XPS Gen 2 problems

I search around for some answers to this, but couldn't find a good one.

Ok, so my XPS Gen 2 just went off warranty, so of course the GPU dies (lines/dots across the display). I thought it might just be heat, so I put AS5 on it, but still have the same problems.

So, my question is, since the GPU is dead, is there a way to boot without the GPU? I don't game on this anymore so I don't need much video power, but I do use it for web browsing and music. I disabled the GPU in the device manger, but the problem persists.

Other than that, what are my options? I'm not interested in paying $3-400 for an outdated GPU replacement for a system that I don't game on. I just need basic functionality.

Thanks.

 

Not really, you need a GPU to get any video output.
I'd part out the system and sell them and buy a new system.

Though the problem you described sounds like bad video memory.
If you were open to the idea, you could switch to linux and tell it to only use memory up to the bad point (not sure of a way to do this in Windows).
You could determine the bad blocks of memory using Video Memory Stress Test.

 

Thanks for the reply Hep!

I'm relatively unfamiliar with linux. I do have a dual-boot machine at work with open suse, so I have used it a bit. I'm not sure what to do to tell it to only use the good memory. Could you point to a good tutorial for it?

Thanks much.

 

I actually don't know much about linux, I'm primarily a Windows user. I just know I did it to resurrect a laptop with a similar problem one time, telling the laptop to only use the first 32MB of VRAM solved my problem because the fault was in the 36th meg or so.
If you made a post in the Linux section I am sure lots of our respectable Linux users will have suggestions for you. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Also, I don't even know that it's VRAM that's the problem. I made an assumption based on a vague description. I'd run the VMST and see what your results are.
If you'd like to post pictures I can make a better differentiation between bad VRAM, bad GPU, and bad/loose cable or LCD.

 

Well, I tried to get the VMT to run, but it didn't seem to do anything. It changed the resolution, then stopped. It also gave a message on starting the test that it detected 4GB of VRAM, but the card only has 256MB of VRAM. It let me continue, but only got as far as I stated above.

I'm kinda stumped...

 

Don't run it in windows, burn the ISO to a CD and boot from it.