Vostro 1500 completely distorted image

Question

Hello,   Just looking for some help troubleshooting an issue I have with my new laptop.  I have a new Vostro 1500 (about a month and a half old).  Yesterday, when I booted up, the desktop screen was totally distorted from top to bottom with various colored lines.  You can make out that icons and the start menu icons are there, as they look like different colored lines from the rest of the desktop, but it's too distorted to tell what the individual icons are. Absolutley no text shows up on the screen.  You can't even make out enough on the screen to shut down.    At first I figured it had to be a video card issue, untill I rebooted, and noticed that the boot up screens were clear.  It isn't untill the desktop screen appears that the distortion shows up.  I also ran through the general diagnostics and the diagnotics for video distortion in the bios (F12 during start up).  This produced no issues and said the system is working properly.  All the test screens that were brought up during the video diagnostics looked fine.   Normally, I would just call the technical hotline, but unfortunatly I am on a business trip in Sweden, and I did't really realize that the Vostro does not recieve technical support in foreign countries...   Thanks for any help!

fervde · Answer

I have a vostro too, in the support page for Dell in Sweeden the number displayed for vostro support is 08-590-05198, you may contact them for help. Possibly you will have to update the video driver, try the video in safe mode and determine the cause of your video distorted image. Call this number and sure you will receive the support for your vostro 1500.

Rustyacres · Answer

Thanks for the info!  I can get in safe mode and everthing works and looks fine.  I got the updated driver from the online tech support, but that did not change anything.  I don't have access to an external moniter until I fly back home next week (that was also the online tech guys next step), however, most everything I need to do (and saved files I need to access) I can do in safe mode.  Thanks for the idea, I never thought of that!!  I appreciate the help!

kjavitz · Answer

I am having this same video issue where it gets distorted video, but the initial boot screen looks normal. Were you able to resolve this issue? I'd love to know how without the hassle of returning to the factory. it seems like a driver problem or something.

Rustyacres · Answer

Unfortunatly, I have not fixed the issue...  It does not seem to be a driver issue as I have updated it to the latest that Dell recommends, with the same issue still present.  The Dell sevice guys want me to re-install windows as a next step to try to fix this issue, but I really don't want to do that.  (I have the computer set up how I want it.)   As a result, I have figured out ways around it.  If it is the same issue as mine, you can enter safe mode and your screen will be normal.  From there, you can go into the control panel and disable your video card.  You can then restart and the computer will behave normally.   This only works for me because I do not use any graphic intensive programs.  If you do you are out of luck.  I plan to eventually fix the issue, but for now, I can't allow for the down time it will take to re-install windows, then get my computer settings and programs installed and functioning properly...   If you find out anything to help solve this, please let me know.

kjavitz · Answer

I was able to solve the problem. Here is what I did:

1. In BIOS (start machine press F2) under performance I disabled Intel 3d boost

2. Booted in Safe mode with networking support and downloaded latest Intel G965 driver from dell

3. Uninstalled old driver under device manager (control panel - device manager - display - uninstall) (there were 2 drivers for Intel G965, maybe that was the problem?)

4. Restarted the machine and windows vista loaded. Then I restarted the machine again and re-enabled the Intel 3d boost in Bios. It gave me a startup error glitch once, then restarted normally

I now am using the computer normally and no more crazy square boxes errors.

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Vostro 1500 completely distorted image

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