Inspiron 1520 tv-out problem

Hi,

I have an Inspiron 1520 with a GeForce 8600M GT graphics card.
I spilled some coke on it some time ago, and had to replace the keyboard, and also the media buttons don't work really well, so I purchased a new palmrest.

My problem is, that the TV-Out doesn't work anymore... although...it does work, in the way that I can figure out some image on the TV, but it's all black&white and flickering. Also, when Windows boots up, I can't see the "Welcome" screen, it's just black, and suddenly the desktop appears with all the loading apps. It's 100% TV-Out related, because I recently reinstalled Windows, and it went just fine until I tried again the tv-out (which still did not work).

And I also can see the "TV" option in the nVidia display properties, although no cable is connected. So almost sure that upon booting it tries to "clone" and then when the nvidia control panel loads it takes it back to "single display" and that's when I can see the desktop. Is there any way to disable the TV-Out for good?

Could the graphics card be damaged, or more likely the tv-out connector on the motherboard ?

PS: I remember that when the accident happened (about 5-6 months ago), after leaving it to dry and cleaning it up (did not dismantle it), I tried to power it up to see if it still works, and it did some weird stuff with the screen (I can't really remember what it was, but I got scared) so I left it for a another couple of hours and then it worked...

 

Sounds like one of the s-video pins has crud on it and that is why your picture is messed up. I would try spraying an electronic contact cleaner in the S-Video Port, but first shut off the computer, unplugged it and remove the battery. It should dry in minutes. Then plug things back in and give it a shot.

 

Wow !

The boot issue is gone !! Thanks a lot, you're a lifesaver ! It started to really bug me.

As for the functionality of the TV-Out, it's still not working... I don't really use it, I have a video projector which is used for that purpose, so the big problem was that black screen.

But one question still remains ... What do you think could be faulty ? Did the graphics card or the motherboard get damaged ? I might buy a new one some day... but I would like to know what needs to be replaced, because either isn't cheap

 

It could be any of those things or all the above. Start with the end point the connector pins and work your way back. If it were mine I would get the service manual from Dell ( http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1520/en/index.htm ), and disassemble the computer. Removing the video card and hosing the video card pins and the motherboard pins off with the electronic contact cleaner, and then putting it back together. Since you are really taking a 50/50 shot at which one you may have to replace just have dell do the service and hopefully only have to pay for one of them to be replaced. You can also buy sponge like q-tips and a pure (98%) rubbing alcohol and swabbing things if you see a build up of dried up coke.

 

Well....

The nices thing is the DVD drive is kaputt as well for some weeks now... It just blinks for 2 seconds and that's it... won't read anything.

I went back to the warranty department at the local shop I bought it from, and they want to send the whole notebook to our capital city (where they got it from - the distributor). I won't be able to send it only after my exams are over, anyway...

I also called Dell Romania, they asked me for my Service Tag and told me it's a parts-only warranty and I have to call the distributor, Dell doesn't offer warranty for it.

What do you know about this "parts-only" warranty ? From what I know, they offer warranty for individual parts, and you can open up, modify your notebook, no problems... And they refuse warranty only if you tampered with a component and it's your fault that it broke.

I see you also have an 1520, with Vista. I presume you bought it with Vista included (mine came with FreeDOS), and you have full warranty. Do you have any seals on it ? Because I don't.

I opened it up once, and cleaned it here and there, after the incident, but I did not go that thoroughly, I`ll check and clean again after I get it back from warranty (with a new dvd drive, hopefully) and also swap the palmrest, because I'm affraid they will refuse warranty if I send it with the new palmrest (different serial numbers ?!).

I`m affraid they'll deny my warranty because the keyboard is swaped (other serial numbers ?!) and you know that blue paint on the screws... because I opened it, it's not adherent anymore, and there are maybe small scratches on the screws... So if they try really hard, they can figure out I opened it.
But the DVD-ROM drive is untouched... I only took it out, and put it back, and this happened like then.... 5 months ago... and it started failing two weeks ago..

Oh, I dunno... maybe it's written this notebook has only bad luck...

 

Dell Computers are user upgradeable which means you would have to do a fair amount of disassembly to even upgrade the memory, so there should not be any tamper seals. Also you have to do even more disassembly to clean the fans, so unless you mess something up there should be no issues. I've had my keyboard off to upgrade the memory and saw no tamper seals.

 

Hey,

If you have a newly TV, you can try and use the VGA out ;]

 

Yeah.... the keyboard is only held by two screws, and there's really no way you could upgrade the memory... But I disassembled the whole thingy (well...at least the screen and the palmrest) and I hope I don't get caught...Is that blue paint on the screws only for a more secure fit ? So they don't unscrew or something ? ... I don't get that part, I always thought it's some sort of warranty protection... Because when you unscrew it the second time, it doesn't have that resistance anymore. And more than that, it's not Dell I'll have to deal with, it's that distributor... (authorised reseller or whatever they call it) .... And living in Romania...you never know.

I`ll send it for the DVD-ROM, and hope to have it replaced.. As for the TV-Out problem, I was thinking maybe sending it a month or so before the warranty expires... Just in case they refuse my warranty... So if anything else ever happens (something more minor...) they would fix it.

Neh... I'm using my projector for movies and other screening purposes, and my old TV only has SCART and RCA inputs anyway But it's annoying that it's a fairly new laptop and I just had to ruin it... That's the main reason I would like to sort this problem out.



So it is then... I don't really know how to proceed. I`ll see what happens when I send it for the DVD problem (which really wasn't my fault, argh, crappy TSST-Corp )

Thanks guys ! I`ll post back in a month or so.