max   13 #1 Posted March 5, 2018 I have an Acer Aspire ZC-700 all in one. When playing games, after a few minutes the screen will start flickering and when I move my mouse the screen goes black but I can see an outline of web sites and the task bar behind the black screen.  I've found a site that has the same problem recorded but no solution.  Does anyone have any suggestions, please?  Note, all the other black screen problems don't match my symptoms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
andysm   18 #2 Posted March 5, 2018 Sounds like there is a problem with the backlight that illuminates the LCD panel. If it is an older model that uses CFL tubes it is probably the inverter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
max   13 #3 Posted March 5, 2018 Sounds like there is a problem with the backlight that illuminates the LCD panel. If it is an older model that uses CFL tubes it is probably the inverter.  It's not that old, the bios date is 18/08/2015.  Any ideas on how I can run tests to establish what is causing it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Ghozer   112 #4 Posted March 5, 2018 Definitely sounds like the power supply (or inverter) for the backlight... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
max   13 #5 Posted March 5, 2018 I'm trying to find info on replacing the inverter but the only stuff I can find relates to laptops. Is it an easy job to fit one plus, where can I get one? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
swarfendor437   14 #6 Posted March 5, 2018 Just did a search for repairs of your kit in Sheffield and found this:  https://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(s8-computers)_349868.htm  Check out the review of someone who had a repair in 3.10.2017 of same kit as yours but different issue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
truman   10 #7 Posted March 5, 2018 I have an Acer Aspire ZC-700 all in one. When playing games, after a few minutes the screen will start flickering and when I move my mouse the screen goes black but I can see an outline of web sites and the task bar behind the black screen. I've found a site that has the same problem recorded but no solution.  Does anyone have any suggestions, please?  Note, all the other black screen problems don't match my symptoms.  If you shine a torch onto the screen can you see the display? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Ghozer   112 #8 Posted March 6, 2018 If you shine a torch onto the screen can you see the display?  he already said it goes black but he can see an outline etc - this would say to me that there's still image there, but no backlight... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
max   13 #9 Posted March 6, 2018 he already said it goes black but he can see an outline etc - this would say to me that there's still image there, but no backlight...  Just this, but if I hold Alt + Tab the active windows show up properly but go black when I release.  It looks like I'll have to take it in to someone with more experience of PCs than I. 30 years on mainframes doesn't prepare you for little computers.  Thanks for the help and suggestions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Ghozer   112 #10 Posted March 6, 2018 Just this, but if I hold Alt + Tab the active windows show up properly but go black when I release. It looks like I'll have to take it in to someone with more experience of PCs than I. 30 years on mainframes doesn't prepare you for little computers.  Thanks for the help and suggestions.  when you say the active window shows properly, do you mean full brightness etc?  do you actually see the whole screen flicker on, then off again?  Maybe it's set to an 'external' display, and everything's opening on (what it thinks is) a 2nd monitor..  Have you tried plugging another monitor into it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
max   13 #11 Posted March 7, 2018 When I hold alt + tab I get a row of miniature Windows which I can usually tab through but when I release it goes back to black. I don't have another monitor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
andysm   18 #12 Posted March 7, 2018 If part of the screen shows up normally when pressing alt-tab then it probably isn't the backlight, sounds more like a graphics driver problem. Does this happen only after running one particular game? If you reboot the machine and do not run that game does the PC behave normally? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...