Strange Display/graphic issue p172s FX

ok i had this issue for a about 3 weeks now.
at first my laptop crashed and display turns black.
since then every time i boot up using the laptop display it would crash after windows login.
2 cases would happen

1. laptop would display my desktop for a few seconds before crashing and displaying a solid color (random color)
2. it would flicker dark for a few second and nvidia error msg come up on the task bar saying recover from bla bla bla kernel nothing specific. after this windows sometimes usable or crashed.

but, the funny thing is that when i extend/duplicate my display to another display such as my dell monitor the system work just fine.
displaying on the laptop screen and the dell monitor.
i tested playing a game on the system, ran fine and no performance loss(other than few fps cause its dual display)

(i use hdmi adapter to dvi)

booting up on a safe mode using laptop display without extending it work just fine

booting up on normal mode without nvidia driver ran just fine.

attempt:
install new nvidia whql driver from nvidia.com = no luck
install older nvidia whql driver from nvidia.com = no luck
install older nvidia beta driver from nvidia.com = no luck
displaying only on external display = no luck
reformatting my windows = no luck
ran using only the battery = no luck
ran using only the power plug = no luck

now im pretty much confused why the laptop work just fine when i extend or duplicate the display, withouth nvidia driver.

spec:
Gateway p172s FX
t5750 @ 2.00 ghz stock
4gig ram
8800gts
windows 7 64 bit

EDIT:
soo today i start to toy around before i log in to my windows i press the windows key + p and scroll to duplicate withouth having external display connected.

the windows load fine using the laptop display.
so im scratching my head even more......

Please advice and if any one had similar problem
Thank you
Martino

 

look inside and see what has happened with the Display cable, its a thick cable under the media panel somehow covered with Grey metallic mesh.

Look if it damaged or not properly connected to the motherboard and reset the Bios to Default and try updating it again if you have the same version.

Start from this and then post the result.

 

will do, i had a friend suggested me that too and i found this
GATEWAY P-6831 FX P-6860 FX P-7811 FX LCD INVERTER - eBay (item 130408289504 end time Aug-07-10 13:30:21 PDT)

i will open and see whats going on
thanks

 

bump. any other idea ?
or mostly a hardware failure?

 

The LCD inverter is the piece that supplies voltage to your LCD, if it were bad the backlight would not run. This would not cause any driver errors either. your display would just be very dim.

To me it sounds like something is wrong with your video card and when you run dual displays it is by-passing whatever is causing the errors/faults. you can try reseating the data cable but i cant picture that causing a driver error either.

If the video card is an expansion card try reseating it, blowing it out, make sure its not overheating ? sounds like it happens to fast to overheat but never know. blow out dust, make sure it still has thermal paste reseat it if its not integrated

 

soo today i start to toy around before i log in to my windows i press the windows key + p and scroll to duplicate withouth having external display connected.

the windows load fine using the laptop display.
so im scratching my head even more......