I'd say if the very first displays, such as the internal splash or even the
bios do much the same its hardware, but otherwise it may have had an upgrade
in its video drivers which has failed for some reason. Wind them back.

As I say, most of these tend to be a hardware issue either in the screen
drivers, or the video chip on the main board. Have you tested it on an
external monitor?

I eventually got an HP going with what the driver called software
rendering after a hardware issue screwed up the hardware displays.
Laptops seem to often be unrelable, maybe its the heat problem.
Luckily as I can't see displays these days... grin

Brian

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From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 23/03/13 16:30, geoff wrote:

S-i-L has just turned up with her laptop

it has a problem

there are half a dozen mini "displays" on the screen, or rather a
"scroll" of them left and right

Is it the video chip fuqt or is the re the possibility of a simpler
reason (I do hope so, having already pulled the thing apart to replace
the power connector )

Its a Packard Bell Ares GM running vista



Mmm that sounds like the video driver is borked or the video chip itself.

Try upgrading to latest driver...FROM THE MANUFACTURES WEBSITE.,

also try different video modes.


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Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members
of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded
with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.