Can you check this screenshot for me? Graphics and dying laptop related.

[LeperousDust]

Is this screenshot normal, or does it look like its less than 32bit?
Sorry its huge wanted to do as little to it as possible because i can't see if i'm introducing artifacts.
http://www.twobeds.com/upload/userfiles/LeperousDust/Hmmm.jpg

I need to know if its software or hardware without restarting my laptop, because in all honesty, this laptop has definitely seen better days now! I expect this to be a hardware problem i just need someone to confirm :)

Nvidia (http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20080703/tc_pcworld/147911) having been doing me too well recently, and my laptop just ran out of warranty :( I'm going to phone Dell anyway because its not my fault or theirs but they need to get in touch with Nvidia and get some kind of replacement or something because as it stands i can't reboot turnoff or put my laptop into standby without it not turning back on. Which wasn't great but i could put up with that ;D Now things are getting worse it seems...

[Feek]

Post it as a .bmp

[LeperousDust]

The corruption is pretty obvious, so if you can see it, its software based (could still be a hardware problem and windows falling back though...).

I'll get a BMP up in a second they're just huge :P

http://www.twobeds.com/upload/./userfiles/LeperousDust/hmmmmBIG.bmp

[Daz]

Looks fine to me.

[LeperousDust]

Thats thankfully what i wanted to hear in an odd way, i'm viewing in something that looks somwhere between 16 and 32bit atm. My graphics card in laptop is seeing its last few dying days, and i need to get on top of Dell before it really gives up :D

[Daz]

Does it look the same on an external monitor?

[LeperousDust]

This is what i'm looking at =/
http://www.twobeds.com/upload/./userfiles/LeperousDust/Camerascreenshot.jpg

Good idea Daz i'll check it out in a bit too :)

[Feek]

That's not on the screenie.

[LeperousDust]

Poop :) I shall be phoning Dell immanently then! :D I just can't be arsed being put on hold for ages on an 0845 number, i don't mind waiting but not when they're making me pay over the odds, we have free calls to geographical numbers for Christs sake! (I've tried the sayno numbers I've had no luck with them :( ).

[Flibster]

Could well be a damaged cable or the LCD screen dying.

[Feek]

Use 0207 026 0021 which is the gold support line, if they tell you it's the wrong number, ask to be put through :)

[LeperousDust]

Could well be a damaged cable or the LCD screen dying.

With the problems i've had, i'd probably bet most of my limbs its down to the GPU. Also since i've had the mainboard and LCD replaced within the last month chances of them failing is about as slim as it gets...

Cheers Feek i'll give them a ring in a bit, i've been busy otherwise today, may have to wait till monday, i just hope the laptop does ;D

[semi-pro waster]

Bit late to this but the first screenshots are perfect as far as I can see, what you have on your screen would be enough to have me almost yelling down the phone to Dell. Good luck getting it sorted mate.

[Mark]

Any luck? Especially now you have a big pointy stick.

[LeperousDust]

Haven't phoned i must say, worrying really since i do need a working computer, and as we all probably know the server probably isn't quite on the "working" scale yet :p. I just know i'll be on the phone forever and then i've got to argue my case, and although i actually don't mind once i start, i just really cba with it atm on top of everything else :p. Also i don't really want to send the damn thing away, it'll come back wiped again which is even more hassle. Boohoo...

[Mark]

Your choice, but if you keep it they will probably launch a broadside at you with the old 'you didn't report it, so you obviously accepted the fault' schpiel. Don't go there.

If you can show that yours is one of the chips affected by nVidia's confessional, you've got them over a barrel courtesy SoGA anyway.

[LeperousDust]

Thats the thing i can't find nVidia stating anywhere what chips are affected, they're scared to name chips because it'll cost them millions more. The say last gen, that could be 8xxx or 7xxx. I just find it weird my laptop has to be shaken to turn on, and windows is throwing up graphics errors etc... :D Thats unfortunately not conclusive hence my apprehension. I will phone tomorrow though, cheers for chasing me, its probably what i need ;D

[Mark]

Dell should know since nVidia are sending them the new drivers. Might take a while to filter down to first tier support though.