Two permanent vertical white lines have appeared on the screen of my HP Pavilion zd8000 notebook PC one after the other. They are there no matter which software is running. I have tried using System Restore, the drivers for the graphics card are the latest ones downloaded from its manufacturer’s website, and I have also formatted the C: drive and restored a backup of the whole system. The computer is running Windows XP SP2, which is fully updated. Is this a permanent fault that the screen has developed, or is there some way of getting rid of the lines?

Answer

This is most probably a hardware issue. The notebook can be connected to an external monitor, so, if you have access to one that has the correct type of connection (standard D-sub VGA, DVI), connect it to the notebook. If the lines are no longer there, then the problem is probably caused by fault with the screen this is usually due to a stress fracture especially if the status changes with slight pressure ,or with its ribbon cable the connects the screen to the notebook’s motherboard. However, it could also be a problem with the computer’s graphics processor.

If the lines show on both the screen and the monitor, the problem is definitely being caused by a fault with the graphics processor (chip).

If you don’t have access to an external monitor, take the notebook in to a reputable repair shop that specialises in the repair of notebook computers.

The computer’s ATI X600 graphics processor is not on a seperate graphics card, it is built into the computer’s motherboard, so it would be very expensive to replace it.

According to information on the web, the HP Pavilion zd8000 and zd7000 series have problems with overheating. This is because they use an Intel Pentium 4 desktop processor that is not designed for use in a notebook. Special mobile notebook processors are designed to use less power (to save batery life), and run much cooler than desktop processors. Both the Pentium 4 processor and the graphics chips produce heat that the internal case fan probabably cannot remove quickly enough to prevent the computer from overheating.

According to information on the web, some owners of the Pavilion zd7000 series have had the motherboards of their computers replaced many times during the 12-month warranty period. In fact, because of the high number of failures with this series of notebooks, HP has agreed to replace motherboards with failed graphics processors free of charge - even if the computer is out of warranty. This policy doesn’t appear to apply to the zd8000 series, but, if the graphics processor has failed, you will probably be able to have it applied in your case, because the design of that series isn’t markedly differen from the zd7000 series.

To prevent a netebook computer from getting hotter than it should, always use it on a hard surface, never on a bed or couch, because it needs air to circulate under it. Stands are also available that raise a notebook above the surface so that the more air can circulate under it, and you can purchase a cooling pad that has fans inside it that the notebook is placed on. Such a cooling pad reduces a notebook’s temperature by a few degrees, which might be enough to cure the problem.

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