Pinstripe screen of death

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Lucky3623

Under warranty? call Dell?

Drink a beer or something first so you don't get the urge to throw the phone out the window....

[Lucky3623]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

Drink a beer or something first so you don't get the urge to throw the phone out the window....

I never said it was a SANE option...

[fatbuckRTO]

I have the mixed blessing of no longer being under warranty with Dell.

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Lucky3623

Under warranty? call Dell?

Sounds like either a bad memory module, or graphics card memory going bad. Maybe need new MoBo.

You said you are getting no errors? Does it shutdown and restart?

Check dump files
Run sfc /scannow
Boot to Dell diagnostics (f12 on BIOS screen, I think) run full tests, see if you get any errors

Try memory tests, individual modules on both slots one-at-a-time. Memory can still show as tested good in pairs, but solo can error out.

Another thing to do is measure temps and voltages.

I don't think he would get anomalies on the screen from memory. that tends to point to voltage issues (possibly related to heat related degredation) at the vid processor or in some of the interconnectomobobbies on the system bus.

[Lucky3623]

Also, check your virtual memory...

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by fatbuckRTO

Says nothing, just gives me a pinstripe screen. XP.

That's too bad. If it was giving a driver error and it was Vista, then it would be a well known issue. With XP and no error, it's more likely a hardware issue.
Just in case though, you could uninstall the current ATI software and install the newest compatible version of Catalyst from the ATI/AMD website.

Other than that it could be video card (might be a separate board under the keyboard area if this was an upgrade to the standard build), main board, memory, or LCD/cabling.

The easiest thing to check is the LCD/cabling. If the pinstriping goes away if you move the display on the hinges, then it's either a bad cable or the video card needs to be reseated. On some models the video card works loose and you just need to remove the keyboard, then push down on the video sub-board. Otherwise either the video card or cabling needs to be replaced.

If it's shared video memory and you have more than one memory module, try removing them one at a time to see if the problem goes away.

Unfortunately though, my experience has generally been that such issues are caused by a failing main board in notebooks.

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Another thing to do is measure temps and voltages.

I don't think he would get anomalies on the screen from memory. that tends to point to voltage issues (possibly related to heat related degredation) at the vid processor or in some of the interconnectomobobbies on the system bus.

Dell has some of the best thought out cooling in the business but, if the fan isn't spinning, it could potentially be an overheat. That fart dust is murder.

[Lucky3623]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Another thing to do is measure temps and voltages.

I don't think he would get anomalies on the screen from memory. that tends to point to voltage issues (possibly related to heat related degredation) at the vid processor or in some of the interconnectomobobbies on the system bus.

I had a very similar issue... it ended up being 1 bad memory module. I thought the same thing... started with LCD, power supply... memory was next to last on my list...

download cpuz for temps...

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by fatbuckRTO

I have the mixed blessing of no longer being under warranty with Dell.

Are you welcome to the idea of replacing the fugger?

If not, there are a few things you should do (such as running some utilities to asses memory, voltage output and heat for both a baseline and at that 24hr mark)


that and back up everything to another drive.

[fatbuckRTO]

No money for replacement. I back my shit up fairly regularly.