Whats wrong with my laptop screen?

Hi fred, I am just using PP as an example, its like it for everything, even through the BIOS loading the screen is like it, I tried flicking between the display modes, with no change,

I connected it to an external LCD monitor and that looked fine

Ah, I just tapped the screen with my knuckles and the lines went away and it now looks perfect, lol, should I expect to buy a new laptop anytime soon (had a thread about an IBM laptop recently, might have to follow up on it :( )

I will try that Rick, cheers,

the connection from base to screen appears to come through one or the other hinges, no noticable cable, but il take it to bits and have a look, its probbly a bit dusty in there anyway!

I usually use a silicon spray.  I didn't realize WD-40 (Water Displacement test batch 40) had solvent properties.  Get an can of electronics silicon spray from Radio Shack or similar and you will be fine.

WD-40 is OK for cleaning electronic connectors (NOT CURCIT BOARDS) if you use WD-40 spray it on a clean rag and wipe the conector with that.  I spent 5 years as an arcade teck. and used WD-40 many times to clean conectors.  Electronics silicon spray is definetly the prefered method...

Cleaning the ribbon cable contacts.
Silicon Spray won't remove corrosion.
WD-40 is a solvent and leaves a conductive residue that may short things out.
Try Isopropyl Alcohol and a bit of rubbing with a cue tip.
( Find the 90-91% variety if you can. It's not hard to find and it does a better job than the typical 70%. )

I have been using silicon spray on connectors since I started working on electronics around 1968 and most of the time just removing the connector, spraying it and reconnecting it worked perfectly.  On everything from AM/FM radios to car sterios, to television sets.  It is usually pretty tough to get inside of the connectors with a q-tip. (cue tip is found on a pool cue ;> )

Thanks for all the advice.

I think jhance could be on to something (jhance wrote: I think the problem is with the LCD module itself.  The LCD array is held to the connector with a frame that applies pressure to the glass.)

because this would make sense because when I gave the middle of the screen a firm tap with my knuckles the screen came back to what it should be, i.e I did not go anywhere near the ribbon/cable.

A new laptop is about £500 for my needs, would getting this one repaired likely to be more than half way towards this cost?

A screen replacment on a laptop usualy costs quit a bit and even if it's under 500 the new laptop is the better bet if you can afford it.

I find spraying WD-40 as a last resort works.

It works on everything.

Seriously, I fixed a dodgy electromagnetic clutch with wd-40, imagine spraying a lubricant on a clutch, madness right? well it worked!

This is getting exciting! I think that EE needs a new category completely dedicated to WD-40 -- or "Water Displacement test batch 40" -- as RickHobbs pointed out.
...now what else can you do with it, besides OD on the inhalent?

i used WD-40 on my dead cat, and it came back to life.

True story about WD-40 (I DO NOT RECOMEND THIS)

Back when I was in school my mom asked me to help an old lady from church fix her TV.  Being a good son I went over to the lady's house to look at her TV.  I get the back off, and start looking for the problem when the old lady looks at me and says "I know how to fix it, be right back".  Before I know what she's doing she's leaning ove me with a can of WD-40 and sprays it all over the inside of the TV, as she's spraying she says joyfuly, "W-2, it fixs everything."  Now I was going to inform her that she ruined her TV, but she insisted I plug it in and try it... IT WORKED and is still working to this day some 6 years later.

TRUE STORY

Thanks for the answers everyone.

It seems ok at the moment (after I hit it) but il get saving for when it does eventually go!

As for WD40, it does wonders at preventing the brakes on push bikes from working! ;-)

..now you're in the spirit (even if WD-40 isn't spirit).

Silicon spray, WD-40, and Isopropyl Alcohol.
I am Certified by the US Government through the Defence Department to work on electronics (component level repair), specifically electronic control systems for Nuclear Reactors.
What I told you is the only approved method (that you can get your hands on as a civilian.)
DO NOT use WD40.
Silicon spray is only a lubricant and if you get the wrong grade it's conductive as well.