Screen display problems with flickering horizontal lines

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I've been having a problem with my screen for a few months now. When I open or close the display, or sometimes even just move it a little, gray, black and white lines flicker horizontally and randomly across the screen. Quite often the lines are fairly broad and sometimes are just faded strips of what was being displayed right before the flickering started.
For the moment i can make it stop by shifting the screen again or wiggling it back and forth until the flickering stops.
What is wrong with the display?
And is there a more permanent fix I could try?
 

chscag

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Sounds like the display cable may be loose or partially separated from its connector. It could also be something else related to the display assembly. If your MBP is still under warranty or Applecare, make an appointment with a genius and take it on in.

Regards.
 
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Same problem here...

My display does the same thing with random vertical lines and discoloration as though there maybe a loose LCD cable inside as well as an array of other problems such as a flaky superdrive, keyboard jumping issues, and overheating issues...:[

I have the 2.2GHz Santarosa 15".

I will be taking it in to the Genius Bar tomorrow...
 
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This problem started for me back in the end of June. In September I got a Speck hard shell case for it. I recently took the case off and left it off, and I've only seen the screen lines a couple different times now, and only when moving the screen to close it. Hopefully I won't have anymore problems with it.
 
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I've been having a problem with my screen for a few months now. When I open or close the display, or sometimes even just move it a little, gray, black and white lines flicker horizontally and randomly across the screen. Quite often the lines are fairly broad and sometimes are just faded strips of what was being displayed right before the flickering started.
For the moment i can make it stop by shifting the screen again or wiggling it back and forth until the flickering stops.
What is wrong with the display?
And is there a more permanent fix I could try?

Aghh!! I am having the same problem. What ended up being wrong with yours? How much did it cost to repair and how long did it take? Please help!
 
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I took mine in to a Genius and he said the same as a couple people above, that it was probably a lose connection somewhere. The problem is that all Apple does is replace parts, so my only option was to replace to whole screen. I don't remember exactly, but it was somewhere around $300. If you have a unibody, the price could be a lot different, I don't know. I opted to just deal with the flickering. I dealt with it for almost 2 years, it got a little worse, but not much. In the end, I got a new MBP recently because my video card died. Pretty sure that wasn't in any way connected to the flickering though.
Hope that helps.
 
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I have that same problem! Sometimes if I resize the window it goes away...so make it really big then back small. Other times if I restart my computer it'll be new...but I know eventually it comes back : (
 
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I have that same problem! Sometimes if I resize the window it goes away...so make it really big then back small. Other times if I restart my computer it'll be new...but I know eventually it comes back : (

I don't think you have the same problem. I have to physically move my laptop to make it stop. It looks like the pictures below, until I move the laptop:

DSC_0047.JPG

DSC_0049.JPG

DSC_0038.JPG
 
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I don't think you have the same problem. I have to physically move my laptop to make it stop. It looks like the pictures below, until I move the laptop:

Ok first off, I am a laptop technician. Your problem looks to be a video card issue. Nvidia admitted to faulty video cards and i know for sure you have an Nvidia. Take it to an apple store and show them it if you can't duplicate it bring in the picture and show them.


As for everyone else, here is a a breakdown of screen issues.
Vertical Lines - Bad LCD or LED Screen
Dim Screen - Bad Inverter, Backlight, or (unlikely) Motherboard
Garbage On Screen (symbols) - Bad Video Card
Horizontal Lines - Bad LCD or LED Screen or Video Card
White Screen - Video Cable not connected, but inverter cable is still connected
Black Screen (No signal) - Video cable (Motherboard Side) not connected or (unlikely) both video and inverter cable not connected
Partial Black Screen - Bad Screen or Video Card

Hope this information helps everyone.
 
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Ok first off, I am a laptop technician. Your problem looks to be a video card issue. Nvidia admitted to faulty video cards and i know for sure you have an Nvidia. Take it to an apple store and show them it if you can't duplicate it bring in the picture and show them.
.

I don't think it's a video card issue because I have the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and it was the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT that had the problem. I believe it is just a loose cable like Rippid07 said, but I can't afford $300 to fix a loose cable by replacing the whole screen..

The picture below is what my screen looks like normally after I move it to get rid of the lines. (If you were wondering where the green lines came from, it's my background pic)
 

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I JUST had the same issue. My Macbook Pro just came back from Apple Support after two attempts to repair it. They nailed the issue, they replaced the display.
 
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I JUST had the same issue. My Macbook Pro just came back from Apple Support after two attempts to repair it. They nailed the issue, they replaced the display.

How much did it cost?
 
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i'm getting red blotches on my screen. i was told it was my inverter cable. it runs along left hinge. i was told two different stories, 1. need new logic board, 2. just have someone reattache inverter cable to existing logic board. not sure.
 
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Here's a picture of my screen. Does this look like it could be a look video cable?

screen-vertical.jpg
 
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Sorry to bump, but my Mid-2009 13" Macbook Pro, year and six months old, no AppleCare, recently started having the same issues as described here. I posted my question on another form and haven't received any feedback...

My screen looks identical to the three pictures submitted by meowskers1, and disappears after adjusting the screen position. And like Rippid07, I also had a clear hard-cover case installed on the computer for a few months, but end up taking it off due to the extra weight added.

This only started happening the last few weeks, and I want to have it taken care of as soon as possible. Was it necessary to install a whole new display assembly or could this be fixed by purchasing a new LVDS cable?(13" Unibody LVDS Display Cable - iFixit)

rustyk123 indicated; Horizontal Lines - Bad LCD or LED Screen or Video Card and White Screen - Video Cable not connected, but inverter cable is still connected. What are the chances this is a video card issue, and not related to the LCD or any cables?

Also, could anyone recommend a way to test which component needs replacing before I order it, or will it be a 'guess and check' type repair? Thanks in advance!
 

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