Inspiron 5160 Problem with Video Card: nVidia GeForce FX Go5200

Question

OK so since I got the computer for my girlfriend it has had two problems:   1) When left alone for a while the monitor turns off which is fine.  I have it set to do that, but when I try to return by moving the mouse or typing, you can see that soemthing is happening.  In fact you know something is happening because when you return you see the type, but it will not turn the monitor back on until you close the lid of the computer and then re-open it and then when you move the mouse it returns.   2) When the computer first starts up it goes into the desktop and everything loads and you are int he desktop for a few seconds and then the screen blacks out for a couple of seconds and then it comes back.  When I tried a different video driver from nVidia, the black out problem was resolved, but it stuck me in a lower screen resolution and would not let me return to max resolution.   WHat is it that I have tried?: Reformatted and Reinstalled Windows etc Updated BIOS to A05 and then just recently to A06 Updated Video Driver to A07 and as you saw above I tried nVidia's driver as well.   Has anyone else had these issues?   Does anyone have any suggestions?   I have talked to several Dell reps but we have obviosuly not gotten very far.   Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

jeffyen · Answer

If you have reformatted, remember to download all the necessary extra drivers found at the downloads section. Use Dell's nvidia drivers, they should work fine. There's really nothing wrong with that 'black out' thingy...

PINE · Answer

Mine does the #2 blackout thing also, not a problem I feel. 5150 Mobile P4 3.06 HT 64mb Nvidia 768 Ram UXGA Samsung Hitachi 7k60 1300 Wireless DVD+RW NEC 6100a Bios A29 XP Pro SP2

Thorn723 · Answer

Thanks for replying guys. Do any of you have any experience with problem #1 the fact that I have to close and reopen the lid before it comes back? Again neither of these problems are the end of the world, but I just kind of want to have a free of defect laptop since it is like a month old and costs so much know what I mean? Anyway let me know if anyone has problem number one. It sounds like number two isn't as much a problem as it is a fact that this video card does that. Please let me know about the second issue. I thought it may be an issue with reseating the LCD but it is not cause I have done that. Let me know

Thanks

Thorn723 · Answer

Have you talked to Dell about it at all?

alkiss · Answer

Mine does the #2 blackout thing also! (plus problems with the fan after Stand By)

Specialed709 · Answer

I have the same blackout thing happen to mine too. I thought it was normal,its no big deal . I don't have mine set to standby, cuz from previous experiences, standby usually causes more problems then what its worth lol.

Just wondering which video drivers you use for the Go fx 5200? the ones from the nvidia site are nearly 5 months old now.

Thorn723 · Answer

I'm using the dell driver version A07 from Sept 29th

Specialed709 · Answer

Thorn - where did you get those drivers? I was just going to install the drivers from the nvidia site that just came out. Is there ones are that better then others?

jeffyen · Answer

From Dell's download section. They seem quite flawless to me...

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