How to Fix a Flickering Laptop Screen
It is not uncommon for people to observe a flickering laptop screen. Presented below is some information on getting rid of this problem.
Kundan Pandey
To fix the flickering problem, you should first check the laptop cables for loose connections. Often, it has been reported that the color changes of the monitor are due to faulty wires. It is advisable to disconnect the cables from the connectors, connect again, back and forth, to check if the problem is due to faulty wires. If the screen shows the same problem, when the pins are inserted and taken out, it is usually due to a broken wire or fault within the cable. Hence, cable replacement can do the work in resolving this problem.
Another seemingly less important, but very possible reason for the flickering problem in computer screens is interference of magnetic fields from other gadgets. Yes, check if near your laptop, you haven't placed speakers, fluorescent lights, cell phones, radios and any other electrical device. If it is so, you must remove any such interfering electrical gadgets away from your laptop. Studies have proved that cell phones do cause screen flickering.
So it is good to keep the work area of your laptop, absolutely devoid of such gadgets. Also, sometimes, a fan in another cubicle can cause a flicker on your screen. This may seem quite amusing, but it is a fact that interference from magnetic fields causes a great deal of flickering.
One of the major reasons for laptop flickering is the problem in display settings, when some computers are upgraded from their original software versions. For instance, many laptops that have been upgraded from Windows 95 versions to higher ones, have shown problems of flickering due to poorly calibrated refresh rate.
What is refresh rate? It is nothing but a parameter that determines the functioning of images displayed on computer monitors. It has to be understood, that to rectify this problem, one must not change the display setting without an awareness of the suitable refresh rate. It is necessary to read the instruction manual properly.
Often, it so happens that the pixels on your LCD laptop screens/monitors are damaged in certain areas and so you're unable to see proper images. If that is the case, then you don't have any other choice but to change the entire screen and replace it with a new one. This can help you in fixing the flickering problem, eventually. To check if there is any problem in your video card, connect another monitor to your laptop through the VGA port. If it shows any faint or jumbled images, then the main reason for the flickering is your video card.
Lastly, if you don't find that there is any other problem you can detect, there must be problems within your screen. Remember that you just cannot open the computer screen and check it on your own as you may risk an electronic shock. Moreover, if you're not skilled in doing such tasks, you may spoil your expensive gadget. It is advisable to go to your laptop service center and get it checked. If you find that your laptop screen is still in warranty period and you find problems of flickering, it is best to get it changed. A new monitor screen comes for USD 500 to USD 1000, which is a bit expensive. If you wish, you can buy a used monitor at an inexpensive rate.
In case, your screen goes black, it is a signal of some greater problem that requires expert repair. A flickering screen needs immediate attention, as the problem may be something very simple, but if left untreated, the problem may increase and cause further malfunctioning in the screen.
