Dell Inspiron 1564 with intermittent flickering - likely cause?

[Stu]

I have an Inspiron 1564 laptop on my bench right now, it is one of the newer models with an LED screen. The problem is, very intermittently the screen flickers like crazy on boot up, sometimes whiting out but then operates normally. I don't think this is a software issue as it does it at the BIOS stage also.

Normally I would be thinking the cause is the cable or the screen itself. However it is so intermittent I'm having trouble figuring this one out. If it was the cable you'd think it would do it all the time, but it can go days without doing it and when it does happen, moving the screen around or applying pressure makes no difference.

Just wondering if anybody else has come across this before I start buying parts. Possibly a motherboard issue?

Thanks

Stu

 

[Martyn]

I would have thought a cable problem. It might be worth ruling it out at a low cost.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Insp...ion_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item1e619d0e55

 

[joydivision]

Have you tested it with an external monitor? It could be the invertor (if it has one) or the back light in the screen itself.

 

[Stu]

Guys, the problem is so intermittent that even if I tried a new cable it could take a week before we know it's fixed for sure.

Good idea about the external monitor, I will leave it connected to one and see if anything shows up on that.

 

[Martyn]

Guys, the problem is so intermittent that even if I tried a new cable it could take a week before we know it's fixed for sure.

Good idea about the external monitor, I will leave it connected to one and see if anything shows up on that.

True but you could waste over a week with the monitor then find you need to change the cable. At that price I would build in the cost and change the cable sooner rather than later along with an external monitor. That's what I would do if it was my job. Intermittent faults are always a problem.

 

[Martyn]

Guys, the problem is so intermittent that even if I tried a new cable it could take a week before we know it's fixed for sure.

Good idea about the external monitor, I will leave it connected to one and see if anything shows up on that.

True but you could waste over a week with the monitor then find you need to change the cable anyway. At that price I would build in the cost and change the cable sooner rather than later along with an external monitor. That's what I would do if it was my job. Intermittent faults are always a problem.

 

[Easy PC]

Is the 'white' on the edge of the LCD panel? I had 1 that would flicker intermittently on boot up with the whole edge of the screen flickering with a white surround. I thought it was a cable, but had a spare LCD that fitted and it worked.

 

[compnet]

The problem is, very intermittently the screen flickers like crazy on boot up, sometimes whiting out but then operates normally.

Very intermittent and doesn't really affect their ability to use the computer?

I'd tell them its impossible to properly diagnose and come back if it gets worse.

 

[coffee]

I have an Inspiron 1564 laptop on my bench right now, it is one of the newer models with an LED screen. The problem is, very intermittently the screen flickers like crazy on boot up, sometimes whiting out but then operates normally. I don't think this is a software issue as it does it at the BIOS stage also.

Normally I would be thinking the cause is the cable or the screen itself. However it is so intermittent I'm having trouble figuring this one out. If it was the cable you'd think it would do it all the time, but it can go days without doing it and when it does happen, moving the screen around or applying pressure makes no difference.

Just wondering if anybody else has come across this before I start buying parts. Possibly a motherboard issue?

Thanks

Stu

Stu, My Lenovo laptop does the same exact thing. I just dont have the time right now to really fix it. But the next time it starts flickering move the led screen a bit forward or back and see if it quits. Its most likely a cable problem.

I havent had time to read the other posts. Just posted this.

coffee

 

[Stu]

Well it turns out the customer has gone away for a week so I have the luxury of time with this one, which makes a nice change.

In four days it has only once done the flickering/white out thing and no amount of powering down, restarting, playing videos and moving the lid will get it to exhibit the behaviour. It's frustrating because it just isn't giving me the time to rule things out.

However, I noticed today something else going on. When I first came to boot it this morning, the power light came on but nothing came on screen and there was no HDD activity light. It did this each time I powered the machine on until I disconnected and reconnected the battery, upon which it booted normally.

I'm definitely beginning to think something is amiss with the mobo on this one. However, the cost of a new mobo with warranty is pretty high, so I will probably tell the customer to put up with it until it becomes unusable, then buy a new laptop.

Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated.

 

[BCS Head Tech]

I have an Inspiron 1564 laptop on my bench right now, it is one of the newer models with an LED screen. The problem is, very intermittently the screen flickers like crazy on boot up, sometimes whiting out but then operates normally. I don't think this is a software issue as it does it at the BIOS stage also.

Normally I would be thinking the cause is the cable or the screen itself. However it is so intermittent I'm having trouble figuring this one out. If it was the cable you'd think it would do it all the time, but it can go days without doing it and when it does happen, moving the screen around or applying pressure makes no difference.

Just wondering if anybody else has come across this before I start buying parts. Possibly a motherboard issue?

Thanks

Stu

Try moving the LCD back and forth at the hinge if it flickers at that point then it is a cable if not it is the video chip.

Hope this helps..