Strange computer problem? (video included)?

Question

I got a Dell Studio 15 laptop several months ago for college, but every once in a while--maybe once a month--a strange error will occur. The computer will, seemingly unprovoked, become unresponsive and the screen will show this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44292640@N03/4923786699/

After maybe a minute the computer will either shut down or restart, then work as it normally does. Can anyone offer some insight?

Answer 1

Hi Jenny,

From the video I would say your graphics adapter is in trouble either from a bad driver or a poor connection the system shuts off because of a cyclic error (where the system is trying to run and failing so tries again) and after so many will shut off.

It maybe from an update (when are your updates set to be D/L if it is once a month then there is one failing to install or is wrong for your system.

As it works normally on a reboot I would think that there is an issue with the adapter or the drivers or the video card itself.

Changing it to run an external screen only would rule out the monitor and as the drivers for the external monitor would differ from the laptop one that could also help to rule out that fault.

If it still happened then it would almost certainly be hardware fault

Answer 2

If it's still under warranty, then I recommend that you ship it in for repair or replacement along with a copy of that video. I'm really not sure what the cause of that problem is, but here are some possibilities:



*Overheating. Make sure that your laptop's vents and fans aren't obstructed by dirt or lint. Don't use your notebook on soft surfaces like beds or cushions.

*Graphics card/video drivers need to be updated. You can find these on the Dell website under the "Support" page. Download the drivers for your specific laptop model.

*Try hooking up your laptop to an external monitor when this happens so that you can tell whether or not it's the screen that's problematic, or something else.



Honestly, your best bet would be to avail of the warranty and get it repaired professionally. I recommend backing up all your files before sending it in and getting a replacement computer to use in the meantime.

Answer 3

If it's still under warranty, time to get it fixed as the problem is with the internal graphics adapter. If it were problems with the screen only, the error would be constant, and the pc wouldn't shut down/restart by itself.

Answer 4

Yes the problem is the graphics card inside the laptop, its overheated. It has bad ventilation or excess dust clogging the fan, Basically you are burning out the graphics chip. Turn it off and get it looked at as soon as possible.

Answer 5

Strange elfin magic? Do you have the laptop placed so that the fan can run freely. It generally blows underneath. You might want to prop it up on a couple of paperbacks so there would be free space underneath. It looks like the video card might be unhappy.

Answer 6

you are able to boot your computing gadget into secure mode... and disable the computerized restart after BSoD. if it crashes returned. write down the blunders code. which could be effective in figuring out the difficulty. that being suggested. it rather is annoying to appreciate what precisely is occurring to your gadget. clever flow would be to returned up any significant information you have on the device in case it rather gets broken... that can take place with continual crashing. messing with the registry is in no way rather a competent thought except you realize what you're doing. the registry is rather a database of all settings and institutions interior the computing gadget. so it rather is probably, something became edited out of the registry, that someway has left a habit in some form of media participant. you would be able to desire to objective uninstalling all media purposes, and reinstalling them. ..internet browser, flash, adobe, media participant, speedy time ...drivers for pix, sound, show. obtain and run a reminiscence try utility. run chckdsk on the annoyingchronic. defrag the annoyingchronic. blunders from sleep mode tend to show to me to a blended up boot sector. could additionally... merely run a fixmbr habitual...with an deploy CD. besides the shown fact that. the blunders code from the gadget crash would grant you with an superior thought the place to start. it's going to come across the element, or reminiscence module that's inflicting the blunders/crash. additionally... often. secret agent ware, and anti-virus scans are continuously a competent situation. my uncomplicated hunch... would be loss of life RAM. would desire to describe the weird and wonderful buffer interior the audio gadget. if the gadget hangs. or crashes. it rather is many times the two CPU or RAM. ...except something extreme has been completed to the registry. courses does not function, not crash the OS. ...besides the shown fact that, like i suggested. returned up your stuff. a reinstall of residing house windows would remedy the difficulty altogether if it rather is registry proper. a mem-try (residing house windows 7 comes with one i'm exceedingly particular) would isolate undesirable RAM.