Compaq Presario M2000 Laptop vert rolls

[Bovon]

My cousins lappy has a baaadddd case of the vertical rolls or more likely, flickering..but looks like it is rolling.

The battery was the original, about 4 years old..and I was "told" (did not see) that it just would not boot at all (snowy screen) without the charger plugged in.

I made a snap decision (based on the age of the battery) that the problem was a worn out battery.

Ordered a new battery, and the same thing...it will boot without the charger attached, but rolls(?) like crazy.

Nothing locks in, and during boot, the splash XP screen can be seen about 4 times (parts of it).

Have some input already that it may be a defective monitor. I have connected a CRT to it, and the video is perfect.

If I boot without the power adapter connected, the several screens plus desktop are hardly there at all...gray/white and streaked. If I attach the power adapter the screens become visible, but very flaky, appears to be a fast roll...but it is not rolling when attached to a CRT.

I will attach a couple of images because it is so difficult to describe. Remember, these pics were between anomalies mostly...what I saw with my eyes was worse than what the camera captured.

Just looking for suggestions..maybe somebody has seen such as this before and can offer some thoughts.

I am told it did this same thing last year but cured itself...maybe a flaky cable connection between the motherboard and the monitor?


Thanks,
Rob

[Bovon]

Forgot to subscribe to the thread!

[Whir]

Got a Sony at work that does the same thing. If you squish a certain part of the screen frame, the problem clears up. I'd say it's a connection issue.

[Bovon]

Thank you Whir.

I just tried that, and there was no "hot spot" that seemed to make a difference.

Another thing that bugs me is the power must be connected..and I have a double strength, brand new...fully charged battery in the bay. Without the power adapter being connected, I have a white screen at desktop...with "noise" lines here and there...as if there was some RF interference..but there are no transmitters/motor generators etc. around here.

The problem still can be a connection...but I have never used a laptop...much less opening one up..and this one ain't mine!

Any chance you may know of a disassembly PDF manual somewhere?...if I could get to the cable that goes up to the monitor..I might get to wiggle it a bit and see if that does anything.

To replace the monitor would be around $400 bucks..and this family ain't got that kinda cash without saving up for it you know?..I was told by one of their kids that they saved up for over a year to buy this thing.

Another thing... I wrote HP..got a nice reply, but this is out of what they can advise...said I should take it to an "approved" HP service center, Radio Shack, Circuit City, and/or Best Buy for repairs....ohhhh Lordy!

[Bovon]

Somebody please tell me if laptop hard drives are universal....like IDE drives for desktops.

I we purchase a used laptop (until we can have this one repaired) can the hard drive be placed in the other laptop and used?

[Bovon]

I have now conferred with 4 Best Buy stores where I talked to the "geek dept".

After explaining the anomaly and the fact it works fine when connected to an external monitor, the problem will be with the laptops monitor. Cable, inverter or the screen itself.

Thanks Whir.

Now, its up to the owners to decide. The Best Buy cost estimates range from $400 bucks in Augusta and Greenville to $697 bucks in Louisville, KY.

I would think buying a new laptop may be the best due to the high cost of "having" this one repaired... I would like to stay out of this is possible.

[Bovon]

Update.

New Hitachi panel ordered and replaced today.

Machine appears to be better than before. I did not order the Glossy screen panel.

Thanks much for the input..it helped.

[DanU]

I'm almost afraid to ask... how much did a new LCD screen cost?

[Bovon]

The business I chose to buy from (at eBay) sells screens for $165.00 plus $12 bucks shipping. $177.00 total.

A replacement screen from HP would have cost $525.00 + shipping.

This may one reason the approved HP shops charge so much, they have to buy their "authorized" HP parts from the HP store.

I found the screens...new...from $155 to $255. The latter place offered to install the screen free.

Trying to save a few bucks, I bid on several "parts only" machines at the Bay...didn't get close to buying any.

The cost of a new screen is only a deal for a fairly new laptop...once you can buy the same machine...used, for $250 bucks or so, it may not be worth it to replace the screen.

[DanU]

I did the same thing... bought a parts laptop on ebay which had a good screen. A brand new screen from Toshiba would have cost as much as a brand new laptop!