Big Problem With Inspiron 1520

I have recently bought an Inspiron 1520 and it worked perfectly until today.
Out of the blue, the image is "checkered", just like in the picture.
It does this in Vista and in Xp it looks fine until I start a game or watch a movie.
I also tried Linux and it looked fine, I could even start a movie and the image was fine.
Is it the video card? Please help

 

Looks like overheating with the video card. Try running in power saver mode as it underclocks the videocard.

Was your 1520 a refurb?

 

I tried in safe mode and the movies were ok.
I also did the 3dmark test and besides the checkered image the performance was like the day I bought the notebook.
It's not a refurb, I think? how can I tell if it is or not? I bought it from a big company that sells IT stuff over the internet.
I didn't overclock the video card as I don't even know how, it is how I got it.
So should I send it back to be repaired?

 

I have a feeling they sold you a bad/refurb laptop.

If it was a refurb from dell it would have a sticker on the bottom saying refurbished.

Can you tell us what company you bought it from to see if its trustworthy or not?

If you can, sending it back for repair, or even a return would be ideal.

 

What drivers are you using for the video card?

 

it doesn't have any sticker that says refurbished.
I live in Romania and bought it over the internet, but before doing it I looked the company over and they seemed trustful as there are many people who buy from them, I guess the only thing left to do is to send it back, hope to get it back soon though.
As for the driver, I have downloaded the latest from Dell but I have also tried with the ones on the DVD. however I don't think it is a software problem as it does the same thing both in XP and Vista.

 

I would try and update the drivers on your video card. You running Nvidia or GMA?

 

I tried the latest driver from Dell website and the one on the DVD and there's no difference. I have Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT

 

I'm not sure why it would be fine in linux, but not both flavors of windows. It could very well be the video card.
I remember I had a video card in one of my old desktops, that would be totally fine until I did anything more intensive (games mostly), and the screen would start looking jagged and torn almost. Also, the video ram would some times be reported as half of what it had. I later took it out and after examining the card, I realized that one of the memory chips was just hanging there, no solid connection. I exchanged it and all was well.
My point is, often little things can go unnoticed until it's put in a more demanding situation and the problem creeps up. It could be that your video card is bad.
Sorry for the long story, just making my point.
EDIT: If it was previously used (but the company that sold you the laptop covered it up), it could be the card was overclocked before.

 

I noticed another problem, now the TV out port doesn't work either. I have been using it lately. Is it possible that the video card might have broken because of the tv? (I mean bad tv of bad cable). I ask this because I have tried the monitor out also and that still works, it's just the tv out that's having problems.
The tv out cable works also as I have tested it with the desktop pc.