Good source of information. What I need to know is how to get the cursor back. The cursor is on when it goes to the desktop and then it disappears. This is a new computer and I must have hit another button when typing.

Some very good suggestions, gentlemen. I wanted to keep it relatively simple, but some of those would definitely be good to add. I will see about adding details about fans, hinges, and batteries soon.

More on display:

• alternative method for checking bad pixels: show black-white checkerboard (1px) pattern, the interference should be visible
• try warping lid: it may reveal torsion-dependent defects (bleeding)
• image persistence (burn-in or ghost) : open checkerboard (make  square size about 1cm) black-white pattern for a while (2-5minutes) then display gray background. The gray value is subject to tune (I recommend
  40/256–80/256)
• check for dust-like particles in the display.
• check also strage spots (2mm) on max brightness : various solid backgrounds, black
• check also PWM on various brightness levels:  for CMOS camera use shortest exposure time possible: PWM present if single picture has black bands. For CCD, PWM present if series of images has different brightness. — Alternative method: in dark room, move pen/finger in front of LCD
• check temporal noise: present in corners,  more image patterns must be tried
• check viewing angles: MSI advertises (and others may do too) IPS-Level for TN
• check  response times: for some usage scenarios (movies watching, animations), some LCDs have too long response times

More on chassis:

• I had laptop with  bad speaker connector contact. When I pressed palmrest or touchpad, sound muted
• Nasty creaking noise when pressed chassis in various places
• Fan(s) should be spinning fine. Rattling or grinding sounds indicate bearing problem.
• The hinges should not wobble.

More:

• Check if battery wear (or fully charged capacity) is correct: for new laptop zero percent wear, for used laptop if the value matches sellers's claim
• Keyboards differ in number of simultaneously pressed keys that are correctly recognized. It is important for gaming and musician (musical notes /chords created by keyboard) applications. But the non conflicting key groups can differ (2x2 blocks or lines, columns, random)
• For PWM ultra sensitive people: Even keyboard can have (and almost often have) PWM.

Touchpad problems

• touchpad experience very depends on drivers/sofware. The scrolling performance may be different in browser and in other apps. If it does not work out of box, it require lot tweaking
• Power adapter may also be source of hi-freq noise (buzz), even if not connected to laptop
• Laptop may have also poor bluetooth and wifi reception signal. Some have bluetooth separately with poor antennae nearby SSD.

coil whine

Other important components to test are memory, disk/SSD, wifi, ports, speakers, webcam, fingerprint reader,...