Screen problems... Could the GPU be going out?

[NettoSaito]

A few months ago I bought a Nook Tablet, and everything has been working fine; however now problems are starting to occur. The other day while I was using it I noticed the screen started to get darker and darker and black dark lines started to flash. At first I didn't think too much of it, figured it was just a graphical glitch, so I did a hard shut down and restarted it. Well, that only made it worse.

When I turned the tablet back on I noticed that all of the colors were darker and it was having some pretty bad burn in and ghosting. Just about every screen I visited stayed, and after I opened a few aps the screen was nothing but a cluttered mess. Well that's when I figured I'd shut it off and leave it over night to see if that had anything to do with it.

The next day it was back to normal and everything was working fine, but once again that didn't last long. The problem started to happen once again, it got darker, it began to burn in, and once again I ended up shutting it down.

Since then I have tried turning it on quite a few more times, but every single time it gets worse... Here's what it looks like now.

(for anyone who cannot see the following image for whatever reason, basically different color lines are going across the screen)

Any idea what could cause this? I know quite a lot about computers and I've made sure to take really good care of the tablet. It's never been dropped, I keep it in a case, and there has never been any problems with it in the past outside of a few web browser freezes. I really just don't see why this would happen. Could it have over heated somehow? Bad GPU? Or could there have just been a problem with the screen? (I can still open apps and run programs although I can't see them.)

So anyone know what could of happened or what I should do?

[byter67]

Hmm - doesn't look good and you may have to seek a warranty replacement. You don't mention in your post whether or not your NT will take a charge.

[NettoSaito]

Yeah it'll charge and everything, and like I said apps still run (if you can figure out how to get to them), but the screen is just really messed up...

Also I haven't updated it for quite awhile so I really don't think a bad update could be the cause either.

[byter67]

I assume you do not have a memory card installed. Did you try a re-set? Hold power button for 20 seconds and release, Wait 1 minute and hit power button for 2 seconds.

[NettoSaito]

Yes as I said in my original post, I have done a few hard shut downs, and I've left it off over night. As in, more than 24 + hours. It only gets worse.

[byter67]

Given all that I guess I would walk it over to my nearest B&N and seek an exchange unit unless they have a cure at hand.

[BN_AlexG Administrator]

Hi NettoSaito,

I'm sorry to see you having a problem with your device. I've actually never come across this, but please PM me with your account info (email, SN) and I'll be more than happy to help.

- Alex

[PJLLB]

To the OP:  This looks like a video chip problem.  Take advantage of your warranty and contact B&N immendiately.

[NettoSaito · Accepted solution]

Ended up taking it back to Best Buy, and apparently they've had a LOT of them returned in the past few months. It's apparently a common problem and they simply exchanged it for a new one, and sent the old one off to get fixed. Hopefully the next one doesn't have this problem as well lol, but then again I guess I should have expected this sort of thing (after all I DID buy a launch unit).

[writerTS]

This recently started happening to my NT as well. Is there any other solution besides bringing it to the nearest B&N? I, unfortunately have misplaced my box (with all the paperwork inside that came with the NT) ... would they still take it?

[PJLLB]

---

writerTS wrote:

This recently started happening to my NT as well. Is there any other solution besides bringing it to the nearest B&N? I, unfortunately have misplaced my box (with all the paperwork inside that came with the NT) ... would they still take it?

---

B&N probably will, at a store, or you can chat with them online and see what they say.  They should be able to look it up online and see that you are the owner (assuming you're registered and have added it to your B&N account).

[writerTS]

excellent. thank you very much!