Lines on LCD - educate me

[Dalthius]

I'm not terribly laptop savvy, but I had a question regarding LCD displays.

On my new np9261 I can see faint horizontal lines that, if you watch carefully, seem to scroll vertically up the screen. Is this normal for a laptop? It's not a glitch from the GPU or anything like that, it's visible in all apps and is really only noticeable if you think about it. Also, I've got a blue/dead pixel right-center on my screen. Yay.

[xpcdude]

Yes,you need to upgrade to the newest video card drivers possible. I experienced the same problem right until I updated the video drivers. Right now I have the 169.04 version from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista64
I highly recommend both the upgrade and the site :D
Are you sure it is a dead pixel and not a stuck one ? I am asking since stuck pixels can be fixed,whereas dead pixels cannot.

[Dalthius]

It's blue, so I'm guessing it is a stuck pixel? I'm running UDPixel right now in hopes that will correct, I'll give it a couple hours.

I checked my drivers through SagerNotebook.com, it seems the driver I have is for the 8700M, Vista 64. I'll switch to the 7950GTX driver and see if that fixes the problem.

[Dalthius]

I'm downloading version 169.09 from that site you recommended...question is, do I go with that one, or the one from the Sager site? The version numbers are a bit confusing...

[xpcdude]

I am running the newest driver from the site I recommended and it added some performance to the GPU, got me an extra 10 FPS in Crysis.. So yea, go with that one.
If it's a blue pixel, it might be stuck. Good idea in running that program, hope it clears it out for you.
Cheers :D

[Dalthius]

Grrr, downloaded 169.09, but I keep getting a 404 error whenever I try to dload the associated INF file. Guess I'll keep trying.

[xpcdude]

Go with 169.04 driver , which has an INF already. It says that on the main page :D
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/

[Dalthius]

Yeah, it'd help if I read the main page...lol. Sorry, I'm in a huge rush, I'm still packing for overseas and trying to get this laptop running in top shape, all at the same time. Now if Sager would just hurry up and get me that replacement fan...

Thanks for help bud.

EDIT: I went with the 169.02 version for Vista 64, it seems the 169.04 version is not available.

[Dalthius]

The problem is still there...it's odd, it's like it comes and goes. Removing it from AC power doesn't change it, either. It's happening at the moment, but it wasn't doing it about 2 minutes ago. Very odd. I'll update to .09 when the NIF is available I guess, see what happens.

[xpcdude]

That is due to different names for the same thing. I have the 163.44 from this exact page. A few others appeared in the meantime : http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista64
You might try the top one, since it includes an INF file also.

[Dalthius]

Alright, I'm trying the top one...see if that fixes things.

[Dalthius]

Updated to version 169.09 and I STILL have the same problem. These damn lines keep coming back...it'll go away for awhile, but it always comes back. It occurs on both AC and battery power. Is it a CPU issue? It doesn't seem like a power issue. I'm getting fed up with this computer, it's one issue after another since I took it out of the box.

[Justin@XoticPC]

Please contact our 24/7 Support and they can assist you with this. 1-(877) 645-9311

[Dalthius]

"WidowPC pit crew has been temporarily suspended". I guess tech support is in the bathroom.

Anyway, I've been playing around with it. It seems like the lines now only appear whenever an application is running or when a window is initially opened, minimized, or closed. Right now, as I type, it's fine. But if I access a folder, the lines appear briefly then go away. I play a game, the lines are a constant.

[xpcdude]

Well , as I recall, I had the problem, and after that updated the video drivers, some Vista based KB upgrades ,NetFrame and performed a full system scan with the Windows Error Checking utility .

[Dalthius]

After some more testing it appears that the lines eventually disappear after several minutes into an application. This is good, but of course I'd like to NEVER see these lines.

Vista based KB uprgrades? What is that? I did a Windows Update, got some of the NetFrame (I think) when I did that...and I have no idea idea what the Windows Error Checking utilitiy is, but I'm sure if I look around in Vista I'll find it.

Thanks for the help.

[xpcdude]

When you go into my computer, right click on drive C , properties, and there is a Scan tab. Check the automatically fix my errors and attempt to retrieve bad sectors, and click Ok afterwards to schedule a before boot checkup of the whole system( Vista will ask if you want to do that)..
Restart,and the system will check everything . Be warned though, depending on the size of the disk, it might take upto 2 hours, so be pacient :)
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

[Dalthius]

Still have the problem. Running 169.09, did the error check, problem persists. I'll try XoticPC tech support again tonight.

[Dalthius]

XoticPC Tech Support was supposed to look into the issue with Sager and call me back. They never did. I'll try them again tomorrow.

Things have been a see-saw here...really good one way, really bad the other. In a sense, I'm more or less stuck with this computer. With my deployment, I don't have time to return this and order another one, and I prefer not to settle for some crappy store-bought laptop. These issues all need to be resolved. I am very dissatisfied thus far. I'm sure I will feel better once my replacement fan is here, but his LCD issue is getting ridiculous. And the stuck pixel? Still stuck.

[Justin_W@XoticPC]

Have you received a phone call back from tech support? Or did you contact them again?

Here are three different numbers that can all help you with your technical problems.

1-877-645-9311
706-403-4690
1-800-741-2219

[Dalthius]

No, they did not call me back as promised. They mentioned that it may be a problem with the connection/wiring for the GPU, and they were going to call me back to walk me through checking it and never did.

I will attempt to call later this evening.

[Dalthius]

Got my replacement fan in, things are good now in that department. Now I need to find a moment to attempt to get ahold of tech support and find out if I need to replace my screen, the whole computer, the GPU...whatever the problem is.

[OregonCoastGamer]

Gee.... I hope my experience is going to be better than this guys :shock: .