8200 Screen Distortion, Flicking, Unstable

Some info before i explain:

 

Inspiron 8200

Ship Date: 6/11/2002

GeForce 4Go 440

 

About 2 days ago while at school, I tuned on the laptop and everything seemed fine till i logged in and reached the desktop. My screen would go haywire, it would become distorted and unreadable. Then my screen would start flickering and display weird display lines. I immediately turned off the computer and restarted, but the same problem occurs.

 

I thought that it could be the battery power affecting it so when i got home, and plugged in the AC power, booted up the computer, everything seemed fine till i reached the XP log on screen, my computer would freeze and lock up, the screen would freeze and then starting from the bottom right corner of my screen, it would start to gradually turn the whole screen black. I connected my CRT monitor to my laptop at the same time and no picture would come up on the CRT as well when i tried pressing "Fn" and F8 to get a signal to the CRT.

 

Today, i boot up, everything is fine, i can go online and use the computer, but at unexpected times, my screen would go haywire again. Here ill provide some pics:

 

 

 

 

The screen would start flashing and lines would appear and become distorted...I dont know whats really going on but these series of weird events with my screen is freaking me out haha.

 

I poped in the Diagnostic CD at boot up and ran the video card test and "several errors occured" (cant remember exactly the result of the test). I think my video card has gone bad. If any one can provide some information that would be great.

 

My warranty states this on the dell website:

                                                               Provider     Start Date              End Date            Days Left

Rapid Response Depot                        S O L             6/12/2003             6/11/2005                   203 

If i do need to send it in, how long would it take? And how would i go about this? I've never done this process before. Please help.

 

Mark