o jolly joy.

[ceagle]

After nearly 2 years, in December I was wide-eyed when my laptop screen suddenly went blank (bought it in Jan 2002). I thought maybe it had overheated. I let it rest for the night. Seemed okay the next day.
Then a couple months later, it did it again, in combo with a freeze, so I started using a book underneath it to dissipate heat.
No more probs until today, and it keeps going out over and over (4 times now in one day, twice after only 3 or so minutes, so that can't be heat now) at seemingly random moments. :< Maybe a loose wire? *wings over eyes and shakes head*

Now I wonder if it's just the screen itself getting wonky and needing replacement. *sigh*

I tried using the TV monitor adapter as a workaround, but the resolution is nearly useless for really doing anything but watching a video.
Guess I'd better get the monitor adapter and try that... and... consider getting the screen looked at. *shrugs feathers... sigh*

Word up, if I'm chattin', as rare as that is, and go silent, it probably just means I can't see the screen, and have to restart or try the sleep/unsleep method, which still can take about a minute. And restart takes at least 3 minutes.

*meep*

Anyways, that's the haps from the talon perch.
Best Wishes, and I hope your computables are doing much better.... C.

Comments

[ex-c-p.livejournal.com]

2 years sounds like the normal lifespan of things these days.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*meep*... yeh... it can be a drag to be living in a throw-away world now, where things don't last as long as before. Sure there were a few exceptions. It's nice to have TVs that don't need new tubes all the time, but many other things are just shabby.
We still have the Sony Hi-Fi system my dad bought in Japan in the mid 60s, and it still works like a charm. And our appliances from the 60s all worked perfectly when they were replaced 'em during remodeling a few years back also.
Our fridge is only four years old now, and Whirlpool doesn't even make the replacement shelves any more! (one of them broke a few months ago, and we had to have one custom made to fit).

Oy!

[mortonfox.livejournal.com]

My laptop has a display problem too. It flickers badly but it's okay at certain angles. Things just get loose after some time but I think it will survive one or two more vacation or con trips.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*peeps... sorry to hear you're experiencing something like this too..* :|

Once mine's off, it won't go back on whatever position I put it in, until I restart, or sometimes if trying sleep mode it'll come back afterward too.

[ex-noda654.livejournal.com]

x_X *gives your pc some vitamin C (not C iggle!) to feel better?*

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*chuckles!! ... and pops a few of those tablets too....*
Thanks Noda!... those are great for preventing and shakin' off colds n flu, yupyup! *hugsya* :9

[titanic.livejournal.com]

Our laptop continues to be rock solid reliable.

Its a pentium 166 with 48 megs of ram - but it's reliable.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

That's great.. :> Izzat an IBM ThinkPad? genecatlow loves those things... I think he has a handful of 'em :D
... the specs sound kinda like it might be one.

[altonwings.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Hopefully you'll get some kind of easy resolution to that problem--I know I need my computer!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*noddle...* Thanks!
I haven't moved the screen since that other day, and it hasn't gone out again *wags feathers* :>

[chahala.livejournal.com]

It sounds like there might be a loose connection actually... depending on the laptop you could take it appart and check the ribbon cable that connects the LCD part of it to the main case. though I'm not sure how yours is made. It doesn't sound like a heat problem though.

Or it might just be an intermitent short... somewhere.

Chahala

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

...yeah, ultimately it may come to that :P
Considering the finances, I'll probably try to nurse it along carefully for as long as possible, and then deal with it after I win the lottery ;>

[level-head.livejournal.com]

My guess is that the video card itself inside the laptop is failing. These are generally specialized devices, and not usually standard video cards. A call to support for the machine, or hitting the support web site, might help figure it out.

In the meantime, I have a spare monitor you're welcome to -- it will enable you to continue to use the machine for a bit.

Also -- right now at Fry's -- a computer with 40G drive and 128M RAM and modem and network card -- for $199. No rebate involved. That and my monitor will put you in business.

===|==============/ Level Head

[timwi.livejournal.com]

"My guess is that the video card itself inside the laptop is failing."

If that was the case, connecting an external device such as a TV or a CRT monitor would not help, but according to the entry it did.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*skreee!* That'll be great, dragon sir!
And I'll definitely have to get over there to peek at that Fry's deal, even if just outa curiousity, if I can snag the chance :> *flutters feathers*

....ahhhhhhhh........yes, remember when those specs were waaaaaaay more than enough to get by? ....and they're still pretty fine for servers and most general use stuff :>
Thanks for the tip and the offer of monitor helps!

[level-head.livejournal.com]

It depends on your operating system. Windows, "The Virus You Ask For By Name(tm)", uses a lot of new RAM and cycles with each successive intrusion into your privacy. The $199 box comes with Lindows, instead.

===|==============/ Level Head

funny you should mention dat..

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

I actually got my feathers over there today, since I was nearby at an event that ended early.
I roamed around and reveled in all the goodies... it had been nearly a year since I've been there.. They didn't have the mini-vga to vga connector I was looking for, and many other shelves were in a bit of disarray. I was hoping to see if there are any affordable large format (11x17) scanners out there... no go at Fry's.
In the good news category.. there are a LOTTA nice inexpensive HDs out there! 8>
...and I did get to see the machine you mentioned! *warble*... they had it stuck at the very end in the corner, and *heh*... they *really* try to talk ya out of it... :D

Lindows.. yup!.. Looked pretty smooth.. and geesh, itsa 1GHZ processor!... Truly, as you say, not too bad for the money, charlie....
I guess I'll haveta decide before the 30th. Still like to take you up on that monitor as a backup for this screen prob, if you aren't using it :>

That was funny about Windows, the virus ya ask for by name! (in a macabre sorta way... ) gack!! I sure wanna keep my Windows machines virus-free, though it's quite a challenge these days... Have you migrated to another system all around?

Oh, and another tad of good news.. I did actually find something I could walk outa there with... something I could not find at any other stores around here (PC Club, CompUSA, etc.) ...a genuine compatible sound card for the expired one in my Dad's ole win95 machine! *flap* :>

Re: funny you should mention dat..

[level-head.livejournal.com]

I still use Windows -- in fact, we are MSDN subscribers. I haven't actually *used* Lindows myself other than to play around with it a bit, but it's interesting. We did some work with Linux a couple of years ago.

I'm command line oriented by dint of long experience; there are many things you simply cannot do in Windows.

So now you have an excuse for dinner!

===|==============/ Level Head

better most certain a dint than a dent!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

likely a portend of dinner event!

whether with chopstick or fork or thy spooner,
here's hoping we manage it soon, or nay, sooner!

Re: better most certain a dint than a dent!

[level-head.livejournal.com]

I am able with 'sticks, pretty fair with a knife
And we'd sure love to see you, both me and my wife
We'll have spoons for the soup, and the last of these lines
Is to note that we plan to have really good tines.

===|==============/ Level Head

Good Tines!! RAH! lol!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Spoons for the soup? Oh can it be so?
All-tasty-n-hot-so-upon-it-we-blow?
Your cuisine without fail doth delight, such I saw!
Yea, moreso now, as we yet slurp without straw! :9

[timwi.livejournal.com]

I have had that happen with a number of laptops in the past. If my guess is right and your situation is the same as mine was, it is indeed a loose connection between your graphics card and your screen. I believe the connection gets loose because it gets worn when you open and close the laptop repeatedly. Usually you can get your screen back by jiggling it a bit, but the more you do that, the worse it will get progressively, so it is a vicious cycle. So far, my remedy has always been to buy an entirely new laptop. With my current laptop, I am opening and closing it as little as possible because of these experiences.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*eep* Yes... I think that's most likely it. So many possibilities at the outset, but now it seems to be narrowed down... unless it's one of those combination problems... ;P (I hope not.... arf!)
mortonfox said he had the flicker issue too, so I guess this happens more often than I thought...
Mine doesn't have the flicker, ...maybe some kind of trip circuit goes off once the screen fails, and it takes a reset to get the light back on.
I've just left it open, as a part of the new plan, and so far so good.

There's an older used laptop I bought a few months ago from a friend on an installment plan, and I may put that into service as my traveling machine. It's batteries don't work though, and it doesn't have a wi-fi card, but it may be the simplest, most immediate solution.

Thanx again for the chirps :>