Dell replacement replacement... LCD woes

robmill3r · 08-21-2006, 02:26 AM

My Inspiron 8600 had a hard drive failure. Dell sent me a new machine- a 6400, not bad: bigger drive, faster processor, and a few other nicer gadgets that I didn't have on the first machine.
Problem:
When I move my cursor around it leaves little squared- edge "holes" in whatever graphic is on the screen. It can leave this "pixel trash" either directly on the desktop or on an open window. If it's on a window, I can grab the handle on the window and move it around with the window: it stays in the exact same location on the window without respect to it's location on the monitor. If I move the cursor back over the messy spot it will hardly ever refresh the area, instead leaving it alone and occasionally making it bigger. It does seem to happen more frequently when on battery power.

Dells' solution:
they had me run my diagnostics (already had and it showed no problem with motherboard, memory, LCD, video card, nada). Then had me reformat, didn't solve the problem. Then sent out a tech with a new LCD, again didn't solve the problem. Finally agreed to send me a new machine.

I just received my replacement replacement machine and it has the exact same problem. Any ideas?

soccerdude · 08-21-2006, 02:31 AM

Maybe this will help. Do right click and select refresh. Maybe it will help.

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 02:32 AM

It sounds like a defect in the lcd screens they are using on their models. Lately they have been busy recalling some 4.1 million of the Lithium batteries used in their laptops due to fire hazards when the batteries overheat suddenly. Apparently they have been getting crap in from their regular suppliers lately to hear this amount of troubles on their products!

!!!

robmill3r · 08-21-2006, 02:36 AM

yeah. My hard drive failed after the battery overheated so badly that it left a burn on my leg and melted the rubber foot off the battery. Dell did send me a replacment foot

. These guys are so rediculous.

I'd agree that it was the LCD except the trash is moving around when I drag the window around on my screen.

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 02:55 AM

If it isn't crappy batteries it's crappy video drivers or something on that idea. Who installed Windows on it? Dell obviously. The video software and drivers are low end apparently. There's a good chance that something didn't install fully and correctly there to be seeing this. The last item to consider is the onboard video chip as a source for this.

There are only three main things that see something appear on the display. Everything needs drivers that work for one. Problems with the lcd screen are a little rare but can't be ruled out these days. And the third is the onboard chip is not working quite the way it should. Try a separate card?

robmill3r · 08-21-2006, 03:02 AM

When I reformatted and reloaded it should have solved a driver problem. It has to be hardware. The LCD was replaced, and everything else tested out okay in diagnostics (not to say that Dell's diagnostics would be any better than their product- oh yeah- the lcd tested okay too).

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 03:18 AM

That's why I mentioned that a problem seen on an lcd would be rare for this type of problem. You would know right away on something like that. But the problem seen there is related more to what is sent to the screen. It could be a simple driver problem being seen from either corrupted or one or missing as a thought or a conflict with some other software. A damaged or missing system file or crosslink there could show this as a software not hardware fault.

robmill3r · 08-21-2006, 03:22 AM

so how do I diagnose?

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 03:31 AM

You could try reinstalling the drivers to see if that corrects this. Another idea would be to see if there is an update at the support newer then the current version of drivers installed. To rule out other programs clashing you can use the msconfig utilty to disable all but video to see if that sees a change that way. Something seems to be interfering with the display signal.

robmill3r · 08-21-2006, 03:48 AM

I'll give it a try. I hate for Dell to keep sending me new machines.

08-21-2006, 02:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
robmill3r New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19	Dell replacement replacement... LCD woes My Inspiron 8600 had a hard drive failure. Dell sent me a new machine- a 6400, not bad: bigger drive, faster processor, and a few other nicer gadgets that I didn't have on the first machine. Problem: When I move my cursor around it leaves little squared- edge "holes" in whatever graphic is on the screen. It can leave this "pixel trash" either directly on the desktop or on an open window. If it's on a window, I can grab the handle on the window and move it around with the window: it stays in the exact same location on the window without respect to it's location on the monitor. If I move the cursor back over the messy spot it will hardly ever refresh the area, instead leaving it alone and occasionally making it bigger. It does seem to happen more frequently when on battery power. Dells' solution: they had me run my diagnostics (already had and it showed no problem with motherboard, memory, LCD, video card, nada). Then had me reformat, didn't solve the problem. Then sent out a tech with a new LCD, again didn't solve the problem. Finally agreed to send me a new machine. I just received my replacement replacement machine and it has the exact same problem. Any ideas?

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08-21-2006, 02:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
soccerdude Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 821	Maybe this will help. Do right click and select refresh. Maybe it will help.

08-21-2006, 02:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	It sounds like a defect in the lcd screens they are using on their models. Lately they have been busy recalling some 4.1 million of the Lithium batteries used in their laptops due to fire hazards when the batteries overheat suddenly. Apparently they have been getting crap in from their regular suppliers lately to hear this amount of troubles on their products! !!!

08-21-2006, 02:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
robmill3r New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19	yeah. My hard drive failed after the battery overheated so badly that it left a burn on my leg and melted the rubber foot off the battery. Dell did send me a replacment foot . These guys are so rediculous. I'd agree that it was the LCD except the trash is moving around when I drag the window around on my screen.

08-21-2006, 02:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	If it isn't crappy batteries it's crappy video drivers or something on that idea. Who installed Windows on it? Dell obviously. The video software and drivers are low end apparently. There's a good chance that something didn't install fully and correctly there to be seeing this. The last item to consider is the onboard video chip as a source for this. There are only three main things that see something appear on the display. Everything needs drivers that work for one. Problems with the lcd screen are a little rare but can't be ruled out these days. And the third is the onboard chip is not working quite the way it should. Try a separate card?

08-21-2006, 03:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
robmill3r New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19	When I reformatted and reloaded it should have solved a driver problem. It has to be hardware. The LCD was replaced, and everything else tested out okay in diagnostics (not to say that Dell's diagnostics would be any better than their product- oh yeah- the lcd tested okay too).

08-21-2006, 03:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	That's why I mentioned that a problem seen on an lcd would be rare for this type of problem. You would know right away on something like that. But the problem seen there is related more to what is sent to the screen. It could be a simple driver problem being seen from either corrupted or one or missing as a thought or a conflict with some other software. A damaged or missing system file or crosslink there could show this as a software not hardware fault.

08-21-2006, 03:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
robmill3r New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19	so how do I diagnose?

08-21-2006, 03:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	You could try reinstalling the drivers to see if that corrects this. Another idea would be to see if there is an update at the support newer then the current version of drivers installed. To rule out other programs clashing you can use the msconfig utilty to disable all but video to see if that sees a change that way. Something seems to be interfering with the display signal.

08-21-2006, 03:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
robmill3r New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19	I'll give it a try. I hate for Dell to keep sending me new machines.