annoying laptop screen problem

[JackOfClubs]

i have this problem with my laptop-sometimes when i move it suddenly, the screen goes out and the hdd light goes out. i tap above the hdd area and i usually get a screen like the picture i took. is there a cause for this or is it just time to get a new laptop (its a thinkpad t41)

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp1/irishlad1994/Jacksimages0200.jpg

[Blahages]

i have this problem with my laptop-sometimes when i move it suddenly, the screen goes out and the hdd light goes out. i tap above the hdd area and i usually get a screen like the picture i took. is there a cause for this or is it just time to get a new laptop (its a thinkpad t41)

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp1/irishlad1994/Jacksimages0200.jpg

It's possible you have a wire/ribbon/cable loose inside, for the LCD or something, and when you move it suddenly, it knocks it.

Try plugging a regular monitor into the computer, then moving the computer like you have, and see if the screen also goes like that on the regular monitor. That would eliminate the LCD itself as being the problem.

[JackOfClubs]

It's possible you have a wire/ribbon/cable loose inside, for the LCD or something, and when you move it suddenly, it knocks it.

Try plugging a regular monitor into the computer, then moving the computer like you have, and see if the screen also goes like that on the regular monitor. That would eliminate the LCD itself as being the problem.

thanks, but ive already tried that and the external screen just goes blank. thanks anyway though

[Brandon639]

Then it might be a hard drive problem. You said the hard drive light goes out? Thats probably the cause then. Possibly a graphics card issue, but more than likely somethings wrong with the HD. You should get it checked out.

[Commander Thor]

Then it might be a hard drive problem. You said the hard drive light goes out? Thats probably the cause then. Possibly a graphics card issue, but more than likely somethings wrong with the HD. You should get it checked out.

Doubtful it's the HDD causing the issue, in all the years I've been repairing PC's I've never seen the HDD be the cause of a display issue, but nevertheless, make sure the HDD is in there securly, and seated properly. And if you have a spare laptop nearby, try swapping HDDs and seeing if a HDD you KNOW FOR SURE WORKS causes the problem.

Are the RAM bays nearby the HDD bay? If so, are your stick(s) of RAM seated properly, with no dust in the sockets?

Have you tried taking your laptop apart and seeing if one of the ribbon cables is loose, like Blahages suggested?