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worldchobo
10 Posts
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48990
November 5th, 2002 09:00
[FIXED] Corrupted screen
Inspiron 8100, geforce 2
In windows (on deskop, open gl or dx games), display randomly becomes corrupted, multi colored rectangles swapping and changing position. Does not look like 'static'.
In DOS characters change colors and swap. Space character consistently becomes left bracket character.
Also occurs in BIOS screen. The pattern of courruption is always the same.
Sound playback continues for several seconds then stops, mouse pointer can also be moved, then total lock up, have to power down system. Moving system or touching keyboard causes corruption to change.
Screen corruption sometimes does not appear for periods of weeks, sometimes appears seconds after boot.
Recently I am unable to use the system at all without screen corruption, including the blue Dell screen at startup.
Please note: this is not a driver issue. Is the graphics card or motherboard faulty? Have read *many* reports of same problem on forums but multiple replacement graphics card and/or motherboard has made no effect in any of those cases.
No effect:
Reinstall OS
Tried different operating systems (98/ME/w2k)
Clean DOS boot disk
Reseat video ribbon cable
Reseat video card
Different RAM
Upgrade drivers (tried all versions)
Upgrade bios (tried all versions)
Enabling/disabling power management
External monitor (monitor and LCD shows same corruption)
Full virus scan
Different hard drive
Battery or AC power
Message Edited by worldchobo on 11-06-2002 12:03 PM
Message Edited by worldchobo on 12-10-2002 05:34 PM
3349
0
Posted November 5th, 2002 10:00
Hi,
From your detailed description it seems like the only thing to point to is your Flex Cable connection between the video card and the LCD screen.
If your move your notebook does the problem worsen? If you GENTLY twist or press on your LCD near the base does the problem change?
If you are positive it isn't a driver issue then it narrows down to a possibly defective video card or the more likely of the two, the Flex Cable Connection.
Good Luck
Lee
============================
Inspiron I8100 - P3 1 Gig - WIN XP Professional (Upgrade)
BIOS A11 - 384MB RAM - 14" SXGA SMSNG Display
64MB GeForce4 440 Go Mobile Part # 5J149 Drivers (DELL) 28.35
ESS Maestro Driver Dell Ver A13 - Hitachi 20 Gig HD -DK23CA-20
Samsung CD-ROM SN-124 - Toshiba DVD SD-C2502
Modular Floppy - Modular HD Carrier x-DL-4169D (Empty)
Air/Land Pack - 2 Batteries - Actiontec 56k 10/100 NIC (Default Drivers)
"Dude - I've GOT a Dell"
==========================3349
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Posted November 5th, 2002 12:00
I have the exact same laptop with the exact same problem, I am currently running XP Home on it. Unfortunately, the unit is out of warranty. I have tried everything to remedy. It does this is safe mode, everything. When it is stable, and the laptop is moved, it goes all whacky again. I will keep my eyes open here for a possible fix.3349
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Posted November 5th, 2002 14:00
> I will keep my eyes open here for a possible fix.
Thanks.
3349
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Posted November 5th, 2002 14:00
The pattern of corruption on the blue startup Dell screen is always the same.
In the BIOS and also in DOS is always the same also. The characters are always substituted for the same weird symbols.
I will post links to photos in a short while.
3340
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Posted November 5th, 2002 15:00
I get the same problem. It happens in DOS and the BIOS as well so it obviously isn't a driver problem. I plugged it into a monitor and guess what... same problem. So that proves it is not the flex cable3340
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Posted November 6th, 2002 08:00
I am going to try to get the video card or motherboard replaced. I will let you know how it works out. Hopefully your similar problems can be solved the same way.
Dell UK sent me a quote for 20 warranties. Surely some mistake? By the way Dell I only have one notebook?
Here is the letter, look at 'Quantity' and 'Quote Total'
???
3340
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Posted November 6th, 2002 14:00
The system also crashes and this is from the minidump file:
"The driver nv4_disp for the display device\Device\Video0 got stuck in an infinite loop. This usually indicates a problemwith the device itself or with the device driver programming the hardware incorrectly..."
3340
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Posted November 6th, 2002 15:00
What LCD do you have?1129
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Posted November 6th, 2002 15:00
sirfergy: I don't know what LCD I have but I will find out and post that.
*when I unplug the LCD completely and use an external monitor instead I still get the same problem*
ITBoy: I solved my BSOD problems by using Windows 2000 rather than Windows XP. Upgrading/downgrading drivers, bios, etc made no difference. The only thing that worked was changing to Windows 2000. I get no BSODs or crashes - only this stupid screen corruption problem.
Is it the same cause but different symptoms? I have no idea :)
worldchobo
10 Posts
3349
0
Posted November 5th, 2002 10:00
As I said I have tried connecting to an external monitor. Just now I did the same thing. Even with the flex cable not even plugged in the external monitor shows the same screen corruption.