Hi I have the exact same problem with my Acer Aspire 5742Z. The screen goes grey with horizontal lines and I manage to get them to go away of I press the top left hand side of the screen from the back. Every so often this doesn't work and I leave the laptop off for a day or 2 and try again. I don't think it has been dropped but then again my kids are always using it so who knows what could have happened. Looking at the responses it seems that a new screen could do the trick. Is this a big job and should I get the experts to do it? Or should I try packing it as suggested by the previous post?
Thanks
Don't try packing it to fix the problem as that's just like using sellotape to mend a broken cup handle. A proper repair job is the best solution. It's not a big job to replace the screen but if you've never done it before you should entrust it to someone who has. It might even be just a loose connection that needs fixing rather than needing a new screen.
The lower left hinge is often the place where the video cable enters the lid, and where fraying occurs. I see this in many Acer netbooks. It may be a video cable you need, not a screen. If so, that means you have to access both the screen and the motherboard. So the materials are cheaper but the labor is more. With some Acers you can take off a hinge cover and examine the cable, but that doesn't always show the problem.
Thanks, Phil. I'm a bit nervous of doing this myself and I'm still not sure if it's a screen or cable I need. As you suggested I think I'll get someone who knows what they're doing to look at it. Fingers crossed it won't cost much to fix otherwise might as well just buy a new machine!
Thanks for the tip, Paul. I had a look at the hinge cover but it doesn't look like it should open up and I don't want to break anything by forcing it. It's interesting that the screen comes back when I push it from the back - I don't think i put any pressure on the hinge itself so it feels like the problem is in the screen itself. Are there any cables inside the screen that could be loose?
The cable to the screen typically ends with a very delicate 40 pin connector that can pop out easily. They use a heavy packing tape to hold it for that reason, but it can come apart. Usually the location is toward the bottom and at third points on one side or the other. If that's the cause you will get away very cheaply.
