Thursday 11 July 2013

Common Issues with Notebook Displays

If you suspect that there is a hardware or software problem with the display there are some simple adjustments to improve the appearance of the built-in display on your notebook. To correct problems with the display the first action you should take is to install - or reinstall - the latest version of the BIOS and graphics drivers. If installing the latest BIOS and drivers does not correct the display, use this document to troubleshoot and identify specific hardware failures that may require professional repairs or part replacement at an authorized HP service center.

Simple adjustments and maintenance issues

Windows 7 and Vista allow you to make several adjustments to the appearance of the display on your notebook. To make any of these adjustments, right-click anywhere on the desktop and selectPersonalize .
Some third-party programs that have advanced graphic requirements may install custom drivers or modify the previous graphic settings that will change the appearance of your display. If the display changes after you install a program, use the Device Manager to Update the driver software and re-install the proper display drivers.
  1. Click Start , enter device in the search field and select Device Manager from the list.
  2. In the Device Manager, expand the Display adapters listing, and right-click the display chipset or driver option, and select Update Driver Software ... .
    Figure 1: Device Manager - Update Driver Software
    Image the Update Drivers Software option in the Device Manager.
  3. When prompted on where to search for the updated drivers, select Search automatically for updated driver software .
    Figure 2: Search automatically
    Image of the Search automatically screen.
This should re-install the proper graphics driver for your computer.
Some problems with the notebook display resolution can be resolved by adjusting the resolution. For instance, video games often switch the resolution while the game is running in order to optimize frame rates and graphical quality; if such a game shuts down or exits improperly, the resolution may not be restored to its original settings.
  • Windows 7 : Click Start , enter resolution in the search field, and then select the Adjust screen resolution control panel application from the search results list. Move the slider bar until you find the resolution you prefer, and click OK .
  • Windows Vista : Click Start , enter personalization in the search field, and then select thePersonalization control panel application from the search results list. In thePersonalization window, click Display Settings . Move the slider bar until you find the resolution you prefer, and click OK .
  • Windows XP : Click Start , then click Control Panel . Double-click the Display icon, and select the Settings tab. Move the slider bar until you find the resolution you prefer, and click OK .
Many display issues can be resolved by installing updated graphics adapter device drivers and BIOS firmware. Use the HP Support Assistant for Windows 7 and Vista to automatically scan your notebook for the latest drivers. If necessary, it will download and install any available updates and drivers. It is recommended that you run the HP Support Assistant once a week to keep your notebook as up-to-date as possible. For more information, see the HP Support Assistant web page.
To check for updates with the HP Support Assistant:
  1. Click Start , enter support in the search field, and then select the HP Support Assistant from the search results list.
  2. Click Maintain .
  3. Click Refresh to check for updates.
  4. If presented with a list of updates, select the ones you want to install and click Apply .
After installing any updates, restart the notebook.
If you do not have the HP Support Assistant installed or prefer not to use it, follow the steps below to manually update the BIOS firmware in your notebook:
  1. Connect the notebook to the AC adapter and a working electrical outlet.
  2. Go to the HP Software and Drivers Download site for your model notebook.
  3. Select the Operating System from the drop-down list, and expand the BIOS section.
  4. If the available BIOS is a later version than the installed version, download and install the latest BIOS for your notebook.
After updating the BIOS firmware, restart the notebook.
If you do not have the HP Support Assistant installed or prefer not to use it to automatically check for and install drivers, follow the steps below to manually update the graphics adapter device drivers in your notebook:
  1. Connect the notebook to the AC adapter and a working electrical outlet.
  2. Go to the HP Software and Drivers Download site for your model notebook.
  3. Select your Operating System from the drop-down list, and expand the Driver - Graphicssection.
  4. Download and install the latest graphics driver.
After updating the graphics adapter device drivers, restart the notebook.

Troubleshoot specific notebook display issues

This section provides examples of the most common display issues and provides information on how to troubleshooting many of them. When dealing with these more serious cases, the problem may be the result of broken or defective hardware. You first priority is to identify the problem and complete the troubleshooting activities, and then perform all the listed maintenance tasks. If you still experience the graphic's problem, you will need to Contact HP (click link at top of this web page) to arrange for a hardware repair or replacement.
You will be asked to run the diagnostic tests in HP Support Assistance to verify the problem condition and determine if the repair is covered under the warranty policy.
Display problems can be detected in any of the computer's three different graphic states: BIOS level, Windows (OS) level, and Advanced Graphic Chip state. Visual irregularities that are noticeable only when the computer is in operation can usually be adjusted using updated Windows or graphic chip drivers. However, physical damage that will require repair or replacement can usually be detected in the BIOS level operations before the computer boots into Windows. The cost of replacement parts and service will vary based on the exact problem and the location of repair facility.
  • If the display is blank (either all black or all white), or the image is cracked or distorted during the boot process, there is probably some physical damage that will require repair or replacement.
  • If the image is clear in the BIOS state but distorted in the Windows state, it may be possible to correct the problem by installing the latest BIOS, CPU chipset, and Windows graphic drivers.
  • If the image is normally clear but becomes distorted when running a specific program with high graphic requirements, like watching videos or playing on-line games, it may be possible to correct by problem by changing the screen's resolution or installing updated drivers from either the graphic chip maker's site or the application manufacturer's site.
If the text is fuzzy, or objects are slightly blurry around the edges, stretched, and out of proportion, the resolution may need to be changed. To resolve these issues, download and install the latest chip set and graphics drivers, and set the display resolution to the highest supported resolution as discussed above.
The display resolution on the notebook might be set to a resolution value other than the highest display resolution. When the graphics adapter scales the image, the edges of the displayed objects can become slightly blurred as the entire image is enlarged or reduced to fit to the edges of the screen. If blurriness occurs only when using a software program such as a particular game, make sure that the resolution recommended for the game matches the display resolution.
Figure 3: Blurry display
Figure 4: Correct display
Figure 5: Stretched image
Figure 6: Correct display
To resolve these issues, install the latest drivers and set the display resolution to the highest supported resolution. If this does not fix the issue, ensure that you have installed the latest chipsets available. You might also check if you have a separate graphic processor (GPU) and if so, that the chipsets for both processors match.
When you display the same image on both the notebook desktop and an external display panel (monitor, or projected display, or television set) the image shown on the notebook display may shrink to a lower resolution and black bars may appear around the edges of the reduced display.
Figure 7: Example of black bars and screen shrinking
This usually happens when the displays have different resolutions. When the graphic control detects two displays it usually defaults to the lower resolution for both devices. To resolve this issue, disconnect the external device to verify that the resolution changes back to the desired settings, then reconnect it and adjust the resolution settings for each device.
  • To use Windows to control the graphic display, connect both displays, right-click on the desktop, select Customize , and then click Display settings (Resolution). On some models, you can select an advanced option to either Mirror the same image on both displays orExtend the desktop image onto both displays.
  • To use an advanced graphic's maintenance function to control the graphics display, right-click on the desktop, and select either Graphics or Graphics Options from the listing. Names of advanced graphics options may vary, and not all models have a high-performance chip or secondary Graphic Process Unit (GPU).
If the problem persists, check for and install any updates to the notebook graphics adapter and BIOS firmware.
Due to the nature of display panel technology, a certain number of dots (pixels) might not illuminate correctly. You can install the updated BIOS and graphics drivers to eliminate any potential software display problems. If the problem continues and display has too many pixel defects within a certain area, it may be distracting to watch. If the BIOS and drivers are updated, there is nothing you can do to resolve the problem.
Figure 8: Example of pixel defects in the display panel
For more information about pixel defects, see HP Notebook PCs - About LCD Panel Defects and Terminology .
The screen remains black or blank, and there are no error messages on the screen. You must determine if this blank screen is caused by a problem with the display or is a problem starting the computer .
Figure 9: Blank screen
A quick test for a defective display is to connect the computer to an external monitor with a VGA connector cable, connect the AC power to both the notebook and the monitor, and then press the power buttons on the computer and monitor.
If an image can display on the external monitor but not on the notebook display, you should download and install the latest BIOS, and the latest graphics driver, and the latest CPU chipset. If there is still no display, there is a physical problem and you will need to contact HP for repair service.
If there is no image on either the internal or external displays and the computer does not start properly, this indicates a startup problem, not a display problem. See HP Notebook PCs - Troubleshooting Black Screen Displays with No Error Messages During Startup or Boot .
The following conditions indicate a problem with the display or other hardware in the notebook. There are no adjustments or corrective actions for these conditions. Contact an authorized repair facility for technical service.
Figure 10: Flickering Screen
Figure 11: Vertical lines in the display
Figure 12: Solid horizontal green line
Figure 13: Incorrect colors
Contact HP Customer Support for further assistance.

Broken or physically damaged screens

Cracked LCDs display damage in a number of different patterns. This type of physical damage can be detected as early as the BIOS level start up operations, before the computer boots into Windows (or other operating systems).The display must be replaced. There are no actions available to correct this problem. The notebook can be used by connecting it to an external monitor.
Figure 14: Horizontal and Vertical lines
Figure 15: Diagonal or jagged lines
HP does not recommend attempting to replace a damaged display. You should contact an authorized repair center. For additional information, see HP Notebook PCs - Cracked Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

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