Screen problem

[frogchook]

Hello,
My nephew has a Compaq Presario CQ42 laptop.
The screen has divided into 2 equal parts, one side is black and the other is grey, with lines running through both parts.
Not really sure what to do with it as it is hard to see much of the screen, can just make out things on the grey side occasionally. Any help would apreciated.
Thank you.

 

[scottiemedic]

Hook it up to an external monitor and see if it works. If so, then you have a bad inverter or bad LCD panel. If it DOESN'T work, then it's probably a bad video card.

 

[unclejehmimah]

I'm wondering, could you tell me if it flickers and the lines move around, or is it stationary?