Flickering line at the extreme bottom of my screen

[vk3006]

Dear HP Support,

I am writing to report a screen flickering issue that I am experiencing on my HP Pavillion Gaming 15-ec1000 Laptop

I have noticed a small, flickering line at the extreme bottom of my screen when the refresh rate is set to 144Hz. This line seems to be a reflection of the extreme top of the screen. For instance, when I move the cursor to the top of the screen, I can see a small, thin head of the cursor at the bottom of the screen.

Interestingly, this issue is not present when I set the refresh rate to 60Hz. Additionally, I have connected my laptop to a TV screen using an HDMI cable, and the problem does not occur on the external display.

I have already tried running hardware diagnostics in HP Support Assistant and found no errors; everything was fine, checked for any windows or driver updates, and I noticed there was a new BIOS update so i updated it too , but I am still facing the same issue.

I am requesting your assistance in resolving this issue. Please provide guidance on potential solutions or troubleshooting steps.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely, 

Cursor and Recycle Bin ExampleCursor and Recycle Bin ExampleBIOS UpdateBIOS Update144 Hz Display with error144 Hz Display with error60 Hz Display with no errors60 Hz Display with no errors

[Raj_05]

Hi @vk3006,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

The issue you're describing with the flickering line at the bottom of the screen when set to 144Hz but not at 60Hz, and its absence on an external display, suggests it might be related to the laptop's display hardware or its interaction with the refresh rate settings.

Here are some potential solutions and troubleshooting steps.

Check for Display Driver Issues:

• Ensure that your graphics drivers are up to date. Visit the official website of your laptop’s graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA or AMD) to download the latest drivers.
• Sometimes, rolling back to a previous version of the driver can resolve issues if the latest one introduced the problem.

Adjust Refresh Rate and Resolution Settings:

• In Windows, right-click on the desktop and select "Display settings."
• Scroll down to "Advanced display settings" and check if the refresh rate is set to 144Hz.
• Try adjusting the resolution settings and see if it has any effect on the issue.

Check for Screen Artifacts and Hardware Issues:

• Inspect the screen for any visible signs of damage or defects.
• If possible, connect your laptop to a different external monitor and check if the problem persists. If it does not, the issue might be with your laptop’s screen.

Update or Reinstall HP Support Assistant and BIOS:

• Ensure that HP Support Assistant is up to date.
• Sometimes a BIOS update can resolve display issues, but if you’ve recently updated it, check for any new updates or issues reported by HP.

Try a Clean Boot:

• Boot your laptop in Safe Mode or perform a clean boot to determine if any background programs or services are causing the issue.

Check for Interference or Loose Connections:

• If you’re comfortable with hardware, check if the internal display connectors are securely attached. Sometimes, loose connections can cause display issues.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, the problem may be related to the laptop’s internal display hardware.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[vk3006]

Dear HP Support,

Thank you for your previous response. I appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue.

I have already completed the following steps, as suggested:

• Updated graphics drivers
• Verified refresh rate is set to 144Hz
• Adjusted resolution
• Checked for screen damage
• Tested on an external display
• Updated HP Support Assistant

I would like to proceed with the following troubleshooting steps:

• Safe Mode and Clean Boot: Please provide detailed instructions on how to boot my laptop into Safe Mode and perform a clean boot.
• Internal Display Connector: I believe there might be a loose connection with the internal display cable. Please guide me on how to locate this cable within my laptop.

I am eager to resolve this issue and would appreciate any further guidance you can provide.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely

[Raj_05]

Hi @vk3006,

Thank you for your response, 

Sure, let's address both of these troubleshooting steps.

Booting into Safe Mode and Performing a Clean Boot

Booting into Safe Mode

Restart your laptop:

• Click on the Start menu and select Restart.

Enter Safe Mode:

• As your laptop restarts, press and hold the F8 key (or Shift + F8 on some systems) before the Windows logo appears.
• You should see the Advanced Boot Options menu. If you don't see this menu, restart your laptop again and try pressing F8 repeatedly as it boots up.
• Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode and press Enter.
• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type msconfig and press Enter.
• In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab.
• Check the Safe boot option and select Minimal.
• Click OK and restart your laptop.

Performing a Clean Boot

Open System Configuration:

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type msconfig and press Enter.

Configure the Clean Boot:

• In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
• Check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services.
• Click Disable all to disable all non-Microsoft services.

Disable Startup Programs:

• Go to the Startup tab in the System Configuration window and click Open Task Manager.
• In the Task Manager window, disable all startup items by right-clicking on each and selecting Disable.

Apply Changes and Restart:

• Go back to the System Configuration window, click OK, and restart your laptop.

This will boot your laptop with minimal services and startup programs to help determine if a background application or service is causing the issue.

[Raj_05]

Checking the Internal Display Connector

Proceed only if you are comfortable with the process.

Power Off and Disconnect:

• Turn off your laptop and unplug it from the power source.
• Remove the battery if it's removable.

Open the Laptop:

• Use a screwdriver to remove the screws securing the bottom panel of your laptop.
• Carefully pry open the bottom panel using a plastic opening tool.

Locate the Display Cable:

• Inside the laptop, locate the cable connecting the display to the motherboard. This is usually a flat ribbon cable.

Reseat the Cable:

• Carefully disconnect the display cable from the motherboard by gently pulling it out.
• Inspect the cable and connector for any visible damage.
• Reconnect the cable, ensuring it is firmly seated in the connector.

Reassemble the Laptop:

• Replace the bottom panel and secure it with the screws.
• Reinsert the battery if you removed it.
• Plug in your laptop and power it on to see if the issue is resolved. 

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support