Semi-dead Dell Vostro 1700

My 1st post here guys. I would like your opinion on the following.

I have a lovely Dell Vostro 1700 with the 8600m GT card. Recently I replaced the touchpad because it wasn't working properly and I've managed to completely mess up my system:

1. Now, the LCD display (1920x1200)is black right until the Windows logo appears. No BIOS or POST screen.

2. I've lost a bunch of options in the nVidia control panel, as well as some options in Windows Appearance. I have lost Windows Vista transparency effects as well as Flip 3D.

3. Now get this: when I plug in an external monitor (1280x1024), it displays everything perfectly, and all the Vista visual effects return!

4. I can still game (Battlefield 2) on the LCD in 1920x1200 without problems. Gaming also works on the external monitor.

5. I cannot dual boot in XP any more as XP goes BSOD immediately, but the BSOD appears too briefly for me to read what it says.


My analysis is that my graphics card is somewhat dead but inexplicably it can still run Battlefield 2 maxxed out in 1920 x 1200, so it can't be that dead.

Do you think it's worth flashing the gfx card's VGA BIOS? I read that it only works with mxm cards, how do I determine whether mine is mxm? Thanks in advance.

 

The fact that it works on the external monitor without any issues is probably a driver related issue. Generally the GPU dying signs are that it will show lines on screen, artifecting and will also send signals via the LEDs on the right, needing replacement.

The Vostro 1700 uses a proprietary GPU, and it isn't MXM. Based on your problem flashing a new vBIOS isn't going to help either. I would say a driver, or even to the extent of Windows itself. What nvidia drivers are you using?

I had once a similar problem like yours before on my Inspiron 1720, (essentially a white version of the 1700) games couldn't even run, that's worst and options similiar like yours were missing too. All I did was a fresh install of the drivers and that fixes it.

 

Thanks for the reply. I did reinstall the stock Dell drivers for my card but that didn't help. But the installation did go wrong, so I will try again.

I'm using the 179.14 modded drivers from laptopvideo2go (great for gaming), it runs my card hot but never above 70 degrees centigrade. In normal operation it's between 30 - 50 degrees.

I flashed my BIOS by the way, now it's version A7, but no difference.

What I don't understand is that the POST phase doesn't use the windows drivers, so how could a reinstall make a difference? To me, the fact that ONLY Windows knows how to display on the LCD shows the drivers are working well, but that on some BIOS/hardware level, the card is kaputt.

Anyway, I will try your suggestion, this time I will uninstall the current driver properly before installing the stock Dell driver.

 

I also own a 1700 and agree with the previous poster that the GPU that's used in the 1500 and 1700 are not the problematic ones. I personally would use the official Dell drivers v179.47 which can be found on their websites. My temps don't exceed 50c on max load. The 1700 tends to run cooler than the 1500 because it's bigger and there's more room inside. I also use I8kfanGUI to force and manually adjust the fan.

If problems occurred after the laptop was taken apart then that's probably where the problem started. I have taken apart both my 1500 and 1700 several times to change the thermal paste and clean the inside out including replacing the top shell (palm rest) on my 1500 and never encountered a problem.

edit: If it were me i'd take apart the 1700 and make sure the LCD panel cable that goes to the mobo is:
a) seated correctly
b) is not pinched
c) check that the shield is grounded with the screw
d) if you removed the GPU, re-seat it

 

Unfortunately I've done all that - the cable is not pinched as far as I can see, other than in the little hooks that keep it out of the way of the hinge cover, I've unplugged and reseated the cable a million times, checked that grounding screw as well (what role does it play by the way?), it's tight and won't go any further, reseated the graphics card too... I'm really out of options. As I write, I'm downloading Dell's latest official driver for my card - I will post back with the results.

 

Ok, so I now have the official Dell drivers - no improvement at all. I also noticed that in device manager, 'monitors' appears when I'm plugged into my external, but not when using the LCD.

I could go with the bad LCD connection theory, but then why the hell is Windows able to display the LCD??? I'm SO annoyed. This is a crap Christmas...

 

Try entering the BIOS and reloading the default factory settings, see if that clears things up.

 

I don't remember there being any such setting in BIOS...

 

F2 -> BIOS -> Maintenance -> Load Defaults

 

I just tried your suggestion but it hasn't solved the problem...

 

You may need to do an OS install to download the latest Nvidia Forceware drivers. I believe they are on 260.99 however if you had a manufacturer branded OS or used a manufacturer disc the chances of installing the latest forceware drivers is next to nil and you have to use their old old drivers.

Try purging your registry of all Nvidia values, then reinstalling the drivers.

 

Fortunately, Nvidia's original drivers work on the Dell OEM Windows (XP at least).

I personally would try a Linux Live disc in order to see if there is the same problem.
Working on the hardware should not affect the OS install unless existing hardware has been replaced by something else, or something has not been installed propery (cables, forgotten screws causing short circuits etc.)

Michael

 

I might try that eventually, but I'm convinced there's a hardware issue, right? because if the BIOS and POST phase can't display on the LCD... that can't be Windows' fault? Thanks for your suggestions.

 

I found the problem! The touchpad connector on the motherboard has a bent pin on it. I tried to straighten it up but couldn't, it's far too small and delicate. Anyway, whatever I did helped the no LCD display problem - it all came back, the Dell splash screen, the POST screen, as well as all the Vista Aero visual effects and options in the nVidia control panel. The touchpad is, however still barely functional (at least I now know why) and my XP still fuxxed as well but I will try reinstalling it (I don't have the cd at the moment).

 

did you try to mess with the connector in anyway? Bent pins don't happen naturally (not accusing you). Very odd but good news for you.

 

That's what I thought, pins don't bend on their own - but then I remembered the touchpad problems began months before I even took my laptop apart.

And the last time my laptop was opened up (to replace the palm rest) was by... a Dell technician! Not that I'm accusing him, maybe I made a bad situation worse, who knows.

 

This is an interesting thread.

I own a Vostro 1700 and have had recurring touchpad problems ever since I got it. At times the touchpad is not responding correctly or not responding at all. It varies between not being accurate, going dead, and even responding the other way around (moving finger up - cursor moves down, left goes right etc.). A Dell technician has replaced the mousepad shortly after I got it few years ago - but this never solved the problem. Over the years the problem re-occurred frequently, but only recently it also started involving my keyboard. It returns wrong characters - or totally dies.

I also had my Vostro dead last year, opened it - replaced the memory, reassembled it and that solved it in my case (but I'm not sure the memory actually was defective).

Anyway I'm still hoping to solve the touchpad problem one day! What I have been doing to work around is connecting an USB mouse when the touchpad gave problems (no need to reboot) and in that setup it never failed. Works like a breeze and I actually like the machine a lot due to it's big screen and speed.

I have a hunch the whole problem has to do with a grounding issue, that somehow leaks electricity into the touchpad circuitry making it hang ...... not sure though.

 

The issue was never a total windows/drive issue, as drivers have NOTHING to do with anything that happens before windows boots (the BIOS and splash etc)...

 

Bent pins actually pretty much do happen all on their own. Those molexes just suck.
This happened to my speaker connector on my m1730. They replaced the speakers which of couse didnt change anything because its on the motherboard.

Which reminds me, its about time I get that replaced like 3 times so I can get an m17x. lol