Gateway E475 display freaks out when opening/closing/moving laptop

Hi,

My Gateway E475 laptop's display freaks out (freezes/turns white/ rolls like an old filmstrip) when the laptop gets opened or closed. It does it when being moved around too, even if left in a "working" position. Insofar as I know, the computer has taken no impact. I can adjust the laptop to stop the freak out, but it's not permanent.

I changed the ribbon that connects the LCD to the main board, and I'd say the problem is 50% improved, but it's still not behaving properly. It's definitely easier to recover the screen from one of it's freakouts, but obviously it should not be freaking at all.

It's almost as if the part of the case that holds the LCD is too flimsy.

Any thoughts?

 

Maybe and it may be causing a broken trace (circuit run) on the motherboard or some other not so perfect connection to flex and break continuity. And perhaps heat and/or movement is causing that connection to make/break as it expands/contracts or moves. It is hard to tell in these situations.

I suggest you connect an external monitor and see if it acts up when you move the case lid. If it does mess up, then that suggests the problem is with the graphics solution (integrated card) or associated circuits. If the external monitor's display stays stable as you move the clamshell lid, then it points to a bad connection or something similar to the notebook's display panel itself.

In any case, I would make sure you have a good backup of any data you do not want to lose.

 

Update:

The external monitor worked fine- I think what I'm dealing with is a problem where the ribbon from the mobo connects to the LCD... maybe a bit of busted solder on the connector, or an issue on the board somewhere. Maybe I'll whip out my meter, iron and loupe and go hunting for it.. or maybe not, it's a decade old and I don't know if I care, lol.

Thanks everyone!

 

I hear you. But just knowing an external monitor works means you can still use the computer as a secondary PC.