Dell Inspiron 1501

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AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#19418 16-Feb-2008 13:36

Just got an Inspiron 1501 th eother day, and it s a brilliant computer. it has a 2.0ghz processor, 1gb of ram, 256 graphics card, and a 60gb hdd (will be upgraded soon)

Every so often I get lots and lots of small lines horzontally acoss the screen, It ued to happen within a few minutes of turning the PC on, but yesterday I did a bios update, as well as a graphics driver update, and now it does at what seems to be completly random times, will try and get the camera out when it next does it, as I cant print screen or anything with it, as everything locks up.

Any help is much appreciated.
Riley

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chakkaradeep

799 posts

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#110973 16-Feb-2008 15:45

Did you try to contact Dell Technical Support?

Regards,
Chaks

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heavenlywild

5059 posts

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#110982 16-Feb-2008 16:22

When you get random lines across your screen it can mean either:
a) The screen is faulty or
b) The video card is faulty or
c) all of the above

I would say most likely it is the video card playing up.

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111041 16-Feb-2008 21:59

I havnt contacted Dell Suport, Waiting for Buisness ours on monday, (got a teacher only day on monday so should give me some time)

des it definitly mean that the graphics or lcd is stuffed?

It has improved since I did the bios and a graphics update, I am now downloading every driver there is that applys to the laptop from the dell website (is it just me or is it really slow) so tat will hopefully fix it.

by the way it is running XP Pro sp2 32 bit.

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heavenlywild

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#111043 16-Feb-2008 22:20

AllNightNerding: I havnt contacted Dell Suport, Waiting for Buisness ours on monday, (got a teacher only day on monday so should give me some time)

des it definitly mean that the graphics or lcd is stuffed?

It has improved since I did the bios and a graphics update, I am now downloading every driver there is that applys to the laptop from the dell website (is it just me or is it really slow) so tat will hopefully fix it.

by the way it is running XP Pro sp2 32 bit.

Dude, I am 100% sure it is either the LCD or the video card, or both, causing this issue. Seriously, don't waste your time downloading all kinds of updates! Relax and wait for Monday. It is a hardware fault.

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111044 16-Feb-2008 22:25

Oh yah lol :D Might still have a go with some of these updates, I have a picture of what happens on my phone, I will put it up as soon as I can.

Is ther a way that I can check if it is still under a dell warrenty? as I did purchase it second hand, it is covered by a warrenty that the person I brought it off gave to me though, But a dell warrenty would be nicer :D

Thanks!

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heavenlywild

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#111049 16-Feb-2008 22:56

Hmmm, regarding the warranty, I wouldn't know. Perhaps if you quote the serial number underneath your notebook they can find more information about it.

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111136 17-Feb-2008 11:17

It doesnt seem to do it regularly, like it will be fine for several hours (I went 5 hours once) but other times it will do it within 10 minutes of you turning the pc on,

other than that everythign seems to be going really well on it :D, ahh well. will wait till monday.... *sigh*

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AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111146 17-Feb-2008 12:07

and as I clicked Post reply on the previouse post, it did it again.... except it had a new addition, annoying buzzing noiuse from the speakers,

and....
now, when I press the power button it..... does nothing, the fans go, the hdd light blinks, the normal sounds are made, but nothing appears on the screen. the same thing happens when having it plugged into an external monitor, after that, the only way to turn it off is by unplugging power and taking out the battery as pressing the power button doesnt seem to work.

wait till monday definitly now, to call dell.

-- Divett Enterprises -- The Power Of Tomorrow --

scottjpalmer

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#111164 17-Feb-2008 13:34

You may be better off getting the person who brought it to call Dell as the warranty will more than likely only apply to the original purchaser. Easier to "boogie" in shops etc as your name isn't always recorded but with Dell they will have their name lodged against the serial number.

If the other warranty you talk about is provided by the seller then it should be them you are contacting shouldn't it?

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111168 17-Feb-2008 14:08

Just changed the slots that the ram were in, and now everything seems to be back on track.

Computers are interesting creatures...

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weblordpepe

460 posts

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Inactive user

#111237 17-Feb-2008 18:33

Now THAT is something I would not have picked. Changing RAM fixes a video problem... Now I have seen everything.

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111264 17-Feb-2008 20:12

It hasnt fixed all of the issues, it still does come up with the pink and blue horrizontal lines, but not as often, it hasnt done it for about 3 hous now, and I have been gaming all of that time, at a lan party, and th elaptop perfomed brilliantly :D

-- Divett Enterprises -- The Power Of Tomorrow --

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111280 17-Feb-2008 21:13

These are a few pictures of what it looks like, one is wht happened when I was loading comman an conquer generals, the error on screen was that it wanted the disc for it. so isnt elated to the screen issue, the other screenshot is playing this pathetic helicopter game :D

Error 1

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AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#111931 20-Feb-2008 20:22

Have emailed the guy and am just waiting for a reply, which doesnt seem to have happened yet. and when I brought the laptop off him he seemed to reply very quickly....

-- Divett Enterprises -- The Power Of Tomorrow --