Whether you use a high-end gaming laptop, a svelte Ultrabook that delivers loads of processing muscle in a super slim form factor, or a regular workhorse that simply gets the job done without much fanfare – one common component that binds these together is the display.
Laptop displays are on par with those of desktops in terms of refresh rate and resolution, but there is a relatively higher risk of damage to a laptop display because of the way it is designed.
The portable nature of a laptop also increases the risk of display damage through accidental drops and knocks.
If your display has seemingly malfunctioned, it is good to establish whether it is actually broken or not. A display that does not turn on or show the output correctly is not necessarily broken; it could be defective, which requires a different method of repair.
A broken display can only be deemed as such when you come across clear signs of physical damage. Tell-tale clues include cracked glass or the appearance of “black ink” splashed upon it.
Such occurrences do not happen suddenly and for no reason. It could have been damaged from an earlier impact of which you were unaware, or from the common mistake of opening or closing the lid from either corner.
You see, newer laptops tend to lack a locking mechanism that leads you to open and close the lid from the centre, as the sleek designs of today focus more on form than function. This leads to many users opening and closing their laptops from either corner which, over time, results in additional stress that might crack the glass. The hinges also suffer from this ordeal.
A defective display is easily diagnosed. You could always connect your laptop to an external display via HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, or other compatible output options. If what you see on the external display is normal, then this is a possible indication of a defective display.
Of course, if the external display shows a similar problem as what you see on the laptop, it could also point to other defects such as a hardware malfunction, graphics card or processor failure, or even poorly configured software or incompatible drivers.
Life gets unhinged at times
Hinges come under extreme stress throughout a laptop’s lifespan. And some laptops are so much cheaper because of the liberal use of plastic for the hinges, which is far less durable than metal.
A broken hinge is always bad news – it could damage the delicate wiring that connects your laptop’s display to its motherboard, or loosen or damage the corresponding video cable, resulting in a signal interruption that shows up when you turn on the laptop.
It is highly recommended that you bring your laptop to the nearest service centre when you see signs of heavy wear and tear on the hinges. A broken hinge is not the end of the world; detecting it early and getting it repaired could save you much more in the long run if the laptop is still able to meet your needs.
If your laptop is still under warranty, it is even better as you could ask for a 1-for-1 replacement.
To maximise the life of your laptop display, always open the laptop from the middle – as opposed to prying it open from either side – as this reduces unnecessary pressure on the hinges.
This also helps maintain the delicate balance of wiring and circuitry underneath the hood, which the naked eye cannot see.
Whenever you have to travel with your laptop, ensure your laptop bag is not overly packed at all times. Remember, your laptop bag is not a hiking bag – it is meant to store your laptop securely, not to squeeze in a load of other items just because you think there is additional space.
The amount of extra pressure could inadvertently affect the display and add on extra stress which, over time, might accelerate its demise.
One final note: it pays to always take special care of your laptop no matter the price or how hardy it looks from the outside. They are not cheap to replace, and it would be in your favour to make them last as long as possible.
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics. Check out his blog at manatau.com.