XPS M1210 - LCD issues = images as water color picture?

I've got an XPS M1210 with NVidia GeForce 7400 and since last week all the pictures or videos appear blurry with artifacts, … somehow like watercolor paints or with burn efect pictures. Other observation: on the Windows locking blue screen (see below picture), instead the clear light blue on upper left corner, I can see something like a sun with round circles around effect.
I tought is from a corupted driver, so I rebuild the system but, without luck. Even I opened the laptop and checked all the connectors plus clear the dust but, with the same bad luck.
I connected another monitor and also a HD TV to the laptop and on these the pictures and video are perfect. So I hope is the LCD or other small component and not the videocard which is on board.
Please let me know your thougths. I appreciate any sugestion.
Thank you.
Gabriel

 

Interesting artifacts there. If the artifacts don't show up on an external display, you're probably in luck in that the problem is probably not the GPU. You can try re-seating the display or inverter connectors, but it's most probably a busted LCD.

If it's under warranty, call up Dell and they should fix it for you, but otherwise the displays run for about $100 on eBay...

 

Hello. I have the exact same issue with my XPS 1210 right now. It has been this way for almost a year and I have been putting up with it. Washed out image, yet light levels seem correct. I figure it looks as if its just that there is a 5-10% data loss in the image signal. I attached some screen shots to verify we are both having the same problem. I am getting a Dell XPS M1210 12.1" LCD Ribbon Cable Part #: FJ551 from a parts shop via UPS tomorrow. Runs about 30 bucks from parts stores, though it's $50 brand new from Dell. I'm hoping that I can replace the cable without needing to shell out for a completely new lcd screen. I will repost with whether or not this solves it.

 

Hi there,

Yes, unfortunately we have the same symptoms on our M1210 and the worst think is not the LCD screen or the inverter board. I bought the LCD and inverter from e-bay as brand new, then changed and still have the same problem. I don't have any other idea other to change the mother board? But I don't thing is worth. Please let me know your results after replacing the ribbon cable.
Thanks.

 

If you can take a screen shot of the problem.. it's not going to be a problem with your LCD screen.

You should be determining whether or not its a software (driver) or hardware problem.

If its a software problem, then you'll save yourself some hassle, otherwise, it's obviously the GPU.

 

Hey Ardaddict, did replacing the ribbon work? I have the exact same problem and am wondering if ou were able to figure out the root cause?

 

Hello, I was wondering If any one figured out how to resolve this display problem, because my xps m1210 has just started with the same issue.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

Well, I ask again, for either of you, do these artifacts show up on an external display?

 

From the photos, it appears that the video is set to 8-bit (256 color) mode. Have you tried switching it to 16-bit, or 32-bit mode?

 

Hi on an external monitor it shows perfect no problem at all, tested LCD it has no problem either, so i am assuming it may be the inverter and or lcd cable?

 

I have exactly the same problem with my XPS 1210M.

The display becomes blurry for seconds or sometimes minutes and it repeats ...

It works great with an external display, with no problem at all. (So the problem is not GPU.)
I tested the LCD on another 1210M and it works great. (So the problem is not LCD.)


I am thinking that the problem may be with inverter. But can the inverter cause such a problem?

 

Likewise, exactly the same problem on one of our M1210's.

It's a permanent problem on the LCD, OK on an external monitor. Changing resolution or graphics options does nothing.

I have read that baking the motherboard in an oven at 350 degrees for exactly 8 minutes to re-melt the solder connections helps, but I'm not sure I want to go to that extreme.

If anyone has any other (working) solution, I'd like to hear it as well.

 

ardaddict,
can you please let me know if your problem had solved?
I am having the same issue for 3 month now.
found this part here for $7.64 free shipping:
http://www.ez-computer-parts.com/servlet/Cart?cart_id=1977394

thanks in advance,
my email: [email protected]

 

I have the exact same problem, display works on external display but all messed up on the notebook LCD's screen. Looks like we're out of luck.

The water color effect is not limited to images in Windows, the same effect appears at booting and when diagnostic utility is running.

 

I don't know if anyone is still checking this thread (unfortunately i only found this forum like 2 months ago), but i had the same problem 2 years ago...
anyway i had the same problem as ardaddict pic, using an external LCD, everything was fine.. 1 week before the prob i spilled a whole cup of coffee on the laptop so i thought that was the reason; but when i took it to Dell distributor (where i bought it) they found that the problem came from the VGA card..as they explained to me there's internal and external part in this card, and the internal part had gone bad (and i didn't know what they were talking about, all i cared about is fixing the issue) and the coffee had nothing to do with the prob. also i got a free new screen cause they thought it's the screen prob. in the beginning..
Hope this can help even it's so late..
Cheers.