Inspiron 5100 Corrupt display ATI mobile 7500

Question

Hi,   I just installed windows using the Windows XP SP1 OEM cd provided with my laptop from dell.  After install my first steps were to install the network card and then install service pack 2.  Once SP2 has been installed I then installed the ATI drivers (newest ones downloaded from support.dell.com).  After I'm done rebooting the display seems pretty corrupt.  I have characters floating all over the screen (Ex.  'My Com uter' with the 'p' floating a little bit above the text). The video seems choppy and games (WOW) won't play.  I've tried to install the video card drivers first, no luck.  I tried to remove SP2 and then reinstall, no luck (though when its just SP1 the display goes back to normal).  I've tried to remove and reinstall the drivers with SP2 installed, no luck. The latest BIOS is installed. So I'm running out of ideas on what to try.  I was wondering if anybody else had these sort of issues or if there is any known resolution.   On a side not, when playing WOW with SP1 the laptop did tend to have memory dumps with atid1ag.dll seeming to be the culpurate.   Any help would be appricated.   Thanks

boppo · Answer

when you say latest chipset, dell only has one version, if you install one from somewhere else may you should do a clean install again and only use the dell drivers for your system.

Ergyth · Answer

I just tried installing the chipset drivers, again the latest ones from dells website.  No luck after installing the ATI drivers.  I even tried to install the catalyst drivers using the dhmodtool and the drivers from ATI's site and I still am running into the exact same problem.  This time though, everything looked okay.. my screen went black for a few seconds and then back to characters floating where ever on my screen.

Ergyth · Answer

okay, well I've downloaded the Intel Mobile Chipset from support.dell.com for the inspiron 5100.  So I think that is correct. Thanks

boppo · Answer

did you install the chipset drivers first?

Ergyth · Answer

just as an example, assuming my html is correct http://yourlookingat.myphotos.cc/example.jpg

Ergyth · Answer

It doesn't make a lot of sense.  I've tried to re-install 3-4 times and keep running into the exact same problem.  I've had SP2 numerious times in the past and never had these kinds of problems.

boppo · Answer

you can try to install the video drivers in the safe mode.

boppo · Answer

yes that is correct and you are to install it first thing after you finish installing windows, maybe something went south in your clean install.

ejn63 · Answer

Boot and run the Dell diagnostics CD to rule out a faulty video card, RAM or hard drive.

Ergyth · Answer

Still not doing the trick.  Now even when I load XP home SP1, it happens as soon as I install the video card drivers.  Safe mode or not.  I've even tried a different copy of XP Pro with the same results.

Ergyth · Answer

I ran the express test on the system and that came back clean.  I'm waiting on dell phoen support right now.   I'm assuming they'll have me run the full test.  Pending that, assuming it passes... any other ideas?

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