dell inspiron 1420 display or video problem.. need help

ok, so i turned on my laptop and the screen had a horizontal line splitting into mirror images. it also has monochromatic horizontal lines all over the display. sometimes it will boot windows, sometimes it wont. i get an error saying windows cannot start do i want to start windows repair. it usually doesn't work and i end up going with the factory image restore.

i've gotten back to running windows and i've updated drivers, updated the bios, and nothing seems to stick. i've had it working perfectly (perfect display on the screen), but it seems after i did a windows update and it rebooted that it stopped working again. split screen, lines, the works.

i took apart the lcd screen to ensure all the cables were attached and they seem to be ok. i hooked it up to an external monitor and i didn't get the split screen mirror image, but i did get the monochromatic horizontal lines over the display. i can still use windows and the internet and everything.. it's just really hard on the eyes.

no clue where to go from here as it went out of warranty in july. please, please tell me there is an easy and cheap way to fix it.

also, if it's the video card i know that most are integrated into the motherboard. mine is the nvidia geforce 8400m gs.. please tell me i can replace these independently.


Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

Sounds like either the GPU is failing or the LCD is failing. reboot, Hold down the Fn (function key) and let the diagnostic run. Report problems to Dell.

 

Oh ya, the GPU is soldered to the main board, so it would require a new mainboard I believe.

 

is it possible for me to install a new mainboard? and what's the cheapest way to go about obtaining a new mainboard?

 

I join your bandwagon today. The same thing happened with me last evening.
What did you do to fix this? Thanks for your reply,

 

have the same problem, have some ideas?

 

Hi,
Had the same problem on my daughter`s 1420. Went on with Dell chat and tried to run some diagnostics. They determined it was the video card. Tech came to the house and replaced it. All has been fine since. Hope this helped.

 

I just had the same thing happen to me. After about more than 1 year of no problems my 1420's video card just conked out on me. Just when the warranty had gone out.

One of the cheapest things to do is to get an extension for the warranty.

This is what I'm looking into right now.

 

OH BOY, exactly like mine, so if i should replace my vcard, how much would i spend then? mine's over warranty period, so buying a new vcard's my only option.. and can you guys suggest any type of card? one which will not fail like this -nvidia geForce 8400M GS?

 

You cannot replace just the video card; you'll have to swap the entire motherboard. As far as I know, the 8400m GS is the only dedicated graphics option. You can either buy a motherboard with the 8400GS, or the Intel X3100 graphics. If I were you, I'd personally go for the Intel board; it does not overheat like the nVidia card, and the motherboard replacement will be cheaper.

 

oh boy, oh boy.. BTW, i'm from the philippines, i bought mine from someone who's been from the states (can't remember but i think it was 2 years ago)..
so there's no actual dell service center here in my country, i heard the nearest dell center is in hongkong.. so, having said that i can't just buy a vcard, where the whole board must be changed, do you think i can have some replacement here in my country, with a different brand or so? or must it still be from dell?
thank you for your replies, i really need this right now