Welcome to the Forum :smileyhappy:

 

What graphics chip do you have? You might want to run a diagnostic.

 

Cheers!

Try reseating the cable that runs between the mainboard and display panel (service manual:  support.dell.com, product support, enter service tag, manuals).

 

If that doesn't fix the problem, the LCD panel needs repair or replacement.

 

Thanks for the great ideas.

I did already try to re-seat the cable to the VC and it checked out.  I have thought about trying to dismantle the LCD and try the connection on that end.  I have the nvidia GeForce Go 7400 chipset.  I have also tried to observe if the picture changes while I open and close the screen, but the image is unchanged then as well.  I will try the diagnostic next, but from what I have read about others trying it, it doesn't seem like it actually diagnosises anything.  But, I will give it a shot.

Have the same EXACT problem.

 

It was intermittent for a while and then constant. Fixed it once by running the built-in diagnostics, but could not duplicate that fix. 

Think this problem started immediately after I accepted the update to Media Direct...

Other symptoms: Start button is rounded instead of square. Windows XP shut down screen looks like it has a bullseye in upper left corner (all color gradients, such as in title bars, have vertical bands and crosshatch).

White text on black background is unreadable.

Still images look horrible.

Videos have red lines around images and are horrible as well.

Thought (and still think) that even the DELL BIOS screen text looks wrong, but the Dell Logo looks crisp.

 

1) Updated BIOS to 8. (no change)

2) Updated NVIDIA drivers. (no change)

3) Changed NVIDIA settings and things started to get better. (Changed the Start button back to square, task bar icons look crisp again and most of the text is now readable.)

 

Still is not right and quite frankly I don't know what else to do.

Just searched the Dell Forum with "M1210 video distortion" and found several others with the same exact XPS M1210 video problem. (Non-windows text distorted, video distortion, external monitor looks fine.)

This is turning into a bigger issue...

Update:

Reseated the display connector. No change.

Have decided that by changing NVIDIA and Windows settings, I am not making the problem better just doing a work around to be able to use the computer.

The BIOS screen text also shows the effects of this problem, with characters that are not completely formed.

All shaded color in Windows is either crosshatch or banded. (including title bars and buttons)

All video and images have red lines and distortion. (unusable)

All graphics tests using Dell diagnostics look perfect. (Wow!)

 

Still think that the Media Direct update caused this.

 

What would cause even BIOS text to be bad, but allow the built-in (non-Windows) Dell diagnostics to look perfect???

I just reactivated my tech support subscription, so now I am going to get them on the case.

At this point I am pretty sure that it has something to do with the LCD panel itself.  Maybe maybe, Dell will have some extended warranty or defective part program for this particular model.

Recently, on one of the other Dell forums, someone posted that Dell had sent them a M1330 as a warranty replacement for a failed M1210. (Dell no longer makes the M1210.) Based on this, I am guessing they don't have parts?

 

Hope you are going to share your findings with the rest of us that have this same problem.

Thank you.

That is interesting to hear about the warranty replacement.  I just extended my limited warranty and I wonder if this would be covered under it?  I should really hope so since this is obviouulsy part failure and the computer is less than a year and a half old.

In a selfish way, I don't really want a M1330.  I would like to keep my notebook as small as possible because it travels a lot with me.  But, I can't complain if they are going to give me a brand new one.  We'll see.

I will certainly post what happens when I speak to the techies.

Well, I found out that Dell will not extend my warranty now that it has expired and since it's four months out of warranty they won't touch the computer without a fee.  I had a long philosophical argument, one I am sure he has herd many times before, about how can a 16 month old product die and not be the responsibility of the manufacturer.

An estimate to have it fixed is approaching the cost of a cheap replacement notbook, and since this is the third Dell computer that has gone bad on me, I am not going to give them any more of my money.  It works well enough to get me by until my next purchase, plus I am just going to use an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. like I was before.

I wish the best for any others out there with similar issues.  Good luck.