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January 10th, 2006 13:00
Distorted Video
Last week I decided to update a Dell Inspirion 8000 laptop computer to Windows XP professional. There were no problems at all with the installation. I downloaded and installed the latest (correct) drivers for sound and graphics, to replace the ones installed by the Windows XP setup.
Most of the time everything on the screen is crisp and clear but occasionally when I start up everything is very distorted. It is like looking at images through thermal imaging or the pictures we see when watching the Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator Films.
For unconnected reasons, I used a program for checking the integrity of the hard drive. The program runs in DOS from a floppy disk and I started to get distortion on the screen. It looked like wind was blowing the text. I have never seen anything like that before.
Later on and back in Windows XP professional, I connected my Acer 17" monitor to the Dell. The Dell at the time was showing distorted images. All was crisp and clear on the Acer but the display only lasted a few seconds before the screen went black. Then I noticed that the display on the Dell was crystal clear. My Acer was OK when reconnected to my usual computer.
I hope someone out there may be able to tell me what is wrong.
Thanks in advance.
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4xjb
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February 2nd, 2008 15:00
I had this same problem in Dec 2006 with an Inspiron laptop. All system diagnostics were run and nothing appeared to be wrong but I kept having the problem. Dell replaced some components but the problem persisted. Dell couldn't figure it out and finally replaced my system with an XPS M1210.
I have enjoyed my XPS now since spring of 2007 but would occasionally get the same problem, though not as often. Since they couldn't figure it out before, and it happened only occasionally...also I was out of warranty service, I just dealt with it.
This month, Jan 2007, I just purchased a new hard drive (120GB) from Dell because I've maxed out my 60GB drive. Since installing it last week, I seem to get this screen problem everytime I boot up my machine. It takes several minutes for the picture to finally normalize and when it doesn't I reboot and try again. I loaded XP SP2 and the drivers from the Dell CD they sent me which are dated Nov 2006. I wonder if it is a driver problem?