[Airmapper]

A friend gave me a HP pavilion xt178 Laptop computer, because of a problem with the screen.

It's a great computer for my needs, so I'd like to try to fix it. (It was free, so repair is still going to be a good deal.)

The problem is, the screen will flicker, and show horizontal or vertical lines flashing, and then it progresses to the point I have no view, and I get either a steady white screen, or an odd vertical striping of various colors. (I can post a photo if requested.) The computer is still running, and I usually turn it off using keyboard commands.

I greatly suspect a hardware problem, because of 2 things.

1. I discovered 2 of the units 3 visible cooling fans are not running.
2. The flickering can be physically altered by tapping the case near the screen, sometimes stopping it altogether, and sometimes making it worse.

I have never attempted repair on a laptop, so what should I do?

Is it a problem that can be fixed?

If repair is possible, should I attempt it myself, or get a professional? I have disassembled Desktop PC's before, so I am familiar with computer repair, but not experienced.

Laptop Specs in the event they are helpful:
Pentium 4 processor
512MB RAM
OS: Windows XP Home

Thanks for any replies.

[zeddy]

fans not turning is obviously not a good sign
Laptop screen issues that you have posted sound like the inverter board on the laptop/screen may be on its way out. If you plug into another monitor and it works fine then that would point to the inverter board being the problem. These can be purchased and are not difficult to fit

[Airmapper]

Thanks zeddy, I'll hook it to a monitor and see what happens.

I messed with the screws on the case attempting to disassemble it, but quit for fear I'd do more harm than good. However tightening those screws must have done something, it has been working fine for a couple hours now.