no image on external video :-(

Is there a good image on an external monitor?  If so, chances are it's a screen problem -- backlight or inverter.

If not, chances are the video chip has failed (this is one of nVidia's problematic ones -- see www.nvidiasettlement.com for details).

That suggests the video chip is bad - see the nVidia settlement website.

My notebook computer is not eligible to participate in this settlement! 

Is settlement already over ? http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/dates.html

NVidia sucks also on support

Are you able to get into safe mode, or enable VGA mode (Win XP) or enable Low Resolution mode (Vista, Win7)?  If so then this could just be a corrupted video driver.  Uninstall the driver completely. Make sure that it is not listed in device manager.  The latest Dell drivers may be downloaded from the following link

 http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=&SystemID=PREC_M6500&os=W764&osl=en&catid=&impid=

It might save you the fuss and bother on having to replace the GPU

TB

I have a 4 year old Dell Precision M65, which now loses display immediately after boot up  (I see XP icon).         Diagnosis info :   1.) Left side of screen was low in brightness, just before total loss of display.  2.) External Display does work OK even now.      3.) Seems the fan may not be running now.       Ideas on how to fix appreciated.

From: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1578329

01-18-2011, 02:13 PM

Steve Property Of HardOCP, 42.5 Years   Status:

The NVIDIA GPU Litigation The NVIDIA GPU Litigation page is finally taking claims from people affected by the company's faulty laptop GPUs. The courts have approved the settlement and you have from now until March 14, 2011 to get your claim in. "

********************

Unfortunately, the web site has been shut down, so I can't see if my model, a Latitude D830 was on the list, and even if it were, it would be too late to file. 

Upon booting my Latitude D830 machine this morning, the laptop panel display began working.  I had put it into hibernation last night and am not aware of anything I did to explain its working this morning.  One thing I did a few days ago was to unplug the power supply, remove the battery, push power button for 30 seconds,   replace power supply and start.  The panel display still did not work until this morning.  I knew that the monitor and hardware were still working because I had booted while holding the "D" key, and I saw the laptop panel display doing the solid colors test.  

I backed up my system, hoping to be able to restore to this point if it ever goes out again.  I believe it was a problem with the operating system because my computer would not recognize the laptop panel display.  

I solved the black screen problem on the Dell M6500!!! 5/28/2014.

After reading all the Dell support customer forum posts (50 pages) under “M6500 freeze”, the black screen problem appears to be the 230 watt AC adapter is providing a false overheating signal to the video card that causes a video card overheating shut off. This only happens when plugged in, no black outs when on battery power.

A. Plug in AC and charge battery 100%

B. Unplug AC

C. Boot up on battery power only.

Solution: Based on Dell forum info, I Google searched and downloaded NVIDIA power mizer manager software and installed it. Run software. There are three settings.

1. selected medium range,

2. select medium range,

3. Disable overheat power shut off

4. Save and reboot.

No more screen black outs after this fix.

Safe to plug in AC now.

I am running temp monitor software. The video card temps range from 54c to 59c. Video cards are rated to take 100c before overheating.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html