why does the screen look like a barcode on my 1525 dell ?

three options

lcd screen defective
cable damage or bad connection
videoboard defective

the easy test to isolate to solution

check this through attaching an external display
if the external display shows up fine, the videoboard is okay
be ware of display resoltion settings, witch could mislead your results

that leaves us to lcd defect, or bad cable, cable connection
if you are a handy, dismantel the machine
check the videocable, it might be damaged in the hinge
or have come loose at connectors through the fall

at last, replace the lcd screen
get a second hand one from ebay

Jeroen van Putten
November 2008