Member Avatar for beccaj

Hey guys,

Ok having a BIG problem with my laptop. It's a Toshiba Satelleite A20, purchased in December 2003.

Just before Christmas (so Dec 2005), the screen started shaking, so that nothing was viewable anymore. Then the bottom half of the screen (only the bottom half) would sort of white-out (it would slowly turn white from the bottom of the screen up towards the middle). I freaked out and got my IT mate to look at it. He found a couple of viruses and we got rid of them. But the screen kept screwing up. Also, it is really badly overheating... the fan is constantly blaring.

Anyway, I went overseas and we just had to leave it. I got back this week and wiped it back to original settings (I had backed everything up before it started shaking).

Now its back to its original settings but the screen is still screwing up... any ideas what the HELL is going on?

We're running XP on it. With VET antivirus. OH also... my mate opened it manually and cleared some dust out of the fan and stuff, but it didnt really help.

I hope someone can help me out before I take it back to Toshiba.

Cheers,
Becca

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by DexterShaw

Dani AI

Generated

Short, practical troubleshooting to narrow this down and avoid needless parts swaps. Since already wiped Windows and had dust cleared, a software cause is unlikely; ’s hardware hunch and ’s hinge-wire note point in the right direction. The goal is to determine whether the fault is inside the lid (panel/harness/backlight/inverter) or on the motherboard/GPU, and whether overheating is contributing.

Try these checks in order:

  1. Connect an external monitor (VGA). If the external image is clean while the laptop panel misbehaves, the failure is in the screen assembly or its cable. If the external shows the same symptoms, the logic board/GPU is suspect.
  2. Observe the screen during BIOS/POST (before Windows). Persistence of the fault at that stage confirms hardware.
  3. Slowly open and close the lid while watching the display. Visible changes tied to lid angle point to a worn/failing display cable at the hinge or a failing panel. This matches the hinge-wire failures described by @DexterShaw.
  4. Switch between battery and AC and change brightness. If the image is present but the backlight cuts out or the white creeping changes with brightness/power, the inverter or backlight may be failing.
  5. Only if experienced: remove the bezel and check the cable seating at the panel and board. Loose or corroded contacts can cause intermittent white‑outs. Stop and seek pro service if unsure.

Separately, persistent overheating and a constantly loud fan indicate cooling failure. A thorough heatsink/fan clean, fresh thermal paste, or a failing fan bearing can both reduce temperatures and improve stability. Opening the chassis can void warranties and risks damage; experienced technicians are recommended for repairs.

Given the laptop’s age, compare repair quotes (panel/cable vs motherboard) against replacement cost before committing. These diagnostics will identify the likely failing subsystem and guide whether a simple part swap or a board-level repair/replacement is required.

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Member Avatar for alc6379

Probably need to take it back to Toshiba. It could be anything from the video card, the LCD cable, the inverter, or even a small break in the LCD screen somewhere. Usually, this stuff is a hardware issue, and isn't caused by someone monkeying around in Windows.

Member Avatar for DexterShaw

This same thing happened to my macbook pro a technician said it is to do with the wires connecting the keyboard to the screen. It makes me very mad :@ :'( |:-/ :icon_cry: :@:sad::icon_mad:

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