my X23 is showing some funky visuals [pic]

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Long time thinkpad user but never a member.. until now. Hi!

I have a little problem with my X23. When I press the start button it boots, but the image soon flips out, sometimes showing the thinkpad logo, but always settling into this after a few key presses or a bit of time:


Of note:
- My left-hinge lost a screw, which led to a cracked and hence loose hinge.
- Oddly enough, pressing buttons aggravates it and even makes the system unresponsive (in the bios menu), but pressing the power button 10 seconds to turn it off still works fine.
- A USB keyboard makes no differences, neither does using a different battery, or using an external monitor.

Now, my diagnosis would be a bad videocard or videoribbon, BUT then why does the keyboard have this aggravating influence?

Had anyone experienced something similar? Or does anyone have tips on figuring out what part is broken exactly and then maybe how to replace it? Right now it's like seeing a member of the family getting alzheimers.. It's still fine underneath!

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

My initial guess is that you are looking at a video graphics chip coming loose from the motherboard. Instead of pushing any keyboard keys, try gently flexing the system. With the laptop on a table and powered up, pick up the front corners about an inch (25.4mm ) and pull up on the left corner and push down on the right. Don't try to torque the system any more than a couple of mm or so. Alternate the twist by pushing down on the left and lifting the right corner. Does the display change? If so, then you are probably looking at the same thing that some T4x owners have seen (broken solder joints on the bottom of the graphics chip).

Depending upon what the system is doing, pushing a keyboard key could change the contents of the video display enough to cause the blocks to alter their shape/position. For example, assume that Windows has loaded and is sitting at the desktop. Pushing the "I" key would cause the focus to shift to the Internet Explorer icon, if it exists on your desktop. That changes the background of the icon title. Same goes for any other key which matches any other icon title.

You can also try re-seating the video ribbon cable on both ends; the connector which is attached to the motherboard and the end that is plugged into the back of the LCD panel. It's essentially a "free" fix; just costs you some time and work. You will need the Hardware Maintenance Manual to safely do this work:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... UZMN7.html

Go slow and make sure you document where all of the screws and bits and pieces came from.

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Thanks, I'll give that a shot!