Problem - Vostro 1500 monitor/graphics card

My Dell Vostro 1500 has been behaving strangely. I have a problem which occurs sometime when I start it up.

When booting, the monitor does not turn on and it does not complete the start up (I can tell by the hard disk not being read). However, if I press the area to the right of the "Power" button (above the keys F8-F12, Num lk, Print Scrn, etc), the monitor turns on and it proceeds to boot. However, when windows starts, it suddenly gives a blue screen and says "Hardware Malfunction". I have no option but to shut down. If I try running diagnostics, everything shows it is running fine. I can also run Windows "Safe Mode".

I figured that if I press the area to the right of the "Power" button WHILE turning on the computer, it starts up normally. After that, it gives me no trouble at all.

I thought I was fine, until another problem came up. This time, when I start up, the monitor shows up as a white screen, but it seems to boot normally. I can even shut down with Alt+F4. I can run diagnostics and all, but I only get a white screen. Sometimes, I get a combination of this and the above problem.

After this problem, I shook my computer a bit, and managed to get it to start normally. I haven't shut it down (or hibernated it) as yet.

Can anyone suggest what I can do with my computer? I am afraid the problem might get worse. Should I have a replacement for my video card or video RAM ready?

Thanks for reading,

Anand

 

Do these problems replicate themselves on an external monitor? Do you get artifacts when you stress the GPU and is it an Nvidia GPU? It does sound like a hardware fault from the BSoD you're getting, though in that case, it's strange that the diagnostics are passing. If you're still under warranty, you should probably call up Dell as soon as possible, otherwise, the GPU in the Vostro 1500 IS replaceable if it's an Nvidia GPU.

 

I haven't tried it with an external monitor yet. Will do so soon. The GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS.

Once I get the system to start normally, there is no problem at all. The most I've stressed my GPU is by playing DVDs. Everything seems perfectly ok and I don't see any artifacts.

I'm not under warranty anymore.

Would there be any benefit if I opened up the system (cleaning dust/reseating)?

Thanks.

 

You could dust out your system... but I don't think it would help. Dusting out your machine usually helps clear heatsinks and such, but I don't think yours is a problem related to heat.

 

It sounds like a loose connection in the video cable.

Yes, it could also mean that the card is failing, but considering that you can press on the case or shake it and make it start, it sounds like a connection.

Open it up and check the connections on the video card and the monitor cable.

The external monitor suggestion is a good one. But, it might not actually show the problem if it is a loose connection. It would help to see if it is a card problem.

 

Personally, I don't think a connection problem will cause a BSoD... but as these things go, there is indeed little harm in checking for one.

 

You would be surprised at what a loose connection can cause. BSOD, blank screen, failure to boot, overheating, crashes, and the list goes on.

 

I checked - When I get a white screen, I can still see the display on an external monitor. I think I'll open up the hinge cover and try fixing any possible loose connection. I haven't opened up a laptop before. Any suggestions for a newbie?

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos1500/en/sm/index.htm

 

Thanks for all your help. It seems like it was simply the display cable that was loose. And since it is inserted vertically downwards, pushing on the area next to the button would sometimes solve the problem. After opening the hinge cover, I just pushed down on the cable and all the problems seem to have gone. The lessons I've learned

1) Internal cables can come loose even if nothing was done to the system.
2) The weirdest of problems can have the simplest causes and can often be very easy to fix.
3) The dell service manual is very useful and opening up the laptop is not that complicated.

Again, thanks to all of you for your help.