M1330 Screen or Graphics card problem???

Wondering if anyone can help, I have sent a support request off to Dell, but usually can find answers here faster.

Turned on my M1330, and here is a description of my problem, also there is a link down the bottom and if you go to that page and look at the forth image it is pretty much what I get from reboot 8/10 times.

Description of problem.
The screen will freeze, image will mess up, leaving pixelated garbage. whole system will stop working. Only way to shut down is to press in power button for 10 seconds.
Upon starting screen will 9/10 times mess up again from reboot. 1 in 10 times it will boot into windows, only to freeze and the screen will mess up and system freeze.

Description of any troubleshooting steps you have taken.
1. Rebooting does not fix issue.

2. Tried using a boot disk to boot into my recovery program using symantec ghost. Screen messes up even when using a different number of boot disks.

3. I tried connecting the laptop to an external monitor, what happens on the laptop screen also happens on the external LCD nomitor. So does not appear to be the LED screen. (maybe graphics card.)


Link to what the screen will do from reboot, image number 4 (the one with the lines, I get the screen usually with the lines, then slowly goes brighter on one side.)

http://www.vistaforums.com/Forum/Topic12123-9-1.aspx

 

Sounds like you could have a damaged graphics card. To test this, boot to media direct and see if you have the problem still. If you do, then it is not driver related. Really i have never seen a problem like that being the actual lcd, its always the graphics card or a driver issue. Your's sounds to be a actual problem though...how long have you had your dell for? Do you have in home repair?

 

I have 3 yrs total warranty coverage, it is about 5 months old. With next day onsite support.

It's strange because on occasions it will boot into windows and work fine, but soon as any graphic intensive application run, it seems to go.

But one would think if you use a boot disk like ghost and the screen messes up, that cannot be windows or driver related ???

I have installed or updated nothing new for weeks now.

 

Talk to dell immediately.....in the mean time stick with the forum...if there is anything wrong in the parts......forum cant help u repairing it....

 

That sounds most definitely like the video hardware/card is bad. I had this before on a Dell laptop, similar symptoms.

 

Got no reply from my email after 24 hours, so called them. (As I have complete cover next day onsite service)

Well everytime I turn the laptop on, the computer will get the white lines down the screen growing from left to right. happens 100% of the time now.

So I think the card, or whatever, finally packed it in.

Does not even boot into windows anymore at anytime. Support person said it was most likely the graphics card and they will come out to replace it.

Looks like once you start getting those white lines appearing, it is only a matter of time before the card goes bust.

 

I have had the same issue with my m1330 this week!!

I've tried reformatting with various versions of Windows XP (modded, unmodded), and the issues have persisted.

It all started when I applied a Windowblinds theme, but as I say I reformatted and it hasn't changed anything.

I find it will only boot if I let it sit overnight, and even then only for a minute or two max.

How did you manage to resolve your issue? Is sending my laptop into Dell my only option at this point? I just have the basic one year warranty (many regrets).

Any shared experiences would be great, as this issue is like nothing I've ever seen before.

 

Exactly the same happened to my M1330 WLED with the 8400GS card. At first the screen frooze a couple of times. Could force restart. Then a couple of days later it would only show longitudinal lines starting from the right moving to the left over the screen getting brighter and brighter. Same on external monitor. Have next business day service. Called monday and the said
prop graphic card and they sent someone tuesday who changed the full board since the graphic card is intergrated. And It works again. BUT wensday it started happen again the freeze but that resolved itself after ca 30 seconds. Called dell again. The came out friday again and checked it. And said
after talking to dell that if it happens again Vista might have to be reinstalled.
Last night blue screen but could restart. This am blue screen but now it is working just fine. Is it doomed?

 

Sounds like it is doomed. You will end up with a motherboard replacement.
This seems to be happening way too often - there are other threads here from other sufferers.
I just hope it doesn't happen to me a second time - especially after my warrantee is voided by either a move of continent or end-of-term (whichever comes sooner)

 

This happened to my XPS M1330 last Saturday. A technician came and replaced the LCD yesterday, which didn't help, so another came today and replace the whole motherboard and graphics card. Problem solved.

A bit irritating, and I really hope it doesnt happen again.

I was able to get into Safe Mode on Tuesday. It's not affected by the graphics card, so if you're lucky enough to get to a screen which asks if you'd like to enter Safe Mode, DO IT. Back up your files so you can also reformat afterwards, which is usually pretty necessary to improve speed again.

 

Sorry and welcome to the club. As someone said on the forum, this issue is becoming an epidemic. I'm still not convinced the new motherboard will fix the problem, but we can only hope.

 

Yeah ae problem with me. aeady posted on another post.
Anyway emailed them regarding the problem and did not receive a reply back as they stated within 24hours.
Called up dell the next day, and they said they will replace LCD and Motherboard. Dont know why they are not going to replace the video card?...
Just waiting for onsite tech to come herre to replace it.

I actually have 180 days left for my warranty, what if it happens again say 200 days (where it is out of warranty) will they still fix it?
Can we ask for a refund? Coz id rather purchase another notebook than this sh1tty dell 1330 notebook.

 

I just started getting that problem too, after the windows update.

Currently I am trying a system restore to before the update to see if that works.

 

Just to let you know, the video card (chip) is soldered to the motherboard, so it'll get replaced......but the M1330 staying fixed due to this issue is anyone's guess. Getting a refund outside of 30 days is next to impossible. Getting something repaired once your warranty is expired due to this issue ,which is happening in more and more numbers, would take a class action type pressure on Dell and to be honest it's aggravating just getting them to acknowledge that they've got a problem with thermal issues and overheating with the GPU on the M1330.

I've received a replaced motherboard (rev 04), but like others, I'm not convinced that the problem is fixed.

 

It's a known problem...and a long story. Start reading here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=204772

 

I'll ask all to consider whether they have Vista Ultimate. This same issue started a few days back and I have been reading tons of information regarding the nvlddmkm.sys driver failing and resetting itself. It causes many of the crashes with verticle lines.

I narrowed my issue down to this by going into safemode once when it allowed me to go this far and shutting down dreamscene....problem cured but not satisfactorily as my system should not be limited.

I then went as far as changing my Dreamscene theme from the Vista globe with bright rays to the waterdropping fom the leaf. I have yet to have a recurrence.

There has been alot of suggestion of motherboards that sometimes fix the prob and sometimes don't, faulty ram with the same result, changing Video drivers, turning off UAC and so on.

The only sure fire cure for what I am experiencing seems to be removing Dreamscene or, in my case, changing from that specific Dreamscene.

If the problem discussed is similar to mine, which be indicative of anyone having dreamscenes, please let me know.

I am still looking for a solution and yet to find a MS or NVidia fix...although this has occurred also in ATI cards.

 

Seems like its common on all WLED M1330's. Anyone figured out what exactly causes this?

Edit
And yes, i had the nvidia driver issue on my M1210 also. That sucks, the computer just goes lagging for about 5~6 minutes. It is all with the nVdia Driver. And the laptop gets hot like heater when this happens. I also have the Vertical lines coming up.

The error is nvldklmm blah blah balh.dll has stopped working and has recovered

Still not experienced on M1330 yet. But always with the M1210

there is a BUNCH of threads and topics over the nVidia forums discussing this matter. Its not only with Dell Laptops.

 

I kind of have this problem, but I was watching tv on windows media center, then it suddenly froze with loads of pixelated rubbish on the screen so i restarted by holding down the on/off button above F8.

Sometimes, it will load normally to the login screen before it freezes into random pixelated colors. I'm typing this from safe mode with networking at the moment, so does this mean its the video drivers which are messed up and not hardware?

If so, can I reinstall video drivers from safe mode?

By the way, it's an M1330 with vista premium and non Led screen

 

No the "vertical lines" problem is common on M1330's that have the Nvidia card. People who bought their M1330's before the LED backlit screens were available have had the problem too. People who bought the M1330 with the X3100 integrated graphics don't seem to get the problem.

Heat killing the graphics card over time. I don't think the Nvidia graphics card can be replaced without replacing the whole motherboard.

 

You are right regarding the fact that the whole motherboard has to be replaced.

I am still trying to confirm that it is not a software issue alone dealing specifically with the dreaded file and dreamscene.

I did remove my hard drive once the screen started going nuts and, even without the hard drive, I got the distortion even after leaving it unplugged and without battery for a half hour (to eliminate memory concerns).

I then deleted dreamscene and everything seems to be working on that ssd without dreamscene...which is not acceptable in any case.

I am eliminating, or confirming, the hardware theory (videocard) by now installing a new os on a separate hard drive.

We weill see if the same occurs with that. I have heard many people that could finally get to the bios screen who have had success in fresh installations.

Next, if all goes well, I will simply reinstall my backup for the original drive which will #$%% me off as \i havent done an effective backup in about a month and there have been several changes.