Replacement LCD display shows nothing but garbled bits of light

Question

My Inspiron 8200 notebook computer was in an accident and the LCD shattered. However, upon plugging in an external monitor, it appears everything else if functioning (hard disk, floppy, motherboard, etc.). It boots and works just fine. So, I ordered a used display on eBay (identical to mine, a UXGA) and installed it. This is a complete display unit, so all I did was pop the hinge cover, unscrew the two screws for the cable, and two screws for the hinges, and replace the old display.   When I boot, the screen is mostly vertical lines, somewhat dim, and there is sort of a background 'hash' noise all over the screen. I can make out part of the Dell logo in the lower right corner. Once it is booted into Windows, I can turn on the dual display. There is dim, fuzzy outline of some of the desktop icons, but mostly all I see is dancing horizontal one-pixel lines.   Question: Is this most likely a problem with the 'new' display I purchased, or would this be most likely caused by something in the main part of the computer? Again, just to reiterate, the external display looks fine, and everything else appears to be functioning.   Thanks!

ejn63 · Answer

If the external display is OK, the problem is with the cable to the mainboard or the panel itself. Reseat the cable. If that doesn't solve the issue, the new display is likely bad.

johnmeyer · Answer

Thanks for the input. Unless someone else has ideas to the contrary, I'm going to send back the display.

funtoupgrade · Answer

I would concurr that the most likely problem is either a loose ribbon cable or bad cable. funtoupgrade

johnmeyer · Answer

Here is what the display looks like. Does this look like a bad display, bad cable, bad video card, or something else? Again, the external CRT display hooked to the VGA output on the laptop looks just fine.

If you can't see the picture, then click on this link:

http://f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/john_meyer77@sbcglobal.net/lst?.dir=/Video&.order=&.view=l&.src=bc&.done=http%3a//f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/

and then click on "Dell Inspiron 8200 Defective Display"

funtoupgrade · Answer

I haven't changed my mind after looking at your photo. funtoupgrade

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