Samsung nc10 Screen problem

TBirdUK

TBirdUK

TBirdUK

Soldato
Joined
9 Jul 2005
Posts
2,654
Location
High Wycombe
Help! I am away from any kind of pc repair or assistance and my brand new NC10 screen is going haywire - this is essential to me not going mad over the next few months. It seems to be ok if I put it to full brightness, but any lower and there is some kind of very fast verticle scrolling going on, making it unusable.

Anyone know a cure - need to lower brightness to conserve battery power (the whole reason for going for the samsung!). Appologiesif i delay in answering - internet difficult!
 
Have to say sounds like RMA :(

Best guess would be around screen power issue - likely on full brightness is sufficient to make it work ok, lower not enough juice to 'mask' the problem :confused:
 
Issue here is that I have no way of RMA it from where I am. Can the GPU be replaced - is it a card etc that I can buy and get sent out? Can I open it up to make sure the card is sitting properly etc.
 
Any chance you could post how to open it up so I could check - I know it will invalidate the warranty but I have no choice - cant really work with this problem as its too frequent!
 
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with kevpuk and say you need to RMA it. You say in your post in the other thread that it does it throughout the boot process (including the BIOS screen?), in which case it will not be a driver issue. Also the GPU cannot be replaced as the chip is on the motherboard.

My thoughts/suggestions/acts of desperation:-

1 Has it been dropped or maybe moisture gotten into it? (dry out in airing cupboard)
2 Can you connect it to an external monitor to see if the output is ok, which would suggest LCD problem
3 Is it any better when its plugged into the mains
4 Go into the BIOS (press F2) and change "Brightness Mode Control"
5 Update the BIOS to version 03CA (usually shipped with 02CA) http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/d..._type=all&dType=D&mType=FM&vType=L&prd_ia_cd=
6 Picture of motherboard http://www.flickr.com/photos/22046787@N03/2998859989/
7 Video of opening up the case http://www.laptopmag.com/advice/how-to/nc10-hard-drive.aspx?version=1&mode=video

Hope this may help but it does seem like a hardware problem and needs returning.
 
moonrise, thanks for the info - helped.

Damn thing was ok, now it has gone again - what I really dont understand is why, if I put the brightness up to full it helps to make the issue less frequent. It is useable for a bit now, but extremely frustrating for a new piece of kit, should have brought the trusty old laptop with me!

I am more inclined to think it could be a heat issue - works ok for a bit, then goes all wierd - it is hot out here, but not overly so, but I think the heatsink is not doing its job well. Is there any way to put the fan on constantly?
 
Thought I was really clever, guessed where you were, and then realised it was you:rolleyes:

Dude - just RMA it - it only takes a couple of extra days via your post and it's the same price as local UK. If it proves too difficult, just fire it my way and I'll forward it on. I'll be a nause not having a machine for a week or 2, but at least it should be fixed when you get it back - surely you've got a backup machine out there?
 
nope, no backup machine, couldnt be arsed to carry it out, and glad after the journey. Machine seems to be working, its definitely a screen issue, not a gpu, as connected a external screen and worked ok. Cant RMA, the post here is the worst ever - seems to take about 3 weeks, may well hand it to some of your buddies to help out but have already possibly invalidated warranty when I was diagnosing the problem. CANNOT live without machine, even a tempremental one is better than none!
 
Now that would be great, cheers, at least I'll be able to use the thing in my room! Send me an email to my hotmail address and I'll give you address (or you could send it out your own special way :-)
 
Sorted a screen out here now, Thanks for the offer - it being xmas time it would take ages to get here (seems about 3 weeks is average at the moment)
 
In December, TBirdUK said his NC10 screen was going haywire. I found this post on this OCUK forum through Googling NC10 screen problems and was interested to find someone with the same alarmingly frazzled screen as me! Now, it does seem that it's due to over-heating - I had been thrashing the poor little Atom processor, tagging my entire photo collection in Elements 4 for several hours, during which the display first began flickering and later when I'd closed Elements and opened Wordperfect the screen had a total migraine. Switched off, let it cool down for a few hours, tried it on mains only - OK. Recharged battery, tried it on mains - OK - then on full battery - OK. Consulted local whizzkid who also said an over-stressed processor could cause display degradation. So I have vowed to treat it with more consideration! So far my specialist number-crunching software causes the occasional flicker but it is generally OK. A Pre-Windows98 program performs flawlessly. This is going to be a learning curve for this would-be 'power user'! But what fabulous battery life and portability! I've bought her a Cool Bananas neoprene jacket and a very swish travel bag, and we go everywhere together. Hope this helps some of you who have had a similar worry.
 
PS - I don't understand your categories yet .... it's the first time this mature lady has been called a thug!!! I'm really gentle!
 
My goodness, TBird - how did that get there?! I'm not taking mine down to Llandudno beach to find out! I'm sure my screen aggro is down to me being over-ambitious with the Mighty Atom. If I read through the forums, will I find out what runs well and what gives the NC10 a headache? And when do I get to stop being a thug? Are there no female Mobsters?
 
there is a good nc10 thread, do a search in it for what you want. cant remember about "thug" - about 100 posts I think!
 
Thanks, TBird!
Incidentally my NC10 was flickering again this morning when I tried adjusting the display settings to ease the load on the processor. It didn't like it, preferred to be at 32-bit colour and max brightness. So I've customised the battery settings to maximum perfromance and the screen has been steady as a rock for hours now. The battery life has shortened of course! But you would think it could behave itself on the economy setting - do you reckon there's a glitch?
 
Sounds a bit like a loose ribbon cable connection - if it's still under warranty I'd send it back while you still can - if not either crack it open yourself or find someone brave to do it for you - as TBird will tell you - it's not too difficult to get at the connectors, but it is a little daunting the 1st time - ask him where he found his walkthrough online - some great resourses out there.
 
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