Video card crash (not sure how to describe this)

My XPS M1710 crashed (BSOD'ed) while playing a game and now I get fuzzy lines all over the screen as seen here. Not sure what happened but I'm guessing that the video card is gone. I'm saying that as even on startup (bios screen) the fuzzy lines appear even though Windows hasn't loaded. On the other hand safe mode seems to work fine (I'm using safe mode to type this currently).

Running Windows 7 btw. Could it be any other problem (do I need to provide any other info)? Not really looking forward to replacing a video card - or buying a new laptop for that matter.

Edit: Not sure if that image describes my problem, maybe I need to take it with my mobile phone?

 

Definitely a problem with GPU, probably overheated. Either way you'll need it replaced. Also, that image doesn't show the problem (which further confirms its a problem with your graphics chip).

 

Try connecting an external display and outputting video to it. See if the same behavior is present. If so, its your card and not your LCD.

 

I'd say that your card is bricked. If it works in Safe Mode, but the BIOS isn't displaying properly, just get Dell to replace it. Don't even think of trying to replace it yourself.

 

Same thing happened to my HP laptop. See if reinstall graphic driver works (I doubt it would). That's why I'm here in Dell forum now

 

1 Try to run the Preboot System Assessment (PSA) diagnostics:

-Remove all external peripherals.
Ensure that the computer is powered off.
Press and hold FN key and press the power button to power the computer on.
Release both buttons. The PSA diagnostics sequence begins.
-Or at the Dell logo screen, press F12. At the One Time Boot menu, highlight Diagnostics, then press Enter to begin PSA.
Make note of any PSA beep codes or PSA error codes.

2. To test the LCD monitor on your computer, initialize the LCD BIST diagnostics:

Turn off the computer.
Press and hold the D key, while pressing the power button and starting the computer.
The LCD screen will then change different colours for 20 seconds.
Observe these colours if they were displayed properly.

3. Like BatBoy said: Test with an external display also to exclude it being the LCD in the laptop.

 

Hi Fe,
I had my video card go out on me in my XPS 1710 just over a month ago. I have the GeForce go 7900 gs card in my laptop. I was just browsing the net and all of a sudden the screen was dead. It worked like yours in safe mode, but had a bunch of funky green pixels everywhere.

I did not have a warranty and to replace the card from Dell they quoted me just over $500 for the card. I followed some advice and threw the video card in the over for 8 minutes at 350 degrees. It now works perfectly fine. (at least for now)

 

I may be wrong. But wts wrong in ur screen as I saw from ur shared snapshot ???
Its just a matter of theme change and seems now the PC is not using the default Vista/XP theme rather using the old windows classic theme. Goto display properties and change ur theme to Vista/XP and see it helps.
Also check with if ur PC is configured for "Better Performance" or "Better Display" from advanced option of system properties section.

Thank you.

 

Strangest thing just happened, I cold booted and now everything looks fine. Dunno why but I'm happy (at least until it blows up again). I did boot into safe mode last night though and disabled the NVIDIA driver but when I restarted then I still had the same issue. Only this morning when I cold booted everything's looking fine.

I'll have a look at Nivk's tests in a bit.

 

Just went beserk again, so I guess the video card needs replacing.

 

Anyone else recommend this? I've seen people suggest it would work (some of them even on the Dell forums) so I'm actually thinking about trying it.

 

buddy,if u running into ur warranty period,then i dont see a problem here.call up dell n they would replace the faulty part..
otherwise , its a bad news.

 

Yeah I'm out of warranty that's why I'm considering the oven thingie. Well, it's worth a shot anyway I'd think. Here's a screenie of my problem (taken with my mobile, hopefully it's clear).