Inspiron 9300 Screen Artifact

[Gaius Baltar]

I developed a screen artifact on my Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop over the NEw Years holiday. I was entertaining my nephews with a multiplayer game of Wolfenstein, and after exiting the program one afternoon I noticed a single blue line running from top to bottom of my screen. I took a screenshot to show but the line doesnt show up in the picture??? :hmmm:

What is it and how do I make it go away???:hmmm:

[Ummagumma]

First try switching everything off, unplugging the monitor and leaving it for a while (I don't exactly know why, but it fixed a friends.. I assume there was a static build up in the cable adding noise to the signal, but cannot be sure). Then try updating your Graphics drivers. Then start looking for your guarantee and an RMA telephone number.

[sapi]

To clarify, as ummagumma points out, if it doesn't show up in a screenshot, it's most likely a problem with the monitor

[Ummagumma]

To clarify, as ummagumma points out, if it doesn't show up in a screenshot, it's most likely a problem with the monitor

Monitor or GPU. It could just be not sending the correct signal, although the pixels are correctly processed (the screengrab collects the calculated pixel data before it is sent to the monitor).
If the static removal and driver update does nothing, try using a different monitor to see if the same thing occurs. It's the only way to be sure what is causing it.

[Gaius Baltar]

Monitor or GPU. It could just be not sending the correct signal, although the pixels are correctly processed (the screengrab collects the calculated pixel data before it is sent to the monitor).
If the static removal and driver update does nothing, try using a different monitor to see if the same thing occurs. It's the only way to be sure what is causing it.

Just to clarify here: its a laptop.

Ive tried letting it sit for awhile = blue line still there
updated graphics drivers = blue line still there

Ive done a few searches on google and cant find alot of screen artifact problems for A Dell Inspiron. Before I deceide the laptop screen is going out, could it be the graphics card?

[Ummagumma]

Just to clarify here: its a laptop.

Oops?

If there is a monitor out port, you could try plugging one in to see if it is still there. Other than that I'm not sure how you could isolate the problem. I hope the warranty is still running.

[Freddie]

Just to clarify here: its a laptop.

Ive tried letting it sit for awhile = blue line still there
updated graphics drivers = blue line still there

Ive done a few searches on google and cant find alot of screen artifact problems for A Dell Inspiron. Before I deceide the laptop screen is going out, could it be the graphics card?

Do you have any warranty left on it? If so it's time to put it to use. Laptops are extremely fiddly and awkward to repair by yourself if you can let some poor bastard in North Korea do it.

[Gaius Baltar]

An update on the situation.

I went to the Dell website and browsed the forums, and found some interesting information. In the "Direct2Dell" blog area, the following was posted in April of 2007;

Potential Vertical Line on Certain 17" Notebook Displays

Earlier this year, members of our Customer Advocate team posted a message that still resides front and center on a site called dellverticalline.com. That note says we were aware of some user complaints about certain notebook displays. Since then, the Customer Advocate team has coordinated with other Dell groups to help figure out what was happening with some 17" notebook displays.
Here's what they found: on some 17” LCD displays shipped with Dell Inspiron 9200, 9300 and Dell XPS Gen 2 notebooks, a one pixel wide vertical line may develop across the LCD screen over time. Systems that may be affected by this issue shipped from Nov. 2004 through Oct 2006.
Here’s what we’re doing: for affected systems, Dell is offering to replace any LCD that develops a vertical line within three years of purchase, at no charge for parts and labor. Also, Dell will offer refunds to customers who paid Dell to replace defective LCDs with this issue.

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archi.../09/10675.aspx

So, it appears there was a manufacturing issue underlying this problem, the precise nature of which hasnt been revealed. There was an additional posting in June of 2007;

More Systems Now Part of Vertical Line Issue

In April, I blogged about vertical lines appearing on some of Dell’s notebook LCDs. At that time, we found that a small number of 17” LCD displays shipped with Dell Inspiron 9200, 9300 and Dell XPS Gen 2 notebooks may develop a one-pixel wide vertical line may develop across the LCD screen over time. In the time since then, we have found that there are other systems that are potentially affected. All of these shipped between December 2004 and December 2006:

• Inspiron 6000 and 8600
• Latitude D800 and D810
• Dell Precision Mobile Workstation M60 and M70

The cause of the vertical lines has been traced to one specific component used on a small number of LCDs shipped on the potentially affected systems. Dell uses LCDs from several manufacturers and many notebook models are manufactured with screens of the same size from more than one vendor. We have confirmed that the component in question was not used on any other Dell notebook LCDs.
Even if you have one of the potentially affected systems with the confirmed component, it does not mean your LCD will develop a vertical line. This specific issue happens on a portion of the 9 systems we're calling out as potentially affected. If you have a notebook display with a vertical line that's not called out here, we will provide traditional technical support to try to resolve the issue.
So what are we doing with customers who are affected with this specific issue? The same thing we've done with affected 17” displays: We will replace any LCD that develops a vertical line associated with this specific issue within three years of purchase, at no charge for parts and labor. Also, Dell will offer refunds to customers who paid Dell to replace LCDs affected by this issue.

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archi.../19/17774.aspx

So if you have one of the affected systems, Dell will relace the LCD free of charge, even if it is out of warranty.

My laptop was out of warranty, and I never received any letter from Dell about the issue. However, after contacting them they agreed to replace the LCD free of charge, but only after I pointed out the information available on their own website.They are suggesting a 5-7 day turnaround, but thats going to be almost impossible for me due to my work schedule picking up again after the holidays. Another good reason to have a spare laptop around.