Dell 8000/8100/8200 C800/C810/C840 Laptop Video Card Issues and MORE!!!!!!

Hello!

I'll make it quick as I need to get into the issue...but I somehow got placed into the "laptop repair" guy with my family and friends. I am currently working with a number of Dell 8000 series and C800 series...

Things I know!

* Updating a bios on "newer" machines (8100 8200 C810 C840) will NOT allow you to use the ATI M4/M3 card. But it seems that all Nvidia cards work OK.

* Changing SCREENS (not video cards) causes problems......

* Updating a VIDEO CARD bios DOES solve issues! (Nvidia)

*Beer is good!

Things I DON'T know!

#1 Problem. The video card issue above. If I update a Bios on a newer machine and I want to use an "older" card like the ATI M4, can I? Does the BIOS "limit" the hardware you can attach to the unit? Is there a fix?

#2 Problem. I have a 8200 with a G440 Nvidia 64MB card in it with an updates bios. I had a UXGA screen on it and the bulb died. I then took a SXGA+ screen off of an 8100 (should work?) and when I plug it in...I get the back light....the computer is working...but NO VIDEO! If I unplud the SXGA+ screen and attach a UXGA screen to it it works. Not rebooting. But! When I have the SXGA+ screen on it, the picture is not centered, and I can not fix! If I reboot, I run into the same issue..back light...no screen.

#3 I have a 8000 that was getting a "3d driver" issue. The driver looked to be correct (Had the dreaded M4 Ati in it and the device manager said the driver was correct....) but I could not do a video "stress test" because the program would crash stating that it was missing 3D driver and the video was slow and notchie. I figured it was the video card...so I turned off the computer, and installed a Nvidia card (out of a 8100). After that the computer would NOT BOOT! The power light was solid and the "drive" light was solid. I tried to take ALL drives off if it, and even disconnect the bios battery as if it would "reset" it, and nothing! I even placed the other video card on the unit that worked prior..and again, NOTHING! The RAM is good...and ALL OTHER hardware is good and been tested on other machines! Could using a "newer" vieo card cause a problem?

If anyone wouyld like to talk tech on these machines..let me know! If you have answers..even better!

Also....if you have a laptop you want to sell or if you want a "part time....hack computer tech" to look at it...I am very good at replacing screens...and other simple issues....

Thanks all!

 

I've got an 8100 with the original nVidia card in it. It has weird trouble with the card or the ribbon cable connector on the card. The screen will get lines in it and the colors will be faded. I can push on the cover above the keyboard and it will get better temporarily. I can take it apart, unplug and re-seat the cable and it will work fine for a good while. I'm not really sure if it's the connector or the card. Do you know which cards work in my model?
FYI You can order new backlight bulbs for $10-$20 from various places on the net.
How do you update the video card BIOS? Is that something Dell offers for models that need it? I've never noticed one for mine unless they are built into the BIOS update.
I've got a dock for a Latitude that won't work on my Inspiron because the BIOS won't let it. Do you know if there is a way to make a Latitude BIOS work on an Inspiron?
I've had strange problems attempting to use different screens on laptops before. I have an N3010 Fujitsu that has the same brand and connector on the screen that some of my Dells and HPs have but their screens are all distorted like you described when connected to the Fujitsu.

 

Please don't resurrect old topics like this.

Closed.