Someone has managed to ruin my father's laptop, so that when you try to start it up, the screen breaks down into first pretty little squares of snow, before it blacks out completely. Now what I want to know is, based on that little information (it's pretty much all I know about it) is there anything I can do to fix it up?

Pictures required. Hi res ones preferably.

Any idea what happened?

(Liquid spill? dropped? Rolled over by a truck?)

Based on the very little information given, one of a few things could have happened. Most likely is an electrical surge or blunt force trauma to the laptop, so I would imagine the video card is fried (which is what it sounds like). I doubt a liquid spill could really cause that problem - generally they just ruin laptop keyboards (which are pretty easy to have replaced), as the keyboard is sitting over the motherboard, rather protectively (thankfully!).

I'm going to guess something happened to the video card - either an electrical surge fried it or the laptop was dropped or it overheated and something cracked. Either way, yea, I would suspect it's time to get a new one (and why you should ALWAYS buy the drop/spill protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Unfortunately, drop/spill warranty doesn't protect against angry teenagers hammering on the keys. After getting to check the computer in question, I've come to the same conclusion as Eventru. Thanks for the help, despite me giving almost no info.

Well, if it's from 'hammering' on the keys, it depends on where the videocard is located. Unfortunately, if it's not the videocard, it's the motherboard, which is like saying, 'We've some good news and bad news, Mrs. Pewterschmidt. Your husband's heart is actually fine. It's his brain that's a pile of goop.'

And yes, it is covered, if you happened to drop it while it was open and it actually 'accidently' landed at the edge of your heavy metal coffee table you were standing by. That is, assuming that sort of tragedy's covered by your drop/spill. Mine is!