Random Red Dots All Over the Screen

The Esquire,

Do these dots appear in safe mode?

* Restart the computer
* At the first beep (older systems) or on the blue Dell screen (new systems), tap the F8 key (do not hold it down)
* At some point, the Advanced Options menu will appear
* Scroll to and select Safe Mode [Press the Enter Key]
* Select the first or only operating system [Press the Enter Key]

Not having the issue in safemode tells me this is most likely just a driver corruption issue.

* Download and install the Nvidia drivers
* Click DOWNLOAD DRIVERS
* Click Graphics Driver
* Click GeForce and TNT2
* Click your operating system
* Click Go!
* Click Primary Download Site under U.S. English- Downloads
(SP2 users might have to allow the popup. If so click allow popups- Yes)
* Click Accept
* Click Save
* Click Desktop
* Click Save

* Download and install the Driver Cleaner
* Scroll down until you see the word Download
* Click the grey icon under the red arrow
* Click Save- Desktop- Save
* Open My Computer- C: and create a folder called DC
* Move the downloaded DriverCleaner file into the C:\DC folder
* Open the folder DC
* Right click on the downloaded DriverCleaner file
* Choose Extract All
* Click Next
* The blank should read C:\DC
* Click Next
* Remove the check
* Click Finish
* Close all running applications (Norton, Mcafee, Ati, Nvidia, etc.)
* Double-click setup.exe from within the C:\DC folder
* Click I accept
* Click Next
* Click Next
* Click Next
* Click Install
* Remove all checks
* Click Finish
* Close all boxes
* Click Start- All Programs- Driver Cleaner Pro- Driver Cleaner Pro
* Click OK
* Click every Nvidia or Ati listed (whatever video card driver your removing)
* Click Add
* Click Start. When finished, close all boxes
* Double-click the downloaded driver for your new video card. When finished, the system should restart and do some possible refresh testing

ChrisM... the dots do not appear in Safe Mode.  Also unusual, I tried deleting the display drivers and let Windows install generic drivers.  I did not notice any dots.  As soon as I reinstalled the nVidia drivers, the dots were back.   And, they seem to be getting progressively worse.   Before, I'd have a few stray dots in drop down menus, and the taskbar.  Now, they're becoming clearly evident in all places...   This system is only about 6 weeks old.  I didn't have this problem when I first got it.  Do you have any suggestions?

ChrisM--many thanks for taking the time to run through this.  Unfortunately, I don't think my problem is resolved.  Here are the steps I ran through.  (By the way, my new Dell monitor arrived today, and the problem appears on that monitor as well, so I think we've eliminated the monitor as a problem). 

I followed your steps exactly, downloading the driver from nVidia and the Drive Cleaner program.  I'm running Windows XP Media Center Edition (according to System Properties, it's Media Center Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 2; according to "Help and Support," it's Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004... not sure why the difference, but the computer is only 6 weeks old).  For the nVidia driver, I selected Windows XP Media Center Edition (driver version 71.84).  I did the cleaning and installed the new driver.  Great, no dots!  However, everything appeared blurry.  White text was light grey, black text was dark grey.  Scrolling was very choppy and moving windows around created shadows.  Icons had blurry shadows around them.  Moreover, I was not able to use the Standby option (it wasn't available as an option in Turn Off Computer).  So, I went back and downloaded the Dell supplied driver for this graphics card (nVidia 256MB PCI Express x16 GeForce 6800), which is version 71.24.  I ran the Drive Cleaner program and installed this driver.  Text and scrolling, etc., returned to normal, but the dots also returned.  So, I went back to nVidia and downloaded the latest drivers for just Windows XP (not Media Center Edition), which is version 71.89.  I ran the Drive Cleaner program and installed these latest drivers.  Text, graphics, and scrolling are fine, standby is available, but I still get all the dots!

If you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears!!!  If it helps, I have a couple of screen shots of these dots.  Thanks again for your help!

---

@The Esquire wrote:

... I ran the Drive Cleaner program and installed this driver. Text and scrolling, etc., returned to normal, but the dots also returned. So, I went back to nVidia and downloaded the latest drivers for just Windows XP (not Media Center Edition), which is version 71.89. I ran the Drive Cleaner program and installed these latest drivers. Text, graphics, and scrolling are fine, standby is available, but I still get all the dots!

If you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears!!! If it helps, I have a couple of screen shots of these dots. Thanks again for your help!

---

Sometimes if you are having artifacts it helps to roll back to a previous Certified driver. The most current MCE driver is 71.84 do you have Media Center edition?
Version: 71.84
Release Date: March 11, 2005
WHQL Certified

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_71.84.html

if you start using later or beta drivers anything can happen I've read....

for WinXP latest is
Version: 71.89
Release Date: April 14, 2005
WHQL Certified
work great for me. much better than the original Dell drivers supplied with the card.

Message Edited by katwomansz on 06-03-2005 12:04 AM

If the advice from katwomansz doesn't work, let me know and I will replace the video card.

I will run through it again and see what happens.  Thanks katwomansz.  I think I already was trying the drivers you referenced, but I will double check.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to get at my computer until tomorrow night at the earliest.  I feel like I'm driving around in a car with the check engine light on!

This raises another question: which drivers for what operating system should I be using?  The XP Media Center drivers looked horrible (even though that's what I have--see above for the discrepancy on version); the just XP drivers look the best (without all the dots that is!!!)... although all of this may be interrelated with whatever the ultimate problem is.

...and thanks ChrisM for all your help too!  I'll let you know the results again!  I have to admit, these forums are much more informative and helpful than Dell Chat.  Thanks!

---

@The Esquire wrote:

I will run through it again and see what happens. Thanks katwomansz. I think I already was trying the drivers you referenced, but I will double check. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get at my computer until tomorrow night at the earliest. I feel like I'm driving around in a car with the check engine light on!

This raises another question: which drivers for what operating system should I be using? The XP Media Center drivers looked horrible (even though that's what I have--see above for the discrepancy on version); the just XP drivers look the best (without all the dots that is!!!)... although all of this may be interrelated with whatever the ultimate problem is.

...and thanks ChrisM for all your help too! I'll let you know the results again! I have to admit, these forums are much more informative and helpful than Dell Chat. Thanks!

---

If you have Media Center you should use MCE drivers.
If you have WinXP drivers use WinXP drivers.
I don't think you can mix them up and that may be your very problem.

I think Dell chat takes you right to India. They mean well and probably answer all the first timer questions that they are probably deluged with.
I don't blame Dell for outsourcing since they have to deal with SO many new clueless new users.
Saves Chris for the real tough ones!

ChrisM... I tried your instructions again and re-installed both the Dell and nVidia drivers and my problem still remains.  I'm hoping a new video card will resolve the problem.  Can you tell me what I need to do in order to get one.  I suspect you might have access to my service tag and my e-mail address if you need to contact me that way.  Otherwise, feel free to let me know here what you need and I'll supply the information. 

And again, many thanks to you and katwomansz for trying to help me resolve my problems with dots!  And if there is anyone at Dell I can tell about the great service you've been providing, please let me know.  I always believe in letting the appropriate people know when I receive excellent customer service. 

Correction:  that's room temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit; the rest of the temps are Celsius as reported by the graphics card.

Additional Information:  While watching live TV and monitoring the temperature, the GPU core temperature hovered around 137 C--the core slowdown temperature is set at 145 C.  Turning off the TV, the core temp dropped back down to 98 C; ambient temp 51 C.  Not sure if this is normal!

Even More Information:  The computer has been sitting idle this afternoon.  After returning, I had at least a half-dozen notifications that the GPU core temperature has exceeded its threshold and that the graphics card performance has been reduced to avoid damage.  Core temp threshold is set at 145 C.  Now I'm thinking this isn't normal, especially because the computer was simply sitting idle.  This thing is running way too hot.

Any suggestions?

Message Edited by VCraig on 06-13-2005 10:46 PM

I'm going to have to get in there with a flashlight tonight to see if I can see the card fan blowing.  It's near impossible to see because there are other cards blocking view.  In any event, here's what I observed yesterday:  I opened the case, booted up and clearly heard the card fan start up.  Closed the case, thought all was fine.  Used the computer and experienced all the heat problems described above.  Shut down and let it cool.  On restarting, I listened closely to the fans.  The graphics card fan seems to have a more distinct whine to it, so I clearly heard it when I turned the computer on.  A couple of minutes after booting, however, the whine stopped, suggesting to me the graphics card fan stopped.  I checked the GPU temp as soon as I could after starting up and it was already hovering in the mid-90's C.  I was thinking perhaps these card fans are variable speed and after booting it just settled into a slower speed, but with these kinds of temps, I'm thinking not.  Or, the temp sensor is bad?  Either way, I think I'm going to need to ask for another card.  I hate to turn the computer on for fear of damage to other components if this thing is in fact running that hot.