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Strange problem with Dell Inspiron 1520
sharpe-top
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
Hey, got a strange graphics error that i'd like some help with
the graphics card is a Nvida Geforce 8600M GT 256MB,
whenever i boot up my new Dell inspiron 1520 from a cold start, eg. having turned it off the night before and starting it up again the next morning, the screen will get as far as the windows vista logo and "chiing" sound effect. The problem is that then the screen will lock up and artifacts will display all over the screen and the laptop locks up requiring a reboot. The next time it'll usually start flawlessly. I've opened up the laptop and the memory is correctly seated, i've re-installed windows vista.
I'm kinda stumped because when its actually started up, it runs games beautifully, company of heroes and battlefield 2 run brilliantly at high settings with no visible screen problems.
I've sent off an email to dell support but as its sunday here in new zealand i'm going to have to wait till tomorrow for them to reply. In the meantime i was wondering if any of you guys n girls had some ideas what it could be?
thanks in advance
the graphics card is a Nvida Geforce 8600M GT 256MB,
whenever i boot up my new Dell inspiron 1520 from a cold start, eg. having turned it off the night before and starting it up again the next morning, the screen will get as far as the windows vista logo and "chiing" sound effect. The problem is that then the screen will lock up and artifacts will display all over the screen and the laptop locks up requiring a reboot. The next time it'll usually start flawlessly. I've opened up the laptop and the memory is correctly seated, i've re-installed windows vista.
I'm kinda stumped because when its actually started up, it runs games beautifully, company of heroes and battlefield 2 run brilliantly at high settings with no visible screen problems.
I've sent off an email to dell support but as its sunday here in new zealand i'm going to have to wait till tomorrow for them to reply. In the meantime i was wondering if any of you guys n girls had some ideas what it could be?
thanks in advance
sharpe-top on
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When it does start successfully, make sure you have the latest video card drivers from Nvidia, the latest MONITOR drivers(should've come with the comp though, and really the video card drivers too, both should be already installed)and all that usual jazz. It might not be the video card, when something goes wrong the display can do all kinds of funky things that aren't necessarily the video card's fault. I'm assuming it's a new comp so you have enough RAM and everything?
Its got 3GB of Ram and a 2GHZ core 2 duo, like i said its about ten days old at this point and i'm a bit miffed that my shiny new toy isn't working flawlessly everytime.
Dell decided not to reply to my email, and when i called up tech support, i was put through the usual steps of "insert driver cd" etc etc etc etc, the usual steps that their tech support system works to. None of that made a difference so they said that they'll send out a technician to come and have a look at it, thing is they said he'd call and make a time with me today yet its just gone the close of business and no call. ho hum.
Sharpe-top, I am a technical analyst here at Dell headquarters in Texas. From what you describe, and the fact that (re)installing an updated driver did not fix the problem, I am inclined to think the video card itself is the problem. Did you ever hear from the tech that was supposed to be coming out to work on the computer? If so, what did he replace, and did it fix the problem?
If the problem is not fixed, or if you have any other questions about the system, I will be more than happy to provide any help I can.
Larry
Dell Customer Advocate