Vista - Black line on laptop screen?

Hello all,

I have a question about my laptop which I was hoping someone can solve for me please?

I have a 3" (approx) black line running down the right hand side of my screen and a 1" (approx) black line running across the bottom of my screen and am not sure what this means!?

It's not dead pixels as I can see everything as normal (e.g the clock in the right hand corner) but it just looks like someone has comressed the screen into a smaller space and I cannot move the mouse into these black areas. It is also the same when I go to the BIOS. Not sure if this is a regular problem with Acers (mine's an Aspire 3690) but I cannot find anything on the internet about it? I restored the system to factory settings but was still the same.

Sometimes goes back to a full screen (however hasn't done it for a while though) and I have linked it to a monitor and the screen is full and does not have any black lines.

I am stuck on what to do so if someone could help I would really appreciate it. I have attached a picture to show what it currently looks like.

Cheers,

Hi The Brain and welcome to Vista Forums

What is the native resolution for your laptop (check the manual), and what resolution is it currently set at? It could possibly be a graphics driver problem.

Thanks for the welcome!

I have had a look through the manual which covers laptop models 5680/5650/5630/5610/5610Z and my 3690 and it says the following in the "Display and Graphics" section

15.4" WXGA color TFT KCD, 1280x800/1024x768 pixe resolution, 16:10 viewing ratio, supporting simultaneous mulit-window viewing via Acer GridVista.

I right-clicked and checked the Graphic Properties and the current resolution is 1024 x 768. I am not able to select 1280x800 as I only have a choice of 1024x768 or 800x600. Even when I select 800x600 nothing happens?!

Is this the issue then? If so what do I need to do?

Many thanks

There are actually 2 drivers available, depending on the hardware.

Intel http://global-download.acer.com/GDFi...e&Step3=Aspire

NVidia http://global-download.acer.com/GDFi...e&Step3=Aspire

Thanks,

Does this mean I need to download it and re-install it or something? I was reading about something like that and that you need to put it in "safe mode"? (Sorry if this is a silly question but im not too good at computers). Or is it a simple task?

I assume mine is the Pentium but was wondering if you could check and verify from the info I have copied and pasted below, when I right-click the Graphic Properties.

"Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile Report

Report Date: 11/08/2009
Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 19:22:21
Driver Version: 7.14.10.1504
Operating System: Windows Vista (TM) Home Basic* , (6.0.6000)
Default Language: English
DirectX* Version: 10.0
Physical Memory: 2037 MB
Minimum Graphics Memory: 8 MB
Maximum Graphics Memory: 256 MB
Graphics Memory in Use: 90 MB
Processor: x86 family 6 Model 14 Stepping 12
Processor Speed: 1862 MHZ
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 27A2
Device Revision: 03

* Accelerator Information *
Accelerator in Use: Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family
Video BIOS: 1377
Current Graphics Mode: 1024 by 768 True Color (60 Hz)

* Devices Connected to the Graphics Accelerator *

Active Notebook Displays: 1

* Notebook *
Monitor Name: Digital Flat Panel (1024x768 60Hz)
Display Type: Digital
Gamma Value: 3.54
DDC2 Protocol: Supported
Maximum Image Size: Horizontal: Not Available
Vertical: Not Available
Monitor Supported Modes:
1024 by 768 (60 Hz)
Display Power Management Support:
Standby Mode: Not Supported
Suspend Mode: Not Supported
Active Off Mode: Supported
* Other names and brands are the property of their respective owners."