I am looking for some help on a display problem with my Sony Vaio laptop. The display shows parallel broken lines made up of coloured dots running across the screen. At other times broken blocks of colour are also seen at various places on the screen. The severity varies from time to time . It is not a problem with the screen itself as I have hooked up to an external monitor and the problem still occurs. I have also tried uninstalling and reinstalling the latest driver but this has made no difference. I am concerned that this is an indication that my graphics card (Nvidia GeForce Go 7400) is going to pack up as, being a laptop, there is no way to replace the card. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Try using a live cd to test the card....good dispay means that u must reinstall windows...bad display means new laptop

The video adapter display doesn't normally get corrupted for no reason.
The wrong drivers or corrupted drivers do not normally cause the symptoms you are describing, and even if they did, you would likely have the corruption all the time.
Has this laptop been dropped?
Has this laptop ever overheated while running, or been exposed to excessively high temperatures, when running or not? Have you checked current temperatures in the bios Setup pages when you were having dislay corruption?
How old is it? How much has it been used?
What is the specific model?
(The specific model number is on a label on the outside of it's case somewhere, often on the bottom).

When does the display corruption appear?
- If it doesn't appear for some time when you start it up after it has had a chance to cool down to room temp, there may be a video chipset fan and/or video chipset heatsink that is clogged with mung, or a video chipset fan that is spinning too slow or has stopped spinning, any of which can cause the video chipset to overheat.
A cpu fan / cpu heatsink being clogged with mung, and/or the cpu fan spinning too slowly or stopping, would cause the cpu and/or the video chipset to overheat and could cause video corruption, but that would likely cause other problems too, not just video corruption.

If the display corruption appears randomly at any time.....
- if this laptop has been dropped there may damage inside the laptop affecting the video circuits. Depending on what the damage is, the video display may react to temperature changes inside the laptop (e.g. a cracked board where the crack goes through a circuit trace).
- you may be having poor connection problems with the ram in it's slots, especially if the laptop was dropped, but if that were the case you probably would have other problems too, not just display problems.
See response 2 in this - try cleaning the contacts on the ram modules, and making sure the modules are properly seated:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...
For a laptop, you must remove both its main battery and AC adapter before you do that.

Most laptop mboards have a video adapter that is integrated into the mboard, but there are a few that have a plug in video module board that can be replaced separately. We would need to know your model to possibly determine which is your case.
If this is an older model, you don't necessarily have to get a new mboard if the video is integrated into the mboard, or a video module board if that applies, from Sony - you may be able to find a used board on the web for a reasonable price.
.....

Since you say you are getting the same symptoms when you connect an external monitor, these can probably be ruled out as a cause because they normally only affect the onboard LCD display:
- the backlight(s) (CCFL(s)) is(are) failing, and/or the voltage inverter module(s) that supply high voltage to the backlight(s) is(are) failing. That usually happens only after the laptop has been used for at least several years, and your symptoms don't fit.
- physically damaged wiring between the base of the laptop and the LCD display, often where it passes through the hinge. That normally only happens if the laptop has been used a lot. Relatively cheap to replace the wiring.
- the laptop has been dropped and the LCD display assembly (only) is damaged.

Thanks very much for detailed response. Laptop is a Sony Vaioo model VGN-FE11H. It is just under 2 years old (the warranty is only for 12 months). The laptop is my daughter's who uses it principally, and extensively, for gaming (Final Fantasy). It has never been dropped and as far as I am aware has not been overheating. I accessed the BIOS at setup but can't find anything on temperature - where should it be? There are two thin parallell lines of coloured dots on the display all the time and the other deterioration (coloured blocks, thicker lines etc.) occur randomly when my daughter is gaming but can improve again just as quickly. She does spend lots of time on it so it is running for long periods powered by the mains adapter. Any further input would be much appreciateded.

"Sony Vaioo model VGN-FE11H"

This site gets posts mostly from people in the US, UK, and Canada, probably in that order. I'm in Canada myself. It would have saved me some time if you had mentioned yours is a UK or Europeon model - this model is not on the US or Canada sites.

"I accessed the BIOS at setup but can't find anything on temperature - where should it be? "

I haven't seen many laptop bios Setups, but as far as I know all modern bioses display current temps (at least of the cpu) and fan rpms (at least of the cpu fan) and voltages (at least of what is nominally +3.3v, +5v, +12 v, and the cpu core voltage) - it should be somewhere under the heading "Hardware Monitor" or similar.

"There are two thin parallell lines of coloured dots on the display all the time..."

LCD displays often aren't perfect and may have up to, say, a dozen pixels that are black or the wrong color, but those are usually isolated anywhere in the display - anything other than that is not normal.

"...is my daughter's who uses it principally, and extensively, for gaming (Final Fantasy)."
" .....the other deterioration (coloured blocks, thicker lines etc.) occur randomly when my daughter is gaming but can improve again just as quickly."

Games tend to be leading edge software that may have more bugs that average in their programming, and that stress your graphics hardware more than most other software does, and it is well known they often do not work properly on all possible systems. Laptops tend to have a lot more limited graphics capabilities than desktop computers, unless you get a high end laptop which most people don't buy, and weren't intended to run higher end games.
If is is ONLY this game, or it is ONLY games that produce these symptoms, you really don't have a hardware problem regarding these symptoms - it is a problem with the game(s) software, or that your video hardware is inadequate, or that the NVidia video drivers don't work properly with the game in some situations. She could try using lesser graphics settings in the games (e.g. lower resolutions, lower vertical refresh rates, or looking for troubleshooting info or possibly updates on the game makers web site, or troubleshooting info or possibly NVidia video driver updates or aternative drivers that work better with the games on your video hardware, but there may be nothing you or she can do about that.

"It has never been dropped and as far as I am aware has not been overheating."

All of your symptoms could be caused by dropping the laptop.
Personally I would admit to dropping it, and I'll assume someone would have told you if they had.
But would they have?
From past experience, if your daughter, or someone else in your family, had dropped it, would she or they be honest and tell you about it if no one else or no one you know witnessed the event, or would she, or they, not tell you unless they were caught in the act?
To my regret I have come across some people who will not admit to any mistake they think would get them into trouble, or that they think would make them look deficient in someone's eyes, or will not admit to something unless asked about it.

Manual - nothing in it about bios settings (most desktop computers have that in their manual) so I don't know what you would see the the bios Setup pages:
http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/manu...

Specs
http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/spec...

In that it says:
"Graphic Card nVidia GeForce Go 7400"

As I said before, most laptops have embedded graphics chipsets - if you have a problem with the graphics hardware you have to replace the mboard - but the specs say Graphics Card. It's common for users to call embedded graphics a graphics card when it isn't actually a card, but usually when a manufacturer calls it a card, it IS a card in a mboard slot, or in the case of a laptop, a specialized card of some sort that is a module you plug into a mboard connector or socket.
So that tells me if all else fails you probably don't need to replace the mboard - you probably need to replace a graphics card module, a less expensive option.

Things to try first.
1. - if you haven't already done so, clean the ram contacts and make sure the ram is properly seated.
See response 2 in this :
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...
For a laptop, you must remove both its main battery and AC adapter before you do that.
It may not help but it's free and can do no harm if you do it properly.

2. Video and monitor settings - although your laptop came with the video settings set properly to suit your video hardware and LCD display, those setiings can be changed, and the default safe settings for both your video drivers and display can be be bypassed, and in the latter case you can choose settings that may damage the display or the graphics chipset over a longer period of time.
The specs say your monitor resolution should be 1280x800, which is probably the optimal or native resolution the LCD display looks best in. You can use other resolutions, as long as you don't bypass the safe default settings meant for the combo of your video chipset and monitor, but they won' look as good as 1280x800 does. Using a higher resolution than that is probably than that is probably not wise.
The vertical refresh rate of the display adapter is often only 60Hz for laptops that don't have enhanced more expensive graphics - I don't know if your Nvidia display hardware is limited to that, but if it is, it should not be set higher than that by bypassing safe default settings and using settings not normally listedmeans.
(Display - Settings - Advanced - Adapter -Refresh Rate - that's what the Nvidia video hardware is capable of)
(Display - Settings - Advanced - Displays? - the refesh rate of the LCD display or the external monitor should not be set to more than they are capable of.)

3. Your DirectX software.
Your video drivers won't work properly if the DirectX isn't working properly, or the version number is not at least what the video drivers require. The min. DirectX version the video drivers require is stated in the release notes for the drivers, and/or in notes where you downloaded the drivers.

Start - Run - type: dxdiag (click OK)
- The version number is on the bottom of the first screen. You should probably have at least version 9.0c - if the version is lower than that, go to the Microsoft web site and get the latest Direct X version, and load it.
- look at all the DirectX pages, do the tests of the video, and make sure it doesn't find problems. If problems are found, try re-loading the latest DirectX version. If that doesn't fix the problem, you may have to reload all your original software using a full Recovery procedure - you can't un-install DirectX.

4. Stuff on the UK Sony site.

You could try newer video drivers, if you haven't already, but it probably won't help.
Drivers and Updates:
http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/down...

"How to troubleshoot LCD (screen) problems.

Solution:

If you have a display issue, please do the following:

Restore the default values in the BIOS.
To check whether the display problem still persists, enter the bios again.
If the problem is still apparent, press F10 then press ENTER.
Check the settings for your display and/or video drivers.
If the problem persists in the BIOS and you have checked the relevant settings, it could be a hardware problem.
Connect another monitor to your VAIO.
If you do not have the problem on the other display, please contact VAIO-Link - It could be that the screen of your VAIO needs to be repaired.
If you still have the problem in the BIOS on the other display, perform a full recovery of the system and if the problem remains contact VAIO-Link - It could be that your VAIO needs to be repaired. "

VAIO-Link Contact methods
You could try emailing them. If you don't get a response within a few days, you may be best off to phone them.
http://www.vaio-link.com/contacts/c...

Out of warranty repair info.
Sony charges flat fees, depending on what needs to be done:
Info for the United Kingdom:
http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/repa...

.....

You don't necessarily have to send the laptop to Sony. Any local place that is authourized to repair Sony laptops will do.
You could always take it to such a local place to pin down whether the problem is the graphics card or the mboard and give you an estimate, if nothing else.
If you're handy, you may be able to find out the part number of the video module, get a used one on the web, and install it yourself - the problem with that is I don't know where you can get a maintenance manual for your model so that you can have info about how to take it apart without damaging it. (Compaq and HP laptops often have Maintenance manuals available online free, but I'm not aware that Sony does).

It's possible all that is wrong is the graphics card has devoloped a poor connection, like ram can, and all that needs to be done is to remedy that.

Many thanks again for taking so much time & trouble to reply - it's much appreciated. I'll follow through on your suggestions and will post back the results in due course.

Hi

Sorry to butt into the converstation but I was searching round for a remedy or to see if my graphics card had 'expired'. I have a philips x54 which is 1 1/2 years old with the same graphics card the NVIDIA Geforce Go 7400. Last week, whilst working, my computer suddenly displayed a blue screen for a split second and rebooted - this cycle kept happening, I couldn't even boot into safe mode without the screen looking a mess before the same screen came up and rebooted and it kept occuring. So I just assumed it was a virus or something (even though I have a virus scanner that is constantly scanned and is updated everyday). But reset the system using the backup disks - which worked until I had to setup windows and then the same problem with the screen - so this is when I suspected the 'card', the only way I kinda got it up and running was to wipe the hard drive completely, install vista - which didn't recognise the card and put it into standard vga mode. I then installed the drivers for my graphics card from the offical site (they were upgraded for vista). Same problem occured, but this time I could succesfully boot into safe mode and disable the graphics card and had a working laptop again. As it's out of warrenty I opened up the back, found the 'card' which is stuck onto the mb so is difficult to change, so all I could do was clean the contacts - which all seemed fine, I reinstated the graphics card and same problem, I'm actually out of ideas now as running on a 8mb of vga is 'killing' me. I used my laptop a far amount i'd say it's on at least 6-7 hours a day, it has never been dropped, I mostly use it for work and a little gaming but not much at all. So disappointed really. Any suggestions for stuff I can try that I may not have done??

-From what I can figure, it's not a temp problem, bios is set correctly back to default (never changed), drivers are the latest along with direct x10.

From what i've heard it's better to buy a new laptop than replace the graphics card which is stuck to the board in terms of cost but I like mine too much to give it up!! Any help will be appreciated

Thanks

mevada84

The disadvantage of you adding a post to an older existing thread (subject) on this site is it is likely the only people who will see it are the ones who happen to still have it in their MyComputing.Net list. You are better off to start a new thread if you want more people to see your post(s).

Cleaning the contacts on the card was a good thing to try. You could also try cleaning the contacts with isopropyl (rubbing alcohol, preferably 99%) or methyl alcohol.
You MUST remove the main battery and disconnect the AC adapter whenever you do anything inside your notebook case, or if you install or remove ram - ATX mboards are always powered in some places, even when Windows is Shut Down or in Hibernate or Standby modes, and even if you have no hard drive installed.

Have you changed any of the ram you have installed - is it the same ram it came with?

There's a small chance you have a poor connection of your ram in it's slot(s) problem. There may not be enough of a problem for it to cause major problems in Windows otherwise, but it could conceivably cause video problems.

A common thing that can happen with ram, even ram that worked fine previously, is the ram has, or has developed, a poor connection in it's slot(s).
This usually happens a long time after the ram was installed, but it can happen with new ram, or after moving the computer case from one place to another, and I've had even new modules that needed to have their contacts cleaned.

See response 2 in this - try cleaning the contacts on the ram modules, and making sure the modules are properly seated:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...

There's a small chance your problem is caused by a defective LCD assembly, or a defective connection in the wiring between the base of the notebook and the LCD assembly.
Does this computer have a VGA or DVI video output port?
If it does, try connecting an external (standalone) monitor to it, and loading the drivers for the NVidia display adapter. If the display is then fine, then there's a problem with either of those two things. If the notebook has NEVER been dropped, it's a lot more likely it's a defective wiring problem - if the laptop has been open and closed frequently, it's often where the wiring passes through the notebook's hinge - it's relatively cheap to replace the wiring.

If neither of those things are of any help, the video card is damaged.
A damaged card may work fine in basic VGA mode, yet it won't work properly in the greater modes it was designed for.
Corrupted drivers or malware are extremely unlikely to cause video corruption like you describe, and obviously you re-loading your software from scratch has eliminated that possibility. Malware could possibly cause no display at all, but I've never heard of it causing video corruption.

If you can look up the parts for your model on a Philips site and find the part number for the card, you could try searching the web with that, or with the exact name of the card - there may be third party sources for the card that will cost you less, especially if it was used in more than one model or more than one notebook or laptop brand.
If that doesn't yield anything, you may be stuck with ordering it from Philips, or sometimes brand name system builders have flat rate repair plans for fairly recently out of warranty notebooks you might want to investigate.

The most common cause of problems like yours, if there is nothing wrong with the LCD assembly and the wiring and the notebook has NEVER been dropped, is damage caused by a voltage surge or spike when the notebook was plugged into it's AC adapter. If you don't have something to plug your notebook adapter into that protects it from voltage surges and spikes, I recommend you get one. Some are quite small and easily portable.

Thanks for the advice and will start a new thread next time, cleaned the contacts for the ram, but as far as i'm aware the graphics card has it's own dedicated 256mb - so i thought that meant it wasn't apart of the main ram modules?? but have cleaned those with isopropanol and pluging into an external display didn't work eithier. So the wires you say, will check those out and if not I think i'll be heading to the apple store....

"...pluging into an external display didn't work eithier.."

The wiring to the external port is usually separate and isolated from the wiring to the LCD display, and doesn't go through the hinge which is often where the trouble occurs due to wear and tear - in your case the port may be directly attached to the card, no wires at all. Your card is probably toast in that case if the external diplay has the same problem.

Yes, it's quite likely higher end laptops have memory on the plug in card card rather than sharing the main ram - so do desktop computers when they have a card in a slot - but I've seen many cases where problems with the connections in the ram slots caused video corruption regardless of that situation. The ram on the card does most of the work, but it still has to use the main ram as well.

Apple Store?