Arch Linux

breaksand30

Member

Registered: 2011-01-13

Posts: 39

laptop screen messing up

So I'm not exactly sure if this is an issue with Arch Linux itself, or my laptops hardware. Either which way, I'm hoping somebody can offer some help. I'm running a compaq presario CQ60(Yes I know, it sucks), with just ArchLinux as the main OS. The other night, I tried running VirtualBox to test out some stuff on another OS. When I started VBox I got tons of errors and the computer became non responsive, so I had to shut it off by holding down the power button. But when I turned it back on, the screen got all messed up. Now, I can't use the screen unless I use a VGA cable from my laptop to an external monitor which is a pain because I'm restricted with the monitor. I was hoping somebody could tell me if it's fixable.

When I turn it on, I just get two thick white lines on my screen until it boots into Arch automatically via GRUB. Then I can see some Arch booting info but it's split into two by the lines and it's hard to make out anything.

Thanks for any help.

lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

Website

Re: laptop screen messing up

That sounds as if it is a hardware screen fault. If you can boot from a CD or a USB device do that with a bootable Live Linux CD and if you get the same problems you can almost be sure it is then an LCD screen problem. As an external monitor is fine it appears as though your video chip is OK, so I suspect the LCD screen is toast.

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.