compaq portable 386 display problem

[Paulk]

Hello
I just got nice looking compaq portable 386, but when i powered it on there is a distorted line about 1" wide going from top to bottom in the middle of the screen.
I am attaching picture.
Seller says that screen looked ok. Not sure if something happened during shipping. It was packed very good and there was no damage on the box, but who knows.
My questions :
is something wrong with a screen itself ?
is something wrong with components that drives a screen?
something else?
does screen from compaq portable III will fit portable 386?
Thx for any help
Paul

 

[ajacocks]

Paul,

I'd guess that the issue is the plasma display, itself, or more specifically the flat-flex cables and/or connectors that attach the driver chips to the display:

https://www.retropaq.com/the-miracle-of-gas-plasma/

There is a great picture there that shows the connections. Probably a couple of adjacent raster lines are making poor contact.

- Alex