Graphical corruption in general

http://img149.imageshack.us/i/corruptionw.png/
It sometimes appears in programs too, such as Notepad, but it always has that similar distortion effect. It happens once every other day or so, both on my laptop and on my PC.

I had this issue even when using Vista, but I have been using Windows 7 since build 7000. Both are currently running Windows 7 64-bit (though I had this issue on my laptop back when it was running Vista and then W7 32-bit).

The problems seem to happen regardless of what drivers I use (which are the latest available from the nvidia site). The PC is a Dell Vostro 400, while the laptop is a Vostro 1500.

Laptop:
nvidia 256 MB 8600 M GT
2 gb ram
2.0 ghz core 2 duo

PC:
nvidia 512 mb 8800 GT
4 gb ram
2.4 GHz core 2 quad

 

Wonder if it could be that *both* your graphic cards are being defective, at the same time? What would be the chances?

I don't know if this makes sense and I could be wrong - but could there be something wrong with the power supply / power source or similar?

PS., next time please try to keep the image smaller Preferably upload it in imageshack and get in a thumbnail?! Cheers.

 

I bought the laptop November 2007 and the PC May 2008. I'm not certain it would be the power supply, since they both use different hardware... Also, the PC isn't necessarily under any sort of stress when this happens. Like I said, I could simply be editing a file in Notepad when this happens.

 

Well, I have no idea except think about defective graphic cards, and probably (unfortunately) may be both of them. Do you have the warranty? I'd also think about getting in touch with Dell ASAP, send them a picture and ask for a replacement, and see if it would fix the issue.

 

Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

it can't be the graphics card really if you can make a screenshot of the fault, not?

at least, the fault stays in memory => i'd say it's the ram.. the gpu ram or the system ram.. as you can replace the system ram, maybe try that for a while? if you have two blocks in, take one out, try some days, take the other out, and see if that fixes something..

if it's the gpu's ram, no clue. send it to repair?

 

What's really odd is that in the image only PORTIONS of it are distorted. The start button and the system tray are perfect. And the one item in the task bar is fine. This, to me, would not indicate a graphic card issue or even a memory issue. I mean what are the odds that a memory error would leave the start button, one task bar item and the system tray in perfect shape? This one is quite odd!

A question for the OP, you say this is occurring on TWO machines? Are they both producing the same thing as in the image you posted, specifically the start button, system tray and one task bar item are rendered as they should with the other parts of the bar distorted like this?

Gary

 

that's true.. maybe some dell utility that fails? anything you install on both that is not the default os without anything else?

 

I'll run a memtest.

Those specific parts were fixed because they were updated. Before, the entire bar was corrupted, but as I moused over certain areas, they highlighted, which updated the image drawn for them.

I'm not sure what you mean.

 

The fact that those areas refreshed like that would tend to eliminate memory as the issue, since the same section of memory is still being used before and after the refresh.

I think what Dave is driving at, is that the likely hood of hardware failing in EXACTLY the same way on two different machines at the same time is somewhere between slim and none and the more likely candidate is something that was recently installed on both machines.

Can you post a similar image from the SECOND machine? Is it really and truly identical in the way it "fails"?

Gary

 

what i mean is, both are dell, and both are yours, so the chances are high that there are some dell specific software things, or some of your software choise, that you installed on both of the machines. and that could trigger that bug.

if you post an image of the second machine, post it with the taskmanager open (and all processes visible). that way, we might see some process that could be the real bugger..

 

I would try to check, re-seat LCD cable and inverter first.

cheers ...

 

On TWO machines? Don't you think that the likelihood of that is infinitesimal?

Gary

 

Have you tried reformatting your notebook?

 

Did you purchase your two Dells from the same retailer or computer store? Did you report to them your recurring problems? What other customers from that retailer? Did they experience the same problem as yours? If those are all a "yes", then may be that retailer's supplier has some factory defects, freight troubles, or poor storage measures and facility that led to such consistent recurring GPU problems.

Moreover, although you're using the latest drivers, try to send your notebook to its repair centre for a thorough and accurate diagnosis. GPU problems are of delicate matters. Hence, it's quite risky if you just settle on D-I-Y.

 

On a laptop AND a desktop simultaneously? Again, I think the odds are about the same as winning the lottery. If it were two identical laptops I might buy into this. But we are talking two very different models, experiencing what is reported to be the same anomaly.

gary

 

Any chance we can get a screenshot of the OTHER machine too??

Gary