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Question

Why is my computer screen distorted and yellow?

Mar 13, 2015 5:12AM PDT

Hello, I feel like I know a little bit about computers but today I am having some trouble. I have a Gateway NV50A02u laptop and the screen has turned yellow and distorted. At first I couldn't tell if it was a graphics card or a screen problem. I plugged the laptop into my TV via the HDMI port and the screen was fine so I figured it was an LED screen problem over a graphics card problem. I ordered a new LED screen and it arrived today. I plugged it into the laptop and it still did not work. It is distorted and yellow still. Can anyone help me diagnose the problem? Any and all help will be appreciated. Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: screen
Mar 13, 2015 5:52AM PDT

There might be other hardware involved in sending a signal across the HDMI to the TV than to the internal screen. If it isn't the screen, the next thing to replace is the graphic card (if there is a separate one, which is quite uncommon in a laptop) or the motherboard.

The only thing you can still try is to boot from a Linux disk or stick and see if it's yellow there also. If it is, it's sure it isn't a software issue.

Kees

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Screen
Mar 13, 2015 6:18AM PDT

If it was the graphics card wouldn't the TV screen be distorted as well? I may be wrong on that.

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It could be a bad cable also ...
Mar 13, 2015 6:24AM PDT

(the cable that connects the motherboard and the screen). If something like this happens when playing a DVD on my TV, I have to adjust the SCART-cable (yes, Europe) to fix it. Then it works again until I move something around.

Kees

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Cable
Mar 13, 2015 6:28AM PDT

I will try moving the cable and see then reply back. Thanks

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Cable and more details
Mar 13, 2015 6:35AM PDT

Moving the cable did not work it is still yellow. I also forgot to mention that the only part of the screen that turn yellow are places where the color is white. (Black, Blue, Green, Grey etc.) are normal. Just white turns yellow and the screen only distorts on the desktop. Startup and BIOS screens are fine (besides the white turning to yellow) I don't know if these additional details matter.

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Cable again
Mar 13, 2015 6:41AM PDT

I decided to try moving the cable again and this time id still did not fix the problem but it did change the amount of distortion on the screen. I noticed as I moved the cable that it changed the distortion. Ex. Parts that were yellow started to fade to normal but did not fully correct. If this become a wire problem would that be an easy fix? Or is this nothing?

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New Laptop
Mar 13, 2015 6:21AM PDT

Or would it be easier to just get a new laptop? I have a replacement but it would be awesome if I could fix this one as it is better than my replacement.