CDLOUS4,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

You could try reinstalling the video card drivers to see if this will resolve your issue. If not,post this issue on the Desktop video section of the forum.

Hi it's me again.  Now that we have solved the problem of me installing SP1 and IE9 on my computer I have another issue, it doesn't happen all the time but once in a while since I've downloaded the SP1 and IE9.  Every once in a while my screen will just turn blank white.  I could be on a web page or doing something else and all of a sudden it just turns compltely blank and all white.  If I tap the off button on my computer it will come back and I hit cancel to shut down but find that this happens every once in a while and would like to know why it's doing this or if there is anything to stop this.  Only recently has been doing that, never did that before.  Thanks for any help or ideas.  Dell Inspirion 530S with windows 7.

Have you tried running dell diagnostic from the drivers cd, or by pressing F12 from the boot screen.

What video card have you got?

Try downloading the latest driver from the vendors website ATI/nVidea. Select for Windows 7 64 bit.

Go to add/remove programs. (Press [Windows] and and type appwiz.cpl in the run dialogue box or go to start>computer ([Windows] and [ e ]) > uninstall or change a program).

Uninstall anything ATI or nVidia.

Go to device manager (Start>right click computer>select properties ([Windows] and [Pause|Break]) then select device manager on the left). Go to "display adapter" look at any of the devices listed under that specific catagory, right click them and select uninstall.  Ensure that you check delete any driver software for the device.

Also if you have any "AMD/ATI/nVidea device" under "Sound, Video and Gaming Controllers" uninstall these aswell using the same method.

You will have terrible looking graphics at this point but don't worry. Reboot the system. Some generic driver will be installed.

Install the latest driver that you have downloaded. This should improve performance and hopefully prevent you're problem.

I have Windows 7 32 bit installed on my computer.  My computer originally had XP Professional but bought the windows 7 CD and had that installed.  Under the Display adapter I have ATI Radion HD and under Sound I have ATI High Definition Audio Device.  Now you want me to uninstall both of these?  And you said when I reboot and a generic driver will install automatically?  Then you said to install the latest driver that I downloaded?  I didn't download any driver, are you talking about the Realtec Audio Driver that I downloaded?  I'm not good at computers so you need to bear with me and explain a bit to me ok?  Want to make sure I do this right and down't screw up my computer.  Will wait to hear from you again and thank you.

Sorry was away for a few days. We need to know the model of your ATI graphics card. To find this out download and install Piriform Speccy.

Under Graphics you will have your displays listed (screens) and then you will have you're ATI graphics card. For example mine is a ATI Radeon HD5700 series card (actually HD5770).

Then go here to download the driver.
Step 1: Select "Desktop Graphics"
Step 2: Select correct series in my case "Radeon HD Series" - I think it will be the same for you
Step 3: Select correct series for example mine will be 5xxx, yours may be different.
Step 4: Select "Windows 7 32 bit". 

Download the appropriate "Catalyst Software Suite" should be near 60 MB download size.

This time leave your Realtek device alone. Its the driver installed by Windows 7 anyway and should be fine.
The ATI Radion HD Audio Device is linked to the graphics card and so should be uninstalled alongside the display drivers.
The new driver from the ATI website will restore full functionality of this device and of the graphics adaptor. 

First of all I want to say that you people in this Forum are the best.  I come here with problems and you people don't stop until they are fixed and I so appreciate it.  I did exactly what you said with my graphic and everything is fine now.  I cannot believe that it's fixed just like that and I want to thank you again for all your help.  I have this forum right on my desktop so I have access to it whenever I need you people.  Very nice job and thank you again.

Glad to help again. Yeah the Dell forums are top class, best place/first place to look for support. Especially if its some software problem which alot of the times it is. I would say many of the users here know how to troubleshoot/fix problems much better then the paid technical support because they have messed around with similar problems on their own systems. Also it is much easier to explain things with some pictures, links etc. I generally attempt to over-explain things. 

Problems installing a service pack/post service pack install are a classic case. I have had a friend who said Vista Service Pack 1 broke his system - some problem with ATI/AMD drivers. I done a clean install of Windows, but didn't put the Service Pack 1 on, he updated it later again and it broke again. Worked much better putting the service pack then drivers. You're situation was very similar. However uninstalling/reinstalling the latest version of drivers also often fixes the issue. Not sure exactly why the drivers conflict. 

The later drivers you got direct from the ATI website/realtek driver may also fix alot of the problems/increase stability as they are designed for windows 7 directly in mind.

Thank you7 again for all your help and thanks for fixing all my computer needed help.  You explained everything very well because I am not a very good computer person so the way you explained everything I could understand.  Thanks again.

Hi natakuc4, sorry thought it was fixed but when I turned on my computer this morning, the blank white screen was there again, had to hit the power button on my tower and click cancel when the shutoff screen came up.  I don't know if there is something else that I can do or what do you want me to try this time?  Thanks again.

Could you run the PC Checkup in the Dell Support Centre, it should check you're hardware. Also the diagnostics at the Dell BIOs screen F12 at startup.

I don't think it is a hardware problem. If this issue did not occur before the installation of SP1 and the newer driver reduces the issue.

What graphics card do you have?

What happens when you tap [Windows] and

several times when the screen is white? This should change the projector settings, does the screen flash back to normal?

What happens when you press [Ctrl], [Alt] and [Delete] when the screen is blank - does it remain blank or does the following screen show.

It seems like some driver is not responding right, causing the whiteness and as you go to shut down,windows ends it and as it is stopped the display works again.

Also try going to control panel>hardware and sound>power options>high performance

Turn off the display (never).

Put computer to sleep (never).

To see if it is an issue of the computer sleeping/turning off the display. If the issue does not occur after that, try changing:

Turn off the display (15 minutes) to see if the problem reoccurs.