Sudden static/non-functional 'generic' replacement laptop display

Backstory: HP laptop, windows+linux. Broke my laptop screen, bought a generic one from china. Also using an generic china battery. It's a 2019 laptop out of warranty, i wasn't fussy about parts.

I've provided a brief video of the issue here, mostly taken to show my display cable in case it's something simple, like they are misaligned and getting pinched when i shut the laptop lid or something HERE

So, the replacement screen worked fine for say a week. Then it would turn of with static on screen. Now, my laptop screen may turn off when i move the lid, or remove the power cable, or after the static has started. Note: The laptop still appears to be on, the light indicating it is 'on' remains.

I've had 'static' before, but that was - i thought? - exclusive to a kernel version of linux (ubuntu flavour) that i guessed and googled, that didn't have compatible drivers, since it worked fine still with windows (dual boot, Windows then Linux on top). But this screen? Issues with it, linux or windows regardless. And can occur even when simply on the intial boot screen.

I connected my laptop to my tv screen via HDMI, and while there was no issue - until static or a random reboot at the boot screen - the screen will only be mirror to the tv when everything was working fine.

Working fine=mirrored fine.  Static/no screen=NOT mirrored.

Which would leave me to think it might NOT be the screen?

It might be the GPU according to google?

Motherboard maybe? (excluding that laptop motherboards and an integrated GPU is typically the case, so motherboard might be seen as 'the issue' when in fact, it may be the GPU. And some GPU's can be replaced on laptop motherboards, but rarely)

If it was the display not working, then since the laptop appears to be working. The hdmi connection to an external tv screen to display the laptops output would work as normal, yes?

But if there is an issue with the ability to process or display correctly the laptops output - internal display or external tv - then that correlates with both the display and tv failing to display when at least one works perfectly? Unless i'm missing something, overlooking the drivers?


 

Suggest do not ever take Microsoft Update Drivers for your Video Card.

Turn Fast Start Off before  : https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-windows-10-fast-startup /11 and WHY !!!

Download your Driver from HP from your Support Page (of unknown model) then use DDU https://www.guru3d.com/download/display-driver-uninstaller-download/

https://www.howtogeek.com/263851/how-to-prevent-windows-from-automatically-updating-specific-drivers/

This should tell you if Card or Cable.

Edited by Pkshadow, 03 April 2024 - 02:15 AM.

Then i replaced it with a generic one.

 

the replacement screen worked fine for say a week.

I would remove the screen again and make sure to check the connector on the back. To be safe remove the battery first.

I had tested the connection for a minute before assuming everything was fine when i installed the display, then it worked fine for a while. Guess i should check if the cable has come loose, but wouldn't it then not have brief periods where the screen is showing 100% correct? However brief?

 

but wouldn't it then not have brief periods where the screen is showing 100% correct? However brief?

No, all it takes is it to be just a bit ajar to cause that. I have replaced many screens and used a piece of clear shipping tape to keep it in place.

Do any of the common OEMs use some kind of chip or other tech. to validate whether the screen is made by the OEM or not, like the way Apple laptops do?

Do any of the common OEMs use some kind of chip or other tech. to validate whether the screen is made by the OEM or not, like the way Apple laptops do?

I have always been able to order screens for Windows computers with no issue using the model on the back of the screen.

There are no special OEM screens.

I got the screen out and reinserted the 30 pin cable.

Nothing. For half my tries nothing. The screen would not even turn on, though there was one flash of LED with some small writing in the upper left corner before the screen was off and showing no signs of life again. I machine was on, i pressed ENTER to bypass any 'CMOS reset/battery removed detected' like other normal times, the power on light indicating, and the sound of the fans. I connected and reconnected the HDMI cable to the tv, nothing. No out put.

Now. I may have completely destroyed the screen, except there was that brief sign of life.

Could this indicate something else? The actual cables? The GPU? Why is nothing appearing, even on the TV connected to the laptop via HDMI? Surely at least once the windows/Ubuntu screen is reached that should have been mirrored on screen, like previously?

So, the display is not even lighting up. And nothing is being mirrored to my TV via HDMI.

What else do i do? What do i check? What do these symptoms indicate?

Did you unplug the battery before working on it this time?

UPDATE: On looking around online, i tried a few things. Dusted down the inside, the fan, reinserted the RAM, looked for loose cable.

SUCCESS! The screen came on, which is surprising because i was not at all gentle prying it out to check the connections.

BUT it would not get so far being on before rebooting it seems, it would get to the linux/windows logon screen then turn itself off.
The only 'screen' issue i've seen since that was a brief horizontal line of 'bad pixels'

I think that because i made the mistake of removing my laptops heatsink from the CPU, now i need to replace it?
It was probably due anyway. So, i fixed one problem and made another one that's quite easy to fix, FAIL upwards i guess?

Unless you have thoughts that the issue may be something else?

Another Update:
 

So, removed the battery, reset (held down power for 30 seconds) reseated the RAM and SSD again.

Put new thermal paste on CPU. Kept the battery out, ran off power cable.

Tried to run a memory test from BIOS but my laptop turned off.

The fan was running somewhat noticeably, and I feel like on the underside of my laptop, I was feeling quite a bit of heat around where the heatpipe is – in between the fan and CPU.

And a ‘bit’ of hot air from the vent where the fan pushes out that hot air?

I do notice that the heatpipe where it should meet to the fan seems to be ‘loose’, raised from the systemboard. I haven’t done a great job keeping it back in place, just a but of bluetack and tape.

I may need to look tomorrow to see if I just need to screw it down, or if I need to replace the heatpipe?

It's been a long time since I worked on laptops in great depth, but I believe there should be screws/clips to clamp down the heatsink/cooler. I think it depends on the model.

Have you Googled for a service manual for your particular model or searched for Youtube videos?

Edited by Shplad, 10 April 2024 - 11:45 AM.

I have looked at the manual, and there are screws, just not at the fan end where i think maybe they where help down with tiny dots of glue? Anyway. I leaning more and more into it being a heatsink issue. Since in turning it on, i feel like the heatsink heats up over the cpu, the middle heatpipe, and then....not really the heatpipe at the 'end' at the fan, where it should be blowing the air out the vent.

So i think heat is not travelling somehow from the middle and may be building up? The fan seems to be operating fine, no signs of it failling.

So i think i need a new heatsink, since i'm unsure how to repair the 'heatpipe' portion, and the the heat is not reaching the fan?