I ran a LCD screen test by holding down the power button while holding the letter D key. This ran an LCD test which showed no signs of flickering or any of my symptoms visible in Windows, Linux, and throughout the boot process. It flashed Red Green and Blue and White. (RGB) to test the LCD. Now it seems the issue is not the LCD so it must be the video card. It could also be the Internal Intel HD4000 as well. I'm suspecting everyone and everything for now. I need this resolved ASAP. I'm a Computer Science student, this is for programming and any other task I would like to accomplish. Please enlighten me with your replies. Thank you.
Getting right on it! Thank you very much. I have tried to downgrade the drivers, but that also has done nothing. Maybe I didnt downgrade enough. I downgraded to 327.23. this was the exact file name....
Well I have used the HDMI input in the past a while back, but I have not used it in a long time, and I don't think I did the procedure properly....Like closing all programs prior to using the HDMI in feature. Yes though, the lines did not appear until after I used the HDMI in slot. I know it's not the screen, well I assume it isnt, because when I use the HDMI, it works without the lines. This issue only happened, AFTER I used the HDMI in functionality.
I ran the testing, and it said everything passed. The only testing I saw it do for the vid card was check if lines showed up on the screen.
Also, let it be known when I ran the LCD testing (I learned about from another forum) by hitting the power button and holding the letter D.....everything worked well, it flashed through all the colors without any problems, and without any flickering or manipulated pixels showing up anywhere.
The LCD testing went fine, and the Diagnostic testing all passed. I still have my finger pointed at these NVIDIA drivers.....how do I completely delete the current ones without losing screen visibility?
Sorry! I just meant the video driver. The article explains how to completely uninstall the video driver and has the link to download the driver from the Dell Support site.
You can try a clean video driver install as explained here, make sure you use the driver from the Dell Support site. You shouldn't loose screen visibility during this process.
Solved it. It was so simple. Now most people would consider it a lose HDMI, but in reality, it was a too snugly fit HDMI. I loosened it while it was connected to see when it would affect the screen and I made it so that it would stay without the flickering at certain points. I figured out how to reach those points, and then taped down the position with electrical tape. I know this isnt the best solution for most of you, but it worked completely for me. Had NOTHING to do with my videocard.......Just a loose LCD cable. Toyed with it a little, while it was plugged in to see how each position affected the screen.
Figured out the position, and voila, I can now program and use Photoshop in peace, and I can stop being the embarassed guy in my C++ with Data Structures class who has the 2000$ laptop and a messed up screen. Yay, now I have to finish putting this thing back together without messing with the current LCD cord position o.o
SOLVED! (If you're fine with opening up your laptop)
:) Thanks for all your suggestions. I have the most updated drivers now because of you all. :)
Id like to get this figured out ASAP.......thanks in advance.
EDIT:
Instead of installing the Intel driver, which did not work, I tried installing the NVIDIA drivers again, and this time ran it as an express install. It installed no problem. The only reason I tried was to see the exact not able to install message, but it went all the way through this time. I now have the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website installed and a fully functional computer. What is annoying though is that I have to have the LCD cord loose for the screen to work properly.
Usually though I move the screen back and forth a little and find the spot to where my screen stops flickering. It's a pain, but it works. I'm happy with it for now. I did use tape to try to tape the LCD cord so it remains loose, but it semi works. Luckily I have electrical tape, so I'm not worried about taping over the back of the cord to keep it in place. It's a pain because taping it down doesnt work, it has to be taped to be held in the exact working loose placement of the cord. I have my handy screw driver to remove my keyboard though if toying with the screen angle doesnt help solve the problem off the bat.
I mean yes, I'm a computer science major, but seriously, that really was not difficult. You just had to toy with the cord until it started working.
For me, I pulled it all the way out and then pushed it all the way in, and pulled out until the flickering stopped. If it started again I'd push it back in so that it was just right.....Lol
Yeah though, I was finally able to Install the latest drivers without any issues. I'll report back if any occur. NVIDIA GTX 680M shows up in the Device Manager again.
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 15th, 2014 00:00
I ran a LCD screen test by holding down the power button while holding the letter D key. This ran an LCD test which showed no signs of flickering or any of my symptoms visible in Windows, Linux, and throughout the boot process. It flashed Red Green and Blue and White. (RGB) to test the LCD. Now it seems the issue is not the LCD so it must be the video card. It could also be the Internal Intel HD4000 as well. I'm suspecting everyone and everything for now. I need this resolved ASAP. I'm a Computer Science student, this is for programming and any other task I would like to accomplish. Please enlighten me with your replies. Thank you.
Jeremy
Alienware-Naomi
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
April 15th, 2014 13:00
Hi!
In case it's a software or configuration issue, try to do a System Restore using a recovery point before the problem started. Let me know how it goes!
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 15th, 2014 14:00
I did do that already, sorry I didnt mention that part :\"
Here's a video of the symptoms.
http://zabidey.com/Screenflicker.mp4
Alienware-Naomi
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
April 15th, 2014 15:00
Send me a private message with your Service Tag, contact information and link to this thread so I can review your case further.
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 15th, 2014 15:00
Getting right on it! Thank you very much. I have tried to downgrade the drivers, but that also has done nothing. Maybe I didnt downgrade enough. I downgraded to 327.23. this was the exact file name....
327.23-notebook-win8-win7-64bit-international-whql
Thank you for any further help. Again, System Restore did absolutely nothing.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 09:00
I am confused...was the M17x-R4 screen flickering BEFORE you ever used the HDMI input?
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 10:00
Well I have used the HDMI input in the past a while back, but I have not used it in a long time, and I don't think I did the procedure properly....Like closing all programs prior to using the HDMI in feature. Yes though, the lines did not appear until after I used the HDMI in slot. I know it's not the screen, well I assume it isnt, because when I use the HDMI, it works without the lines. This issue only happened, AFTER I used the HDMI in functionality.
I ran the testing, and it said everything passed. The only testing I saw it do for the vid card was check if lines showed up on the screen.
Also, let it be known when I ran the LCD testing (I learned about from another forum) by hitting the power button and holding the letter D.....everything worked well, it flashed through all the colors without any problems, and without any flickering or manipulated pixels showing up anywhere.
The LCD testing went fine, and the Diagnostic testing all passed. I still have my finger pointed at these NVIDIA drivers.....how do I completely delete the current ones without losing screen visibility?
Thank you.
Jeremy
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 18:00
That sounds like alot of work. I just have to uninstall Windows though, not Linux, right?
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 18:00
LOL! Wow......I just made a zip file of my whole Download folder......I guess Ill just use that as a back up zip file, lol
Ill do the drivers thing now. Thank you.
Alienware-Naomi
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 18:00
Sorry! I just meant the video driver. The article explains how to completely uninstall the video driver and has the link to download the driver from the Dell Support site.
Alienware-Naomi
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 18:00
You can try a clean video driver install as explained here, make sure you use the driver from the Dell Support site. You shouldn't loose screen visibility during this process.
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 16th, 2014 22:00
Uninstalled and it made no difference. Also, I had to use a drivers uninstall program and ccleaner to get all the Nvidia installation files. :\
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 24th, 2014 13:00
Solved it. It was so simple. Now most people would consider it a lose HDMI, but in reality, it was a too snugly fit HDMI. I loosened it while it was connected to see when it would affect the screen and I made it so that it would stay without the flickering at certain points. I figured out how to reach those points, and then taped down the position with electrical tape. I know this isnt the best solution for most of you, but it worked completely for me. Had NOTHING to do with my videocard.......Just a loose LCD cable. Toyed with it a little, while it was plugged in to see how each position affected the screen.
Figured out the position, and voila, I can now program and use Photoshop in peace, and I can stop being the embarassed guy in my C++ with Data Structures class who has the 2000$ laptop and a messed up screen. Yay, now I have to finish putting this thing back together without messing with the current LCD cord position o.o
SOLVED! (If you're fine with opening up your laptop)
:) Thanks for all your suggestions. I have the most updated drivers now because of you all. :)
Alienware-Naomi
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
April 24th, 2014 16:00
That's great to hear! Let me know if you need anything else.
eyekantbeme
21 Posts
0
April 24th, 2014 21:00
Yes, I have an issue with not having my intel HD 4000? .....display driver installed, so it is not allowing me to install the newest GTX 680M drivers.
I get this message. My computer system info is available above.
http://grab.by/wl6A
Id like to get this figured out ASAP.......thanks in advance.
EDIT:
Instead of installing the Intel driver, which did not work, I tried installing the NVIDIA drivers again, and this time ran it as an express install. It installed no problem. The only reason I tried was to see the exact not able to install message, but it went all the way through this time. I now have the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website installed and a fully functional computer. What is annoying though is that I have to have the LCD cord loose for the screen to work properly.
Usually though I move the screen back and forth a little and find the spot to where my screen stops flickering. It's a pain, but it works. I'm happy with it for now. I did use tape to try to tape the LCD cord so it remains loose, but it semi works. Luckily I have electrical tape, so I'm not worried about taping over the back of the cord to keep it in place. It's a pain because taping it down doesnt work, it has to be taped to be held in the exact working loose placement of the cord. I have my handy screw driver to remove my keyboard though if toying with the screen angle doesnt help solve the problem off the bat.
I mean yes, I'm a computer science major, but seriously, that really was not difficult. You just had to toy with the cord until it started working.
For me, I pulled it all the way out and then pushed it all the way in, and pulled out until the flickering stopped. If it started again I'd push it back in so that it was just right.....Lol
Yeah though, I was finally able to Install the latest drivers without any issues. I'll report back if any occur. NVIDIA GTX 680M shows up in the Device Manager again.
Thank you all!