Why is my laptop screen blinking?

I too believe that the mobile has no role to play in that all. Secondly, if it were a graphics card problem, then it should have blinked all the while. But it does happen only when there is a dark background with dark black or blue colors. But when the colors are fresh and faint like white, it works fine. So, that's one thing I am not being able to digest. Thirdly, I have a Win XP license copy. And I get updates whenever they are available. But I have noticed that of late, I haven't got the updates as well. It's about 4-5 months. I am trying to decide if that is a motherboard problem. If that is changed, I believe everything should be fine. What do you think?

Have you tried clean installation of windows ?

Clean installation of windows? And what's that. I have never heard of that before. Can you please tell me what that is. By the way, I have a license copy of Windows XP. So, do I still go for clean installation of windows?

When I said blinking, it doesn't actually goes on and off literally. It twinkles like a star. It generally happens when I open a page that has black background. For example, like the popular site, Expertscolumn. It has a black color both at the top and the bottom. You will get an idea of that now. When I talked with my vendor about this, he told me about the possibility of my mobile phone being near the laptop even when I didn't mention that thing to him. I just wanted to see what he says and he detected the possibility correctly. Secondly, even when there are only a couple of pages loading, I see that the CPU usage touches almost 100%. I think that is due to overuse of the device. As I mentioned, I have been using it for the last three years now. It was exactly in December that I purchased it 3 years ago. In the next week, I will complete three years with this laptop. I also guess that the display is not having any issues. It might be the motherboard problem. But sometimes, it works so wonderful that I am compelled to think that my gadget is working fine.

Ohh.. Well, my problem was related to display so may be i attached your problem with it. But yes sometime those twinkle star display problem can be related to display too... In that case yes it can be problem of your old motherboard. But as you said its not giving more problem to it , then keep your working one till it give some other or major issue. I am sure mobile phone can't create such problem as even I used to keep my mobile near to my desktop and laptop.

Anand, I guess I am overusing my laptop a tad too much. Writing articles and especially tweeting takes a lot of time I have no option but to devote some time to all the things. But of late I have found one way to decrease the load of my PC. I am using my tab to type my articles. I have found that it saves some time that I would have otherwise spent on my laptop. It saves that much energy for me. If the problem persists, I will have to give it a serious thought, no doubt.

Well, I do not use any speakers so that is out of question. But I used to keep my mobile near the laptop. But since I came to know about it, I have been taking care not to do it. It has been more than 3 months that I did not keep my mobile near the laptop. But I should also mention that the blinking problem did not start as soon as I started keeping the phone near the laptop. I used to keep it near the device for at least 6 months. I didn't realize any such problem then. But I don't know how it suddenly started.

Yes, thanks for that. I did know some of the things about RAM what you mentioned here. But not all. Thanks once again for letting me know that the RAM can get a bit loose. That is one thing I did not know. But the black spot that you mentioned, there's nothing like that. The screen hasn't got damaged. I guess, it is a hardware problem not pertaining to the screen or the lid. Now as I type your response, there's no blinking. But I can't predict when it will start once again.

Position of the memory? I didn't get you. Maybe you meant, position of the RAM? Memory isn't a physical thing in laptops apart from the RAM. It's a bit confusing to me. Can you please be a bit clear?

The memory(RAM)to those unfamiliar with it. There is slot of memory that might be loosen up and if that improperly inserted the blink will be shown to that there is a trouble in your laptop. Try to open the memory slot at the back of your laptop then you see a memory bank there and remove the memory then insert it properly be sure that the memory does not move check it that the position is properly place... If your laptop screen has the spot of black at the edge of the screen the screen might have damage on it.

Though I shouldn't feel happy for this, I found at least one person who is sailing in the same boat as me. I don't intend anything else but only expressing my feelings. By the way, the possibility of checking the display with an external monitor is a great idea. I am sure I too can find out the reason if I check it that way. But on second thoughts, I have been using the laptop for three years now and I think that could be one reason too. How long should the display of a laptop work if it does not give any problems?

It looks as if laptops work for around 3 to 4 years perfectly fine and then start giving problems. It also, however, depends on how much the device is being used. I am using my laptop for around 7 hours daily. At times I use it for a less time. But generally the use is to a greater extent. How about you? How much do you use your laptop? And how do u maintain it now?

Even in my case, the laptop was three-four years old and the display lasts approximately the time till the warranty of the computer is available. It's frustrating and really annoying issue, I had to use my laptop for 3 months in that situation, it was very tough but I spent money only after knowing the exact cause of the issue and let me tell you, spending 5K+ was not that easy for me.

Oh a loose wire?? I forgot to mention one thing. There is no fixed place for my laptop. I have to carry it here and there every now and then. Due to the space and place problem it is always moving around in my house and that's happening for the last three years everyday. I guess it could be a major problem as well. But using the same laptop for such a long time could also be a possibility. So, I am confused as to what might be the exact cause.

You just misinterpreted. I didn't mean that I am facing the problem for three years now. In fact, I have been using my laptop for that period and it is just recently now that I have started noticing the blinking screen. But I guess, I will need some professional help to figure out what exactly is happening.

Then I would have suggested that you made an appointment earlier. i don't know in your country but technicians in mine allow a free check-up for computer parts and even organizes to buy a specific part. The mobility of the laptop might be a contributor but it isn't a perfect guess. I unless you're skilled to detach the parts, I suggest you go an expert. When my monitor displayed that, I went immediately and it kinda solved itself. But that was for only a short moment. If that's been going for three years, you might have a bigger problem.

Well, my entire work is dependent on my laptop. So, I believe it has nothing to do how long I am using it. If you are using it since four years with lesser use daily, it will last that long. But as I mentioned in one of my earlier responses, I use it for at least 6-8 hours daily. So, that is understandable why I should face such problems. I just want to ask one thing, is there anyone who is using the laptop for such a long time on a continuous basis and still doing fine? I would like to know the secret behind that in that case.

I too guess that the screen cable could be causing problems for me. As I have to carry the laptop around, I never close the lid. In fact, I used to do it initially, but since I noticed this problem, I decided not to close the lid. It remains in the way it is. That is why I think the cable could be a problem as the lid moves a bit when I carry it on my hand. Yes, I really need to speak to an expert and get over the issue as soon as I can.

Well, you are giving two diverse opinions in one good long sentence. First you said that the mobile can be a culprit in the case if that is placed near the PC. You mentioned CRT monitor and further added that, that should not happen with a LCD one. What I mentioned is that I use a laptop which already has a LCD. So, the reason could be a different one and not the one that you are mentioning. Hope I am right.