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11 Posts
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22050
February 6th, 2004 02:00
Video Problem - Messed up graphics
Hello, My problem is this, Very frequently, the display on my screen will get messed up. At best this is very annoying, at worst, it renders the computer inoperable, because I can't see a thing. (STAGE 1) The screen will show many many short verticle blue lines, if I open windows explorer, the lines will increase in number and be yellow on the white background, but blue outside the window. That is on a good day. On a bad day, (STAGE 2) the screen will go totally blue (or black with some blue) and the blue will flicker very quickly. Alternately, the screen might have some fairly solid thick yellow lines running down it, with bands of nifty colors seperating them. Needles to say, I can then no longer use the computer. Also, in the "stage 1" phase, if I open a dos window, and then make it full screen, there will be random non-typeable characters strewn all over the screen. I have tried connecting to other monitors, and experience the same problem on them, so my screen is not the issue, another piece of hardware is. It can not be a software problem either, as some of these symptoms are evident before anything has been loaded, when only the BIOS is being used. Also, I doubt it is the BIOS, because I starten with version A2 I believe, and am now using version A31 (and have used many versions inbetween, always experiencing this same problem. Also, I do have the latest viedo drivers. The problem occured before I updated the vid drivers or BIOS or anything else for that matter, and continuses to occur now that everything is up2date. So as I said, This has to ba a hardware (but not montior) issue. I just wanted to bring this to Dell's attention, and also ask what I could do to get the situation fixed. Thank you for your time.
Inspiron 5150
Intel 852PM Chip Set - Data bus width 64bits - DRAM bus width 64bits
Mobile Intel Pentium 4 @ 3.06GHz - Clock Speed 3.1GHz - L1 8KB (internal) - L2 512KB - External bus frequency 533MHz
1GB RAM @ 333MHz
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 - 64MB RAM (latest drivers)
15in. UltraSharp UXGA 1600x1200 native resolution 32bit @ 60Hz
60GB Fujitsu Hard Drive - Windows XP Pro (all updates/service packs)
Inspiron 5150
Intel 852PM Chip Set - Data bus width 64bits - DRAM bus width 64bits
Mobile Intel Pentium 4 @ 3.06GHz - Clock Speed 3.1GHz - L1 8KB (internal) - L2 512KB - External bus frequency 533MHz
1GB RAM @ 333MHz
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 - 64MB RAM (latest drivers)
15in. UltraSharp UXGA 1600x1200 native resolution 32bit @ 60Hz
60GB Fujitsu Hard Drive - Windows XP Pro (all updates/service packs)
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spiked_martini
948 Posts
0
February 6th, 2004 13:00
It's probably your video card. You'll have to call Dell and set up servicing for your laptop, which will entail mailing it in if you have a mail-in warranty, or onsite service if you bought an onsite warranty.
Best of luck getting your machine fixed.
Message Edited by spiked_martini on 02-06-2004 11:24 AM
MikeBi58
2 Intern
•
563 Posts
0
February 6th, 2004 14:00
Hello Duck Dodgers,
Welcome to the Dell Community Forum,
If you're are seeing these lines that you're describing before the Operating System loads and in bios also, I agree you're having a hardware problem.I suggest to run diags on the video card just to see if you get any error codes for Tech support usage.If you can't see that info because of the line problem
You can email Dell by Clicking Here for assistance.
Please include your system service tag and a description of the problem and troubleshooting done to try to resolve it.
You can also call Dell Technical Support. The phone number to contact our US Mobile Computing Hotline is 800-822-8965 for Corporate/Government Accounts or at 800-247-9252 for Direct accounts.
You will be connected to a Technical Specialist who will help you resolve the issue over the phone or arrange the appropriate service.
If you are outside of the United States, you will need to contact Dell in your global area.
Thank you for choosing Dell.
Duck Dodgers
11 Posts
0
February 6th, 2004 17:00
Patmichalouski
164 Posts
0
February 6th, 2004 18:00
MikeBi58
2 Intern
•
563 Posts
0
February 6th, 2004 18:00
Hello Duck Dodgers,
You have 2 options , when you first turn your system on at the Dell Splash screen just tap the F12 key continuos until you see the option to choose diagnostic.Highlight that option using your arrow keys and press enter. Also you can use your System Utilities Disk( and instead of choosing diagnostics choose to boot to the cdrom\dvd drive).Once the 32-bit diagnostics program starts to run you will see options on components to test.
Thanks,
bunso84
2 Posts
0
February 7th, 2004 21:00
How do you uprade firmware for te video card? What kind of card do you have?
I am currently experiencing the same problems, however I have recently upgraded my Graphics Card from a nVidia GeForce 2 32MB to an ATi Radeon 7500 64MB. The problem didn't start happening until a little more than a week after I installed the new hardware. I was thinking it might be a hardware problem but decided to research before I invest in another card, ATi Radeon M9000 64MB. I have not tried updating BIOS and it says I have the most recent video drivers. Please help.
------------ I8200 -----------------
1.6Ghz P4 Processor
Dell UXGA UltraSharp Monitor
ATi Radeon M7500 64MB
40GB 5200 rpm.
--------------------------------------
bunso84
2 Posts
0
February 9th, 2004 00:00
How do you uprade firmware for te video card? What kind of card do you have?
I am currently experiencing the same problems, however I have recently upgraded my Graphics Card from a nVidia GeForce 2 32MB to an ATi Radeon 7500 64MB. The problem didn't start happening until a little more than a week after I installed the new hardware. I was thinking it might be a hardware problem but decided to research before I invest in another card, ATi Radeon M9000 64MB. I have not tried updating BIOS and it says I have the most recent video drivers. Please help.
------------ I8200 -----------------
1.6Ghz P4 Processor
512 MB
Dell UXGA UltraSharp Monitor
ATi Radeon M7500 64MB
40GB 5200 rpm.
--------------------------------------
Duck Dodgers
11 Posts
0
February 9th, 2004 01:00
Unfortunatly, the diagnostics will no longer help me, The problem has escalatead to the point where I can not get the computer to start with anything intelligble on the screen. As soon as the screen comes on, it is covered with verticle lines of multiple colors. I will have to send it in to Dell to be fixed. Another thing I noticed, is that when I plug my computer into the wall, the power light will flash brightly and imediatly go out instead of staying on as it used to. This development corresponds with the degridation of my video problem. If they are related, which I strongly suspect, I don't see how the video card could affect the power light on the front of the computer. Is it posssible that something else is wrong as well?
By the way bunso84, I have an ATI Radion Mobility 9000 w/ 64MB memory. Is it possible, since you have a similar problem with an ATI card, that a batch of ATI cards have some sort of defect? Or that there is some problem w/ ATI cards in general? I doubt the latter option as ATI seems to make very good cards, (though I'm partial to nvidia).
Message Edited by Duck Dodgers on 02-08-2004 10:25 PM
Patmichalouski
164 Posts
0
February 9th, 2004 04:00
Duck Dodgers
11 Posts
0
February 9th, 2004 15:00
I have found many people with the same problem as I have, and all using ATI video cards. I think Dell should start a recall. There is obviously something wrong with (at least some of) ATI's video cards. The problem isn't confined to one model either. There are people having this problem with many different ATI cards.
P.S. Dell, please switch to nvidia, I liked them better even before this happened.
Duck Dodgers
11 Posts
0
February 9th, 2004 21:00
From what I've read on the internet in the past few hours, it seems that this problem may be caused by overheating. And it does seem to me that my 5150 runs pretty hot. That also might explain why the problem got worse as time went on. Just a thought.
Dell, can I just sent my 5150 in to be fixed with a description of the problem (I'm still under waranty, and the problem is evident on startup) or do I need to talk to tech support first?
spyder06
4 Posts
0
February 11th, 2004 10:00
I also am having the same type of problem that this use is having. I took a look for firmware updates that you suggested, and there doesn't seem to be any for the 5150.
Duck Dodgers
11 Posts
0
February 17th, 2004 01:00