Grayed vertical panel in display

  • Thread starter Thread starter sweeneysmsm
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sweeneysmsm

I am helping someone with a problem affecting her Acer XP Home laptop. The
laptop is less than 3 years old and has been behaving fine. A few days ago a
grayed vertical panel appeared toward the right of the display stretching
from top to bottom and being consistently present regardless of what program
was being used. The only partial exception was when the initial Acer splash
screen appeared. In that instance there was only about a half inch of the
grayed panel visible at the bottom of the screen.

Thinking that the problem might be related the need for an updated driver,
we created a restore point, found the appropriate Intel video driver for the
model and updated it and rebooted. This did not solve the problem so we
reverted to the previous setting.

We then tried rolling back to an earlier date – a few days earlier – this
did not solve the problem. When we went back to an even earlier date, about a
month earlier, the problem was solved – no more grayed panel. I told her to
stick with that as there must have been a software conflict with an update. I
also told her to install updates one by one so that we would know immediately
if there was a problem with one of them and not have to search. She did not
do any updates but when she opened the laptop this morning, it was back to
the vertical gray panel.

Any ideas/solutions would be much appreciated. I am writing here because we
were able to solve it through utilizing Windows Restore Point technology.

Mary
 
sweeneysmsm said:
I am helping someone with a problem affecting her Acer XP Home laptop. The
laptop is less than 3 years old and has been behaving fine. A few days ago a
grayed vertical panel appeared toward the right of the display stretching
from top to bottom and being consistently present regardless of what program
was being used. The only partial exception was when the initial Acer splash
screen appeared. In that instance there was only about a half inch of the
grayed panel visible at the bottom of the screen.

Thinking that the problem might be related the need for an updated driver,
we created a restore point, found the appropriate Intel video driver for the
model and updated it and rebooted. This did not solve the problem so we
reverted to the previous setting.

We then tried rolling back to an earlier date – a few days earlier – this
did not solve the problem. When we went back to an even earlier date, about a
month earlier, the problem was solved – no more grayed panel. I told her to
stick with that as there must have been a software conflict with an update. I
also told her to install updates one by one so that we would know immediately
if there was a problem with one of them and not have to search. She did not
do any updates but when she opened the laptop this morning, it was back to
the vertical gray panel.

Any ideas/solutions would be much appreciated. I am writing here because we
were able to solve it through utilizing Windows Restore Point technology.

Mary
Click to expand...

Hi,
Do you mean a grayed taskbar or just a plain panel on the right side of the
Desktop positioned vertically?

If you mean another taskbar been created, she can delete it.
I had similar scenario two days ago while the client accidentally
dragged/double click a folder for Flash player and open the gray panel for it
and it was positioned on the top of the screen and can't get rid of it. I
resized the Panel until it became an open window like properties window and
closed it from the red [x] to close the folder.
Try to put your mouse/pointer on the edge and see if the pointer turn to a
cross and hold down to resize (into the middle of the screen). Does it resize?

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Did you check the Display properties for such a display?
HTH,
nass
 
sweeneysmsm said:
I am helping someone with a problem affecting her Acer XP Home laptop. The
laptop is less than 3 years old and has been behaving fine. A few days ago
a
grayed vertical panel appeared toward the right of the display stretching
from top to bottom and being consistently present regardless of what
program
was being used. The only partial exception was when the initial Acer
splash
screen appeared. In that instance there was only about a half inch of the
grayed panel visible at the bottom of the screen.

Thinking that the problem might be related the need for an updated driver,
we created a restore point, found the appropriate Intel video driver for
the
model and updated it and rebooted. This did not solve the problem so we
reverted to the previous setting.

We then tried rolling back to an earlier date - a few days earlier - this
did not solve the problem. When we went back to an even earlier date,
about a
month earlier, the problem was solved - no more grayed panel. I told her
to
stick with that as there must have been a software conflict with an
update. I
also told her to install updates one by one so that we would know
immediately
if there was a problem with one of them and not have to search. She did
not
do any updates but when she opened the laptop this morning, it was back to
the vertical gray panel.

Any ideas/solutions would be much appreciated. I am writing here because
we
were able to solve it through utilizing Windows Restore Point technology.

Mary
Click to expand...

If it appears when the Acer splash screen appears, it's a hardware
problem. The splash screen is a BIOS produced display, before
XP starts loading. The fact that there's a difference between the
grey bar's appearance in the basic VGA splash screen, and the
high resolution XP drivers running, indicates it's probably a video
card issue, rather than an LCD display problem. If it was an LCD
screen problem it's appearance would be the same at all resolutions.
 
Thanks so much for replying, nass.

No, it is not a taskbar. It appears from the very beginning, including the
Acer splash screen, though only the lower half-inch segment shows then.

Mary

nass said:
sweeneysmsm said:
I am helping someone with a problem affecting her Acer XP Home laptop. The
laptop is less than 3 years old and has been behaving fine. A few days ago a
grayed vertical panel appeared toward the right of the display stretching
from top to bottom and being consistently present regardless of what program
was being used. The only partial exception was when the initial Acer splash
screen appeared. In that instance there was only about a half inch of the
grayed panel visible at the bottom of the screen.

Thinking that the problem might be related the need for an updated driver,
we created a restore point, found the appropriate Intel video driver for the
model and updated it and rebooted. This did not solve the problem so we
reverted to the previous setting.

We then tried rolling back to an earlier date – a few days earlier – this
did not solve the problem. When we went back to an even earlier date, about a
month earlier, the problem was solved – no more grayed panel. I told her to
stick with that as there must have been a software conflict with an update. I
also told her to install updates one by one so that we would know immediately
if there was a problem with one of them and not have to search. She did not
do any updates but when she opened the laptop this morning, it was back to
the vertical gray panel.

Any ideas/solutions would be much appreciated. I am writing here because we
were able to solve it through utilizing Windows Restore Point technology.

Mary
Click to expand...

Hi,
Do you mean a grayed taskbar or just a plain panel on the right side of the
Desktop positioned vertically?

If you mean another taskbar been created, she can delete it.
I had similar scenario two days ago while the client accidentally
dragged/double click a folder for Flash player and open the gray panel for it
and it was positioned on the top of the screen and can't get rid of it. I
resized the Panel until it became an open window like properties window and
closed it from the red [x] to close the folder.
Try to put your mouse/pointer on the edge and see if the pointer turn to a
cross and hold down to resize (into the middle of the screen). Does it resize?

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Did you check the Display properties for such a display?
HTH,
nass
Click to expand...
 
Thanks so much for replying, Ian.

I think this is helpful information that I can pass on. I was really
surprised that somehow the rollback truly solved it, but only temporarily.
Does your explanation account for that?

Mary
 
sweeneysmsm said:
I am helping someone with a problem affecting her Acer XP Home laptop. The
laptop is less than 3 years old and has been behaving fine. A few days ago
a
grayed vertical panel appeared toward the right of the display stretching
from top to bottom and being consistently present regardless of what
program
was being used. The only partial exception was when the initial Acer
splash
screen appeared. In that instance there was only about a half inch of the
grayed panel visible at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...

Any ideas/solutions would be much appreciated. I am writing here because
we
were able to solve it through utilizing Windows Restore Point technology.

Mary
Click to expand...

A couple of suggestions / questions:

do you get the same screen issue if you boot into the BIOS setup?

do you get it if you boot into Safe Mode?

If, when Windows is running, you drag an open window over this area, does
the grey area 'disappear' behind the window, or does the window go 'behind'
this area, or can you not drag a window that far?
Try it with Task Manager - making sure that in Options, "always on top" is
checked. What happens if you drag task manager over this area?

Alister.
 
Mary
What your laptop specs and Model Number please?

sweeneysmsm said:
Thanks so much for replying, nass.

No, it is not a taskbar. It appears from the very beginning, including the
Acer splash screen, though only the lower half-inch segment shows then.

Mary

nass said:
sweeneysmsm said:
I am helping someone with a problem affecting her Acer XP Home laptop. The
laptop is less than 3 years old and has been behaving fine. A few days ago a
grayed vertical panel appeared toward the right of the display stretching
from top to bottom and being consistently present regardless of what program
was being used. The only partial exception was when the initial Acer splash
screen appeared. In that instance there was only about a half inch of the
grayed panel visible at the bottom of the screen.

Thinking that the problem might be related the need for an updated driver,
we created a restore point, found the appropriate Intel video driver for the
model and updated it and rebooted. This did not solve the problem so we
reverted to the previous setting.

We then tried rolling back to an earlier date – a few days earlier – this
did not solve the problem. When we went back to an even earlier date, about a
month earlier, the problem was solved – no more grayed panel. I told her to
stick with that as there must have been a software conflict with an update. I
also told her to install updates one by one so that we would know immediately
if there was a problem with one of them and not have to search. She did not
do any updates but when she opened the laptop this morning, it was back to
the vertical gray panel.

Any ideas/solutions would be much appreciated. I am writing here because we
were able to solve it through utilizing Windows Restore Point technology.

Mary
Click to expand...

Hi,
Do you mean a grayed taskbar or just a plain panel on the right side of the
Desktop positioned vertically?

If you mean another taskbar been created, she can delete it.
I had similar scenario two days ago while the client accidentally
dragged/double click a folder for Flash player and open the gray panel for it
and it was positioned on the top of the screen and can't get rid of it. I
resized the Panel until it became an open window like properties window and
closed it from the red [x] to close the folder.
Try to put your mouse/pointer on the edge and see if the pointer turn to a
cross and hold down to resize (into the middle of the screen). Does it resize?

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Did you check the Display properties for such a display?
HTH,
nass
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi, Alister,

Re your questions:

When I boot into Bios, yes, the vertical gray panel is still there.

I tried going into Safe Mode but the usual way of tapping the F8 key
accomplished nothing and the POST never offered me a way of choosing an OS.

When I drag a window on top of the gray panel, the gray panel shows through
the taskbars at the top but does not show through the window area.

I am sorry. I forgot to do the part with the Task Manager. I will write to
her tonight and ask her to test this out and report back.

Is any of the above info helpful?

Mary
 
sweeneysmsm said:
Hi, Alister,

Re your questions:

When I boot into Bios, yes, the vertical gray panel is still there.
Click to expand...

Then one of two situations exist: either your monitor is fried or your
video card (built-in or PCI) is fried.

Try another monitor if you can find one. It's the easiest way to find
out what's wrong.
 
sweeneysmsm said:
Hi, Alister,

Re your questions:

When I boot into Bios, yes, the vertical gray panel is still there.

I tried going into Safe Mode but the usual way of tapping the F8 key
accomplished nothing and the POST never offered me a way of choosing an
OS.

When I drag a window on top of the gray panel, the gray panel shows
through
the taskbars at the top but does not show through the window area.

I am sorry. I forgot to do the part with the Task Manager. I will write to
her tonight and ask her to test this out and report back.

Is any of the above info helpful?

Mary

:
Click to expand...

It look like a fault in your laptop's built-in display adapter. If it
was the LCD panel at fault, the gray bar would remain a constant
size and shape at all video resolutions. Since the bar is smaller
when you first boot into 640x480 VGA mode, the on-board
video card is the likely culprit. If you set a lower desktop video
resolution, you should see something different, again. It could be
a video memory, or memory controller issue.


 
sweeneysmsm said:
Hi, Alister,

Re your questions:

When I boot into Bios, yes, the vertical gray panel is still there.

I tried going into Safe Mode but the usual way of tapping the F8 key
accomplished nothing and the POST never offered me a way of choosing an
OS.

When I drag a window on top of the gray panel, the gray panel shows
through
the taskbars at the top but does not show through the window area.

I am sorry. I forgot to do the part with the Task Manager. I will write to
her tonight and ask her to test this out and report back.

Is any of the above info helpful?

Mary
Click to expand...

Hi Mary,

Sorry I couldn't get back to you earlier, but as Nate and Ian have said, It
looks like a hardware issue with either the display or the graphics adapter.
If you have the option on that machine, and have a spare monitor, try
connecting another monitor to the laptop and see if you still get the same
problem. If you do, it's the graphics adapter that is faulty, if not then it
is the laptop's screen that is the culprit.

You do not have to worry about the test with Task Manager - we have already
ruled out that it is not a software problem.

Just to explain, because you see the same issue in BIOS means that it cannot
be a software problem in Windows - as you are not running Windows, and are
not using the Windows graphics driver when in the BIOS.

Unfortunately, your choices to get this repaired are fairly limited.
Depending on the results of further tests you are looking at replacing
either the laptop screen, or the laptop's motherboard, as the video hardware
is almost certainly part of the motherboard circuitry, rather than being a
seperate replaceable card.

Sorry, this is probably not what your friend wants to hear!

Alister
 
Hi Alister,

You and all the others have been very helpful, even though the answer is, as
you said, not probably what she would like to hear.

I will get back to her sometime this week and see if I can try a second
monitor just to do the last piece in the diagnosis, and then it really is up
to her to get some costings and do a discernment. She is going overseas and
wants everything to be ship-shape for what she needs to do. Getting Tech
support in a foreign land is not on one's wish list.

One last question, if you're still listening.... Is this likely to crash on
her? Get worse? Do damage to something else? At one level, she could live
with it, but she doesn't want to get stuck without resources she needs.

Any final words?

Thanks so much.

Mary
 
sweeneysmsm said:
Hi Alister,

You and all the others have been very helpful, even though the answer is,
as
you said, not probably what she would like to hear.

I will get back to her sometime this week and see if I can try a second
monitor just to do the last piece in the diagnosis, and then it really is
up
to her to get some costings and do a discernment. She is going overseas
and
wants everything to be ship-shape for what she needs to do. Getting Tech
support in a foreign land is not on one's wish list.

One last question, if you're still listening.... Is this likely to crash
on
her? Get worse? Do damage to something else? At one level, she could live
with it, but she doesn't want to get stuck without resources she needs.

Any final words?

Thanks so much.

Mary
Click to expand...

Hi Mary,

Yep, still here!

Um... in answer to your question... I don't know!

If it is the screen that is faulty then it could conceivably carry on like
that for ages without getting worse, on the other hand, if it is the
graphics hardware on the motherboard then it is likely to pack up much
sooner, or spread to some other part of the motherboard as the broken parts
may be causing a short circuit or otherwise raising the temperature of the
machine.However this is pure guesswork, and the laptop could keep going as
it is for months.

My advice, however would be to start considering a replacement. If you can
narrow down the culprit to the screen only, then you can get a replacement
screen for the laptop without to much trouble - or even just ignore the
built in screen and attach an external monitor.

HTH

Alister
 
Alistair,

Thank you so much. I will close the book on this subject. I now feel armed
with enough understanding to help her to decide what she wants to do. The
most informative thing will, of course, be trying it out with a second
monitor.

Thank you again.

Mary
 
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