A31 Laptop screen issue!

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bloodkiss · #31 Post by **bloodkiss** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:10 pm

I have also had screen issues.

As the computer boots, the screen is filled with gibberish mostly exclamation points. I have been told that if I replace the LCD this will disappear because the LCD and the video card are modular and inseparable. Also in windows I will get vertical green or red lines that give a pinstriping effect. I see from the posts above that there is a hardware sectionin the IBM site so I will have a look at that and educate myself a bit.

Another screen issue I had was that blank screen thing described by other people in this topic. Probably also due to that PSB screw that was mentioned.

Here in China it is hard to find people who can really explain these symptoms well and hard to find people to trust the machine to so I will just wait until I get back to the US before I do anything. I did have to take a chance and get the blank screen problem fixed here but in that case I was desperate because the machine was totally useless.

I will say that after four years of pounding on this machine it has held up quite nicely and is still far from obsolete.

Wilsonflyer · #32 Post by **Wilsonflyer** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:23 pm

Mis-post. Original post moved to correct thread.

-bob

JHEM · #33 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:13 pm

You're welcome Bob, glad to hear things worked out.

Regards,

James

A31guy · #34 Post by **A31guy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:24 am

Does anyone know if the cpu fan in these laptops are supposed to run all the time, like in a desktop.?

Because I put my old motherboard back in and it was just like the one I purchased off of ebay, the screen displayed flawlessly.

Until the laptop started heating up. I started to see the blue lines starting to appear...like the GPU was getting to hot or something.

I think maybe the cpu fan is going out. And need to get a replacement.

And if anyone has actually modded the A31 case to put in additional fans, please send to: aninfinitecycle@yahoo.com.

Thanks,

Colin

proaudioguy · #35 Post by **proaudioguy** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:56 pm

OK, So my screen had been almost randomly having this issue continue and it was getting real annoying. I can't find a suitable MB for a reasonable price. I have the 32MB video and 1400x1050 screen. I was talking with my former employer and convinced him to sell me my old company computer which is identical and has been barely used since I left in 2003. I paid a pretty good chunk of change for it, but far less than a new MB. Also for the last 2 weeks I have not had any screen issues at all. The other computer does have 1 stuck pixel (blue), but otherwise it's a bit brighter presumably from less use. Also thebattery is in good condition. My other battery was completely dead.

Does anyone know the specs on the screws that hold the screen brackets in? They are 4 screws on the back by the connecotrs. Also, where can I get good quality replacement case parts. There are plastic parts on both computers that need to be replaced.

UpAndAway · #36 Post by **UpAndAway** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:44 pm

Just to followup on my previous post about experiencing the same problems, Lenovo replaced the MB and everything has been working fine since.

peggymac · #37 Post by **peggymac** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:48 am

I'm experiencing the same problem. My A31p screen has horizontal matrix-looking lines running across it. They may appear right at boot-up, an hour after boot-up, or not at all. After rebooting they may go away. Some days I'll start my computer and the lines never appear. Yesterday the whole screen went psychodelic on me, and this morning it's perfectly clear.

I've tried duplicating problem on an external monitor but no success yet; could be the screen's in a behaving mood.

I've tried gently bending laptop cover back and forth, side to side, which seems to make it worse. Monday the lines were there from the get-go. Rebooted 10 times, they never went away. I had to leave laptop on all day at my job, and the screen worsened as the day went on. At the end of day, someone suggested turning off the laptop and gently dropping it onto the table. Did that, rebooted, lines were gone. (Then they came back when I got home.)

This started a week ago. OF COURSE I'M 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. I liked Charles' suggestion to see if Visa may extend the warranty. I'll give it a try. I'll call IBM -- Lenovo? -- too, I guess; worth a shot.

Haven't tried unscrewing anything to check for loose connections ... think I should give that a try?

Peggy

UpAndAway · #38 Post by **UpAndAway** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:32 am

Peggy,

These are pretty much the same symptoms that I experienced, over the same duration, at the same warranty point.

My guess is that it's the graphics card on the motherboard going bad, and you can't just change the graphics card -- you've got to change the entire motherboard (a good time to update the processor speed, too).

Again, my a31p has run flawlessly since, and I’ve always loved the computer, so it was definitely worth fixing!

UpAndAway · #39 Post by **UpAndAway** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:36 am

A31Guy,

Nearest I can figure, my cooling fan runs all the time -- that doesn't mean it should, just that it does.

peggymac · #40 Post by **peggymac** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:44 am

UpAndAway,

Were you able to get yours fixed while still under warranty? If not, what did a new motherboard cost you?

I just called IBM, and they said I am out of luck being 2 weeks and 2 days past warranty.

He did say I should check for a loose video cable, though.

UpAndAway · #41 Post by **UpAndAway** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:37 pm

At Lenovo tech, it costs 4 hundred something (complete) and takes about 4 weeks. They upgraded it to a 2.0 from 1.8 for free (I assume because they ran out of 1.8s).

I think there's a design flaw that so many are going bad, which I assume is related to heat.

I thought I read somewhere on this board that there is a more powerful IBM stock fan that you can put in the machine, but I can no longer find it. Anybody know if this is true and if it's an easy process? Might be worth it on the a31p.

vital-analitix · #42 Post by **vital-analitix** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:32 pm

UpAndAway wrote:......I thought I read somewhere on this board that there is a more powerful IBM stock fan that you can put in the machine, but I can no longer find it. Anybody know if this is true and if it's an easy process? Might be worth it on the a31p.

There is a fan difference between the IBM A31P and the standard A31. If you look at my signature you see the model number for the A31P, it makes quite a bit of a difference. Before I stepped the CPU up the difference between the two fans is about 8 ~ 10 degrees Centigrade. While you are at it then replace the thermal compound between the CPU and the heatsink/fan with Arctic Silver 5. That helps another few degrees. And the nice thing is that it is supposedly not "bleeding" which means no oil is seperating / evaporating. Many of the mainboards get very filthy after a while (depending where you use them) and a clean will not be a bad idea (if you are up to it, you'll need to take the proper antistatic procedures).

I work these laptops hard, these machines are running 24hrs / 5days and 14hrs / 2days and are at least running 5 hours / day at full CPU blast. (flat out, 100%) I have them sitting on two automotive rubber door strips, raising them 1.5 cm off the desk, just to give them that little bit of extra cooling. (and keep the dirt out of them) Cannot understand those designs that have a fan intake right on the bottom.

Marinus

peggymac · #43 Post by **peggymac** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:33 pm

What about putting a CoolPad under the laptop - would that help with the heat problem?

vital-analitix · #44 Post by **vital-analitix** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:36 pm

peggymac wrote:What about putting a CoolPad under the laptop - would that help with the heat problem?

Have seen them advertised, never used them. Would be concerned about the laptop sliding on it. One thing that can be done to is having one of those small docking stations where the machine rests only on the back on it. You can find those reasonably cheap secondhand.

murray · #45 Post by **murray** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:55 pm

I've read all the posts on this (my) problem and found no conclusive fix - or more to the point, no clear anaysis of what is causing the condition.

Also, no one has posted on this thread since May this year. What happened? Who finally did what to fix it? Is there any concensus on the exact source of the problem?

Replies would be much appreciated.

thanks, Murray Skuce
mskuce@unixg.ubc.ca

A31p 1600x1200 about 9 months since purchase.

peggymac · #46 Post by **peggymac** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:32 pm

I got my laptop fixed using the Visa Extended Warranty program since I used Visa to purchase my laptop.

They replaced the system board at a cost of $503 total. I paid the $503 and Visa sent me a check for $503. Kudos to Visa.

murray · #47 Post by **murray** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:06 pm

Thanks for writing Peggymac. Thoughtful and kind of you and the kind of response that makes Bill's forum worthwhile.

Luckily, for the moment, my problem seems to have vanished.

Rather than attempt a warranty fix, which is tough for me because I am not near a repair point, I decided I would just see if there was a loose connector at the lcd. This was after reading one of the previous posters here that had luck with doing this.

I removed the securing screws and face bezel and lifted up the lcd unit to check the plug in the back of it. I pressed on the connector a little to try and improve the seating. It did not seem to move. (I did not remove the lcd unit as the plug was taped on and it looked tricky to try to completely remove the panel from the plastic top of the computer.

Immediately I tried a boot to see if there might be an effect. There was. But in all honesty, I cannot be sure it was from my tinkering.

Nonetheless, since then, I have had no more lines. Display is perfect now for the past three days. And, as they say, if it ain't broke.....

Perhaps I have gotten lucky.

So thanks for your post and best of luck to any one with this problem - namely:

1px high 1cm long magenta and green horiz lines on A31p lcd

best, Murray Skuce

murray · #48 Post by **murray** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:10 am

For anyone with a similar problem:

Now about 10 days with a perfectly functioning lcd.

Cannot gaurantee the fix described earlier is what cured it but it is certainly worth a try for anyone with a similar problem.

proaudioguy · #49 Post by **proaudioguy** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:24 am

murray wrote:For anyone with a similar problem:

Now about 10 days with a perfectly functioning lcd.

Cannot gaurantee the fix described earlier is what cured it but it is certainly worth a try for anyone with a similar problem.

Hey buddy how about an update on this?

A31 Laptop screen issue!

Screen Issues

Same problem

1px high 1cm long mag + green horiz lines A31p lcd

Got mine fixed

1px high 1cm long mag + green horiz lines A31p lcd

Re: 1px high 1cm long mag + green horiz lines A31p lcd

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