I would do first is the canned air cleaning to the vents. If this laptop has never had it done, that's likely it. If it's all clean we have to go deeper. Replace the GPU heatsink compound and be sure the fans are good.

There are YouTubes about canned air and heatsink work.

I could reverse research the exact Dell but google that model along with the words Service Manual and see if Dell published that.

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Interesting
Mar 3, 2018 5:32PM PST

Haha yah, I was glad to see that reference as well.

I actually clean the vents near monthly, so that probably isn't it. It's actually neat model of laptop where you can remove one screw and get to all the inside components. I will see if the GPU's cooling system is detachable or not.

May look at a format of the hard drive as well, just to see if it's not a more deeply imbedded software problem.

Now curious, how would adjusting the screen fix the GPU misfiring? Does it force a refresh when adjusted or?

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I was hoping for the service manual.
Mar 3, 2018 5:36PM PST

That way I could call out "look for cable xxx-xxxnnn" and gently unplug and plug it back in (power removed, no battery of course.) The deeper internal clean should let you see any connections and gently push them home.

The movement and symptom points to hardware issues. But there are things we do before we declare it gone.

Any luck with the service manual find?

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My Bad
Mar 3, 2018 5:44PM PST

It is the Inspiron 15 7559. Service manual is here.

Ah okay that makes sense. Yah I will start looking at the cables inside.

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The phrase to look for is "display cable"
Mar 4, 2018 9:52AM PST

It's in the service manual on a few pages. I would avoid a full tear down, and would NOT DO THIS IF IN WARRANTY.

I'd want to gently release the cable. nudge it into its slot and put the release bar back into place.

All the rules about no-power, no-battery apply for such work.