Pinstripe screen of death

[fatbuckRTO]

Apparently in an effort to assist my (previously unknown to me) struggle to be a non-conformist, my computer has begun locking up and delivering a stylish variation of the Windows standard. Anyone have a similarly metrosexually oriented laptop?

[pauldun170]

Apparently in an effort to assist my (previously unknown to me) struggle to be a non-conformist, my computer has begun locking up and delivering a stylish variation of the Windows standard. Anyone have a similarly metrosexually oriented laptop?

You could possibly have an overheating\bye bye birdie vid card. What kinda laptop and does it have integrated, ATI or Nvidia card.

[fatbuckRTO]

You could possibly have an overheating\bye bye birdie vid card. What kinda laptop and does it have integrated, ATI or Nvidia card.

Dell Vostro 1000, ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 card (integrated).

It doesn't do it often, generally only when I have multiple programs running.

[Archren]

Dell Vostro 1000, ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 card (integrated).

It doesn't do it often, generally only when I have multiple programs running.

Why did I read that initially as "multiple orgasms" instead of "multiple programs"? I guess that might cause pinstripe screens of death too.. :lmao:

Thank god tomorrow is Friday... :whistle:

[fatbuckRTO]

Why did I read that initially as "multiple orgasms" instead of "multiple programs"? My commanding internet presence?

[Archren]

My commanding internet presence?

Hmmm... nope, sorry, nothing interesting happening in my pants yet. Think you need to work on that.. :sorry:

[fatbuckRTO]

Or maybe because my computer is somehow able to "generally only" do something, which might seem contradictory at first glance, but upon closer scrutiny is decidedly possibly incredibly sexy. For the record, I have decided that substituting the word "orgasm" for "program" in my head will make all future tech support calls briefly entertaining, if not bearable.

[G-Rex]

Why did I read that initially as "multiple orgasms" instead of "multiple programs"?...........

Thank god tomorrow is Friday... :whistle:

Because that's what you're used to getting. ;)

Hmmm... nope, sorry, nothing interesting happening in my pants yet.

Thank god tomorrow is Friday... :whistle: :D

[Archren]

Because that's what you're used to getting. ;)

/Thread

:D

[Particle Man]

Because that's what you're used to getting. ;)



Thank god tomorrow is Friday... :whistle: :D

we were fine until you chimed in redflip

[pauldun170]

Dell Vostro 1000, ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 card (integrated).

It doesn't do it often, generally only when I have multiple programs running.

That card shares system memory. How resource heavy are the "multiple applications?" You on Vista or XP? How much memory? Possibly, if the laptop has some miles on it and you have a bajillion things running, AND time has become to effect the accepted thermal envelope of the internals (that and fart dust) you could have some components being pushed..causing some voltage irregularities at the controller or thing-a-mo-bobby.

How reproducible (the problem) is it?

[fatbuckRTO]

/Thread

:D

You hijacked my thread and then summarily ended it based on the hijack subject? You could at least have the common courtesy to leave the program running...

[Papa_Complex]

Apparently in an effort to assist my (previously unknown to me) struggle to be a non-conformist, my computer has begun locking up and delivering a stylish variation of the Windows standard. Anyone have a similarly metrosexually oriented laptop?

Is it saying something like, "the display driver has stopped functioning and has been restarted" when this happens?

Windows Vista?

[Archren]

You hijacked my thread and then summarily ended it based on the hijack subject? You could at least have the common courtesy to leave the program running...

:sorry: Looks like Paul put you back on track. :dthumb:

[fatbuckRTO]

That card shares system memory. How resource heavy are the "multiple applications?" You on Vista or XP? How much memory? Possibly, if the laptop has some miles on it and you have a bajillion things running, AND time has become to effect the accepted thermal envelope of the internals (that and fart dust) you could have some components being pushed..causing some voltage irregularities at the controller or thing-a-mo-bobby.

How reproducible (the problem) is it?So many questions...

First time or two I was running MATLAB, which is a resource hog as I understand it. I'm on XP, 2 GB (read 1.87, because truth in advertising doesn't translate to binary). There's a lot of dust here, fart and otherwise.

If I don't restart Windows within 24 hours, the problem is very reproducible. Generally while I'm running a video program (WMV, Quicktime, or even Flash via Youtube).

[fatbuckRTO]

Is it saying something like, "the display driver has stopped functioning and has been restarted" when this happens?

Windows Vista?
Says nothing, just gives me a pinstripe screen. XP.

[fatbuckRTO]

:sorry: Looks like Paul put you back on track. :dthumb:

Damn. If you hadn't thrown the brakes on I would have been content with the hijack.

[Archren]

Says nothing, just gives me a pinstripe screen. XP.

I'm no expert, but from graphics card issues I've had in computers past (while running XP), that sounds like it's a graphics card problem. But I'll let the real experts help you out as opposed to my thread-jacking, armchair computer tech advice. :lol:

Damn. If you hadn't thrown the brakes on I would have been content with the hijack.

Well, I wouldn't have thrown the brakes on except I'm not sure you guys would have appreciated the kind of thing Tracy and I discuss regarding multiple orgasms. :lol:

[Lucky3623]

Under warranty? call Dell?

Sounds like either a bad memory module, or graphics card memory going bad. Maybe need new MoBo.

You said you are getting no errors? Does it shutdown and restart?

Check dump files
Run sfc /scannow
Boot to Dell diagnostics (f12 on BIOS screen, I think) run full tests, see if you get any errors

Try memory tests, individual modules on both slots one-at-a-time. Memory can still show as tested good in pairs, but solo can error out.

[pauldun170]

I'm no expert, but from graphics card issues I've had in computers past (while running XP), that sounds like it's a graphics card problem. But I'll let the real experts help you out as opposed to my thread-jacking, armchair computer tech advice. :lol:



Well, I wouldn't have thrown the brakes on except I'm not sure you guys would have appreciated the kind of thing Tracy and I discuss regarding multiple orgasms. :lol:

You may continue in this thread
http://www.twowheelfix.com/showthread.php?t=5779

[Particle Man]

Under warranty? call Dell?


Drink a beer or something first so you don't get the urge to throw the phone out the window....

[Lucky3623]

Drink a beer or something first so you don't get the urge to throw the phone out the window....


I never said it was a SANE option...:idk:

[fatbuckRTO]

I have the mixed blessing of no longer being under warranty with Dell.

[pauldun170]

Under warranty? call Dell?

Sounds like either a bad memory module, or graphics card memory going bad. Maybe need new MoBo.

You said you are getting no errors? Does it shutdown and restart?

Check dump files
Run sfc /scannow
Boot to Dell diagnostics (f12 on BIOS screen, I think) run full tests, see if you get any errors

Try memory tests, individual modules on both slots one-at-a-time. Memory can still show as tested good in pairs, but solo can error out.

Another thing to do is measure temps and voltages.

I don't think he would get anomalies on the screen from memory. that tends to point to voltage issues (possibly related to heat related degredation) at the vid processor or in some of the interconnectomobobbies on the system bus.

[Lucky3623]

Also, check your virtual memory...

[Papa_Complex]

Says nothing, just gives me a pinstripe screen. XP.

That's too bad. If it was giving a driver error and it was Vista, then it would be a well known issue. With XP and no error, it's more likely a hardware issue.
Just in case though, you could uninstall the current ATI software and install the newest compatible version of Catalyst from the ATI/AMD website.

Other than that it could be video card (might be a separate board under the keyboard area if this was an upgrade to the standard build), main board, memory, or LCD/cabling.

The easiest thing to check is the LCD/cabling. If the pinstriping goes away if you move the display on the hinges, then it's either a bad cable or the video card needs to be reseated. On some models the video card works loose and you just need to remove the keyboard, then push down on the video sub-board. Otherwise either the video card or cabling needs to be replaced.

If it's shared video memory and you have more than one memory module, try removing them one at a time to see if the problem goes away.

Unfortunately though, my experience has generally been that such issues are caused by a failing main board in notebooks.

Another thing to do is measure temps and voltages.

I don't think he would get anomalies on the screen from memory. that tends to point to voltage issues (possibly related to heat related degredation) at the vid processor or in some of the interconnectomobobbies on the system bus.

Dell has some of the best thought out cooling in the business but, if the fan isn't spinning, it could potentially be an overheat. That fart dust is murder.

[Lucky3623]

Another thing to do is measure temps and voltages.

I don't think he would get anomalies on the screen from memory. that tends to point to voltage issues (possibly related to heat related degredation) at the vid processor or in some of the interconnectomobobbies on the system bus.

I had a very similar issue... it ended up being 1 bad memory module. I thought the same thing... started with LCD, power supply... memory was next to last on my list...

download cpuz for temps...

[pauldun170]

I have the mixed blessing of no longer being under warranty with Dell.

Are you welcome to the idea of replacing the fugger?

If not, there are a few things you should do (such as running some utilities to asses memory, voltage output and heat for both a baseline and at that 24hr mark)


that and back up everything to another drive.

[fatbuckRTO]

No money for replacement. I back my shit up fairly regularly.