Author Topic: Screen Problems? (Read 6200 times)

perseus · « **on:** March 16, 2005, 11:51:23 am »

Hi guys,

Is anyone having screen problems? I have been getting a screen flickering at times while browsing the web and also when running applications. I can only resolve this by rebooting the unit. Then it will do it another day.

I called dynamism and now it needs to be sent to Japan for repair. Is anybody else out there having this problem? This problem started from day one but it would go away plus I thought it was the bright flickering lights in my office. As I have started to use the unit more for reading web pages the problem has grown. It is frustrating to read documents and or web pages when the screen is flickering.

Please let me know if anyone else is having this problem and what steps they took to resolving the issue. I'd hate to be without my Zaurus for a month. I guess I will have to carry my Fujitsu Notebook again.

Thanks.

Charlovski · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2005, 03:03:51 pm »

A couple of days ago I installed X/Qt with Fluxbox and then I first noticed the display being far from perfect (p.e. the Cthulhain theme). When I open an xterm I can also see a ghost window. The background of the empty x-desktop shows all kind of interferences, this becomes worse when the background gets darker. All of this I didn't notice before within Qtopia, as there aren't so many floating window apps. Rebooting or brightness adjusting doesn't solve the problem for me.

What do you think about this, Perseus? Might it be the same problem?

perseus · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2005, 04:29:26 pm »

Charlovski,

I have not noticed some of the things you mentioned (like the ghost window). Have you tried removing the programs that are conflicting with the display and then see how the display behaves for a couple of days?

I have not installed anything out of the ordinary. I have opera and kdpim contacts and e-mail. The problem I am having seems to happen more often when Ii am using the web browser. However, I was having display issues way before I started installing applications. The screen would flicker at random no matter what program I was using. The flickering is similar to a flickering flourescent bulb (though not as noticeable). I just did not notice it as much.

The Dynamism rep told me that some of these units had display problems. The back light would flicker on and off. Sometimes the display light would not turn back on. He said he had not heard of any units doing what my unit was doing. The flickering happens at random and although it is not unbearable, I think it should work properly for the money I spent.

Thanks for your reply.

m-morino · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2005, 06:34:01 pm »

Hi,

If you have overclocked your C3000, set the clock to the default value.
The flickering will disappear for the default clock.

Code: [Select]

$ su
# echo 2000210 > /proc/zaurus/CCCR

HTH,

perseus · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2005, 06:41:16 pm »

M-Morino,

I have not over clocked my unit. Do you recommend I perfromed the above instructions still?

Thanks.

Charlovski · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2005, 03:28:45 pm »

M-Morino, I also didn't overclock my Z.

Perseus, as I already wrote, I started to notice the display problems with the x-desktop but if you look real close when moving a floating window in Qtopia it also shows (in case a not so bright background has been set). For example when you select the "Reboot" option from the Qtopia menu, a confirmation requester appears. Don't you see a darker area above this window (in landscape mode), even better to be seen when moved around?

I attached a screenshot [ Invalid Attachment ] of an empty x-desktop, could you please view this bitmap fullscreen on your Z, set brightness all the way up and examine if your screen is still without disturbances? I'm really interested in the result although it differs from the "backlight flickering" problem you described.

Jonathan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2005, 09:32:29 am »

Quote

M-Morino, I also didn't overclock my Z.

Perseus, as I already wrote, I started to notice the display problems with the x-desktop but if you look real close when moving a floating window in Qtopia it also shows (in case a not so bright background has been set). For example when you select the "Reboot" option from the Qtopia menu, a confirmation requester appears. Don't you see a darker area above this window (in landscape mode), even better to be seen when moved around?

I attached a screenshot [ Invalid Attachment ] of an empty x-desktop, could you please view this bitmap fullscreen on your Z, set brightness all the way up and examine if your screen is still without disturbances? I'm really interested in the result although it differs from the "backlight flickering" problem you described.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=71165\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I did as you asked and viewed your image on my C3000 full screen. One or two tiny flickers at the beginning then just a perfectly clear screen. So no real problem here.

One thing I did notice about my new C3000 (it's just been replaced) as opposed to my previous C3000 is that this one does flicker the screen a bit when running on battery and with brightest screen. This happens when the hard disk starts to spin-up. It may also be contributed to by the wifi card (a relatively high power Buffalo wl12-cf-s11 model) but I can't seem to replicate the conditions now. My previous C3000 model didn't have any screen problems whatsoever, but did have another fault.

If I pull down screen brightness one step then this flicker (more a step change really) goes away. As an electronic engineer I'm not entirely suprised by this artifiact of the power supply system. There is quite a lot in the C3000 for the electronics to supply constant voltage and adequate power too (screen, processor, hard disk). Maybe I'll try another battery.

Perhaps the C1000 will be better since there is no hard disk...

Jonathan

Charlovski · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2005, 05:52:33 pm »

High/low battery power or connected to the outlet, brightness full or low: the screen problem remains. I think it is time to call Dynamism and send the Z back for repair Maybe we can enjoy cacko or pdaxrom by the time I get it back again
Thanks for your report Jonathan!

pgas · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2005, 07:16:29 pm »

see also this thread

perseus · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2005, 09:07:44 pm »

charlovski,

I tried opening your picture in full screen mode. I do not get the ghosting you spoke about. I also followed the thread just posted for people reporting flickering when using pdaxrom. I am using the original sharp rom, so I am not so sure if this applies to me.

I received an RMA Number from Dynamism on Monday but do not want to be without my unit for 3 weeks. I have not had the problem since last Sunday. I have not been using it as much as I do. I will try to test it more this weekend to try to find out what applications cause it to do this if any.

Someone mentioned about the brightness setting being on high and the use of a wireless card. I have the brightness set to maximum and I have noticed the flickering when using a wireless card while reading web pages with opera. Perhaps this is the problem?

pgas · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2005, 01:38:11 am »

I think the thread about pdaxrom applies to other roms as well.

I think the ghosting/ shivering problem is more visible with some colors/ some patterns. (There is a terrible background in fluxbox) and that using X reveals it.

Now, the lcd settings might be right in you Z.

And the C3000 problem here might just be a different one

Charlovski · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2005, 05:25:04 am »

Adjusting the "Com adj" and "LCD Phase" settings might solve the problem for me (and perseus too) but there is another problem: no "Reset" option in the "Extra menu". I had to remove the battery to reset the Z, will this discard the changes that I've made within the service menu?

pgas · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2005, 06:46:11 am »

I think that when your press update the settings are stored in the nand, otherwise you would need to configure the lcd everytime you remove the battery.

mulveyr · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2005, 12:47:07 pm »

Quote

Hi guys,

Is anyone having screen problems? I have been getting a screen flickering at times while browsing the web and also when running applications. I can only resolve this by rebooting the unit. Then it will do it another day.

I called dynamism and now it needs to be sent to Japan for repair. Is anybody else out there having this problem? This problem started from day one but it would go away plus I thought it was the bright flickering lights in my office. As I have started to use the unit more for reading web pages the problem has grown. It is frustrating to read documents and or web pages when the screen is flickering.

Please let me know if anyone else is having this problem and what steps they took to resolving the issue. I'd hate to be without my Zaurus for a month. I guess I will have to carry my Fujitsu Notebook again.

Thanks.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=70972\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I've seen this a couple of times on my SL-C3000. It seems to be related to using the video player - after I view some movies, the screen will flicker, as you descibes, when using wifi, etc. Rebooting clears up the issue. I presume it's a driver problem.

- Rich

Charlovski · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2005, 04:24:43 pm »

Rebooting doesn't help me nothing. About wifi, I'm still waiting for my asus card to arrive so that's not the cause either. But the screen flickering can be solved by adjusting the "Com adj" and "LCD Phase" settings. Still, I'm left with the "disturbances" I talked about. I'll try to make an mpeg of this tomorrow and post it.

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Author Topic: Screen Problems? (Read 6200 times)