Luoyadan
asked on
New laptop - horizontal lines across display
Hello,
I bought a new Alienware laptop off of Ebay. The laptop was factory sealed and appeared brand new in every way.
However, when I started it up - within the first hour of use - on three occasions - I had a thin white line horizonally across the display. I saw this three times only. After this initial observance - the lines have never returned after several hours of use - and several re-boots.
I can return this laptop and buy another one identical to this one from Best Buy for a few hundred more. My question is if this occurance is something I should worry about and should I consider paying a few hundred more to get another new unit in the place of this one??? I am worried that this problem will return at a later date. I am willing to pay a little more to get a fresh (different) laptop.
What can cause these lines I describe? Can (or should I say) what are the chances that this will reoccur?
I would appreciate as many opinions on this matter as possible.
Thanks,
Scott
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I bought a new Alienware laptop off of Ebay. The laptop was factory sealed and appeared brand new in every way.
However, when I started it up - within the first hour of use - on three occasions - I had a thin white line horizonally across the display. I saw this three times only. After this initial observance - the lines have never returned after several hours of use - and several re-boots.
I can return this laptop and buy another one identical to this one from Best Buy for a few hundred more. My question is if this occurance is something I should worry about and should I consider paying a few hundred more to get another new unit in the place of this one??? I am worried that this problem will return at a later date. I am willing to pay a little more to get a fresh (different) laptop.
What can cause these lines I describe? Can (or should I say) what are the chances that this will reoccur?
I would appreciate as many opinions on this matter as possible.
Thanks,
Scott
IMG-0436.JPG
IMG-0437.JPG
IMG-0438.JPG
What is causing a line like that is a defective screen. It does not appear to be the video or driver. It could be the cable connecting but seems like the screen.
My guess is the laptop was not new, the defect was known, and it was re-packaged. I suggest returning it as soon as you can.
My guess is the laptop was not new, the defect was known, and it was re-packaged. I suggest returning it as soon as you can.
The line seems to be in different places so it's not definitively down to the display but could also be the graphics chipset, or the cable connecting the two. In any case the decision you need to make now is with an apparent hardware problem do you want to accept the machine and then troubleshoot it for loose connections or possibly faulty hardware or get your money back and try again.
Have you checked the service tag on the machine to see if it has any history? There are lots of Dell resellers on eBay who are quite legitimate but they are often dealing in returned/unwanted builds to order like the Dell Outlet, there are also a few rogues.
My gut-feeling is drop it now - you've bought a high end laptop presumably with plans to push it to its limits. If it's having trouble displaying the desktop without anything running I'd be wary of what might happen when you launch a 3D game on it!
Have you checked the service tag on the machine to see if it has any history? There are lots of Dell resellers on eBay who are quite legitimate but they are often dealing in returned/unwanted builds to order like the Dell Outlet, there are also a few rogues.
My gut-feeling is drop it now - you've bought a high end laptop presumably with plans to push it to its limits. If it's having trouble displaying the desktop without anything running I'd be wary of what might happen when you launch a 3D game on it!
First, you should not put new in a question title when buying sevond hand as the common suggestion to such an issue is to take it back, you either have a dead row in the display, or a....
Try the following, rotate the display 90 degrees (screen resolution, change orientation)
Paying attention whether the line shifts with the change in orientation or remains where it is. A similar test would be to connect the external display to see whether the line is showing up on both.
This will confirm that the issue is with the LCD. Or the graphics daughter card if the line is reflected on both displays in the same proximate location.
Is the system have any warranty period remaining?
For the price, can you tolerate this issue?
Try the following, rotate the display 90 degrees (screen resolution, change orientation)
Paying attention whether the line shifts with the change in orientation or remains where it is. A similar test would be to connect the external display to see whether the line is showing up on both.
This will confirm that the issue is with the LCD. Or the graphics daughter card if the line is reflected on both displays in the same proximate location.
Is the system have any warranty period remaining?
For the price, can you tolerate this issue?
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It can be a faulty display connecting an external display will confirm whether it is a graphics card issue or issues related to connections to the display.
IIRC, Dell is the manufacturer of Alienware now and they provided a one year limited warranty. I owned an Alienware Mx17 for a few years and never had a problem with it. I did buy this directly from Alienware's/Dell's site.
If the seller on eBay has a 1 year warranty coverage on the laptop you bought, then you're in the same place as you would be buying it directly from the manufacturer (no point in spending an extra few hundred dollars). But if the laptop is not warrantied by the eBay seller, then I would send it back and buy a new one. Heck, I would even get in touch with Dell to see if they have a discounted promotion going on for Alienware laptops (they do not advertise this unless you have a subscription to their Alienware magazine). Ask the agent if they'll sell you the same Alienware for close to, if not, the same price as what you have now.
It may even behoove you to try checking out these coupons: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/alienware.com
Let us know if you need anything else.
o/
PS What Alienware model did you buy?
If the seller on eBay has a 1 year warranty coverage on the laptop you bought, then you're in the same place as you would be buying it directly from the manufacturer (no point in spending an extra few hundred dollars). But if the laptop is not warrantied by the eBay seller, then I would send it back and buy a new one. Heck, I would even get in touch with Dell to see if they have a discounted promotion going on for Alienware laptops (they do not advertise this unless you have a subscription to their Alienware magazine). Ask the agent if they'll sell you the same Alienware for close to, if not, the same price as what you have now.
It may even behoove you to try checking out these coupons: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/alienware.com
Let us know if you need anything else.
o/
PS What Alienware model did you buy?
ASKER
I did return the unit and buy one from Best Buy for a few hundred more and it is wonderful. although the exact same model number - it looks and acts differently. I am sure this ebay seller knew it had issues - which is why he sold it so much less.
Thanks,
Scott
Thanks,
Scott
I am curious, if you returned the laptop as we suggested at the beginning, that you only accepted one answer.
ASKER