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Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario 1600 Series Portable Computers

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Display Solutions

Solving Minor Problems

Some minor problems and possible solutions are outlined in the following tables.  If the problem appears related to a software application, check the documentation provided with the software.

Solving Display Problems

This section lists some common causes and solutions for computer display and external monitor problems.

You can perform a monitor self-test on an external VGA color or monochrome monitor by disconnecting the monitor from the computer. To do so, complete the following steps:

1. Turn off the monitor.

2. Turn off the computer.

3. Disconnect the monitor signal cable from the computer.

4. Turn on the monitor and allow it to warm up for one minute.

The display should be white. A narrow black border may also appear on the left and right sides of the display. Either of these displays indicates that the monitor is working properly.

Solving Display Problems
Problem Probable Cause Solution(s)
Screen is dim. Control for brightness or contrast (if applicable) is not set properly. Adjust the Brightness of the display by using Fn + F7 (¯ ) or
Fn + F8 (­ ).
Computer screen is in direct light. Tilt display or move computer.
Screen is blank. Screen save was initiated by Power Management due to lack of user activity. Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.
Display has overheated. If computer is in direct sunlight, move it and allow it to cool off.
Display is blank and the Suspend icon is flashing. System is in Suspend mode. Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.
Internal display is blank and the screen on an external monitor displays information. Display function was switched to the external monitor. Use Fn + F3 to switch between LCD only or CRT only or LCD and CRT simultaneously.
Internal display flashes or has garbled characters when computer is connected to external monitor. Using 1024 × 768 or higher resolution on external monitor and have toggled back to internal display, which supports up to
800 × 600.
Restart the computer.
The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) completes when the unit is powered up.** Improper backlight or display cable connections Replace the display assembly.
Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display panel. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) does not complete when the unit is powered up.** Defective system board. Replace the system board.
Backlight (brightness) cannot be adjusted with Fn + F7 (¯ ) or
Fn + F8 (­ ).***
Improper display cable connections. 1. Reseat the display cable to the system board.

2. Replace the display assembly.

Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
This display panel has a continuous pattern across it (e.g., a "jailbars" pattern), has a single color on it, or has garbled graphics across the entire panel. This failure is for patterns across the entire panel (not just on one section). Improper display cable connections Reseat the display cable to the following until the problem is solved:

1. System board

2. Display assembly

Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
Ghost bars extending from graphics on the display. Common characteristic of STN displays. Change the background colors.
Characters are blurry even on the external monitor The internal panel is designed to display best a 800 X 600.  When another video resolution is used, the display is stretched to fill the external monitor only. Use the Fn-F3 to select the external monitor only.
A single line, small group of lines, or block appears on the display panel. This failure occurs in only a section of the display panel. Defective display panel. Replace the display assembly.
** This problem indicates that the backlight or its power circuitry has failed. Since you cannot observe the POST result on the display panel when the backlight is not functioning, connect the unit to an external monitor before powering the unit up. If an external monitor is not available, verify that POST completes by opening and closing the display, listening for the single or double beep, and watching for the LEDs turn on at the front of the computer.

*** The brightness adjustment function on TFT panels must be tested with the display bezel on, since these panels contain a light feedback circuit. Outside light affects the operation of the circuit and does not allow the brightness to adjust.

ZoomedVideo PC Cards are not supported on this model.

Back to Troubleshooting Without Diagnostics

 
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