Its Blinking at me

[bigmick 840]

Can any of you tekies out there tell me whats up with my laptop, while its on - the bottom of the screen - about half an inch up constantly blinks every 5 seconds or so??

 

I would appreciate any advice

 

Mike

[joekicker 53]

Is it Windows, Mac, what?

 

My advice is to tell us a lot more. Is it the centre of the screen or off to a side? What blinks -- a little dot, the whole line, 5 lines, a large circle? What else is on your screen? Is the light from a program (your browser, say?) or from the laptop itself. Does the light flash if you quit all programs?

[jacko 8,822]

Make a screen copy and post it for us with a description.

 

At first thought it is a screen problem, but perhaps it is just the taskbar.

[bigmick 840]

It is all the way across the screen at the bottom, it is blinking all the time, even when programs are turned off and im just looking at the desk top. Its about 15mm high and all the way across the screen all the time

 

Thanks, Mike

[joekicker 53]

Is it Windows? IF it is Windows, can you see the taskbar - that's the strip that's normally across the bottom of the screen, on the left is the Start button, on the right is the clock and so on -- with programs, if you have any running, in the centre??

 

If you can't see it, then that's the problem. If you can see it, then no progress.

 

There is a virus that makes Windows XP taskbar blink - may do the same for Vista and 7, I don't know. Have you scanned lately?

 

What happens when you click on the blink? Many programs will blink on the taskbar to get your attention.

 

.

[jacko 8,822]

Give us some information.

What brand of laprop?

What model of laptop.

What operating system is it.... Windows? XP, Vista or Windows 7

Or is it a Mac (Apple)

Do you have another monitor you could connect it to?

 

I suspect it is an issue with the LCD panel but we need to eliminate simpler issues first.

 

If you have a digital camera take a pic and post it here!

[CheshireTom 1,377]

It is all the way across the screen at the bottom, it is blinking all the time, even when programs are turned off and im just looking at the desk top. Its about 15mm high and all the way across the screen all the time

 

Thanks, Mike

 

If it's an older laptop, it could be a backlight issue - when they go bad they start flickering like a kitchen striplight coming to the end of its life.

[bigmick 840]

Its two years old and its a Sony VA 10, Its running Vista home premium, i have tried to click on the blink but nothing happens, i have scanned just last week. I can see the task bar and that is were the blinking happens, from the start button right across to the clock on the right

[joekicker 53]

Its two years old and its a Sony VA 10, Its running Vista home premium, i have tried to click on the blink but nothing happens, i have scanned just last week. I can see the task bar and that is were the blinking happens, from the start button right across to the clock on the right

 

Sorry for this but:

It could be malware, scanning last week is ridiculous; scan THIS week.

 

It could be a Windows screwup. I presume you have not reinstalled (in repair mode) Vista. Before you do that, restart the computer and press F8 when you start, and choose from the menu to let Windows try to fix the problem. If that doesn't work, restart and F8 again, and choose System Restore, to some date before last week. Final Windows efforts, restore/repair Vista. If none of that works, then,

 

It could be a hardware thing. Laptops go bad. Take it to the shop.

 

.

[Regyai 415]

Most things that blink at you in Pattaya just want a free drink

 

 

 

 

 

.

[jacko 8,822]

Its two years old and its a Sony VA 10, Its running Vista home premium, i have tried to click on the blink but nothing happens, i have scanned just last week. I can see the task bar and that is were the blinking happens, from the start button right across to the clock on the right

Just a couple more quickies....

Does it appear to be just the taskbar that is blinking, or is there a little bit just above it blinking too?

Roll your mouse over the top edge of the taskbar, the cursor should change from an pointer to a double headed arrow....left click and drag upwards, this will increase the height of the taskbar and you can answer my question easily.

If you have tried to click on the blink, I presume your mouse pointer remains visible in the defective area, or does it blink on and off too?

 

Are you running ATI?

 

There was an issue with Vista SP1, and Aero option, try the following to change your Windows appearance.

Close open programs and right click on your desktop.

Select Personalise.

Select Windows Color and Apprearance.

Select Open Classic Appearance Properties for more color options.

 

Another window 'Appearance Settings' should pop up.

Deselect Aero (select Windows Vista Basic)

Apply and OK

 

Good luck.

Edited August 20, 2011 by jacko

[bigmick 840]

Just a couple more quickies....

Does it appear to be just the taskbar that is blinking, or is there a little bit just above it blinking too?

Roll your mouse over the top edge of the taskbar, the cursor should change from an pointer to a double headed arrow....left click and drag upwards, this will increase the height of the taskbar and you can answer my question easily.

If you have tried to click on the blink, I presume your mouse pointer remains visible in the defective area, or does it blink on and off too?

 

Are you running ATI?

 

There was an issue with Vista SP1, and Aero option, try the following to change your Windows appearance.

Close open programs and right click on your desktop.

Select Personalise.

Select Windows Color and Apprearance.

Select Open Classic Appearance Properties for more color options.

 

Another window 'Appearance Settings' should pop up.

Deselect Aero (select Windows Vista Basic)

Apply and OK

 

Good luck.

 

Jacko/Joe

 

I have found out its the monitor screen itself. I tried all that you two suggested but nothing worked. I took the laptop to a computer store here in Houston after i got out of the training center and they took a look at it for me, they told me the monitor is at fault and its expensive to replace it. So, i will carry on with it while it lasts and then just buy a new note book when i get back to Thailand. I got my new company laptop today so having a real expensive laptop is not so important anymore.

 

Thanks for your support, Mike

[jacko 8,822]

Jacko/Joe

 

I have found out its the monitor screen itself. I tried all that you two suggested but nothing worked. I took the laptop to a computer store here in Houston after i got out of the training center and they took a look at it for me, they told me the monitor is at fault and its expensive to replace it. So, i will carry on with it while it lasts and then just buy a new note book when i get back to Thailand. I got my new company laptop today so having a real expensive laptop is not so important anymore.

 

Thanks for your support, Mike

Glad it at least clear now... you will have to resize each window to avoid the defective area.

That was my worst fear.

[Gary 4,119]

A Google search of that problem told me that your LCD is indeed failing. It may be annoying but it is likely to run a long time if the blinking doesn't get on your nerves too much.

 

It also said that the area of the problem, bottom, was likely caused by the hinge friction causing the LCD to bend slightly when opened and closed.