Dell Latitude D800 screen problems?

[Rome]

When first turned on the screen has a gray color and don't see nothing more. The next time it started showing the desktop background with vertical lines. Check the inside and saw that the cpu and the video card fans will not start. On another occasion performs excellently, but when pc restart the screen became gray again. Occasionally the screen presents iluminated white color with rare spots. I start CPU-Z and although the processor speed is 1700 MHz shows a core speed of 598 Mhz. Im confused. It will be the video card, the processor or the screen? Any idea? Thanks.

 

[NYJimbo]

The Dell Latitude D800 is a laptop right?. You say it has two fans and a video card, so I want to be sure we are talking about the same thing.

If it's a laptop, which is what I remember the d800 being, this could be a invertor issue, but first let me know if its a laptop or desktop.

Also when you say "gray", do you mean it is dim or dark or that it is colored gray?

 

[vr6rafal]

First of all you should connect an external monitor to see if its the screen or video card problem, if extenal monitor shows the image fine then you most likely have a bad lcd panel/backlight or inverter. To test inverter you would need a test backlight or replacement inverter to test with.

Second, does the laptop stay on or shutdown since the fans are not turning on. Many laptop fans will only turn on when temperature reaches a certain level, they dont always run, some do some laptops dont.

Third the CPU mhz is flexible, usually when there's no cpu stress it will idle down the clock to conserve power, when it senses it needs more processing power it will operate at highest speed.

 

[Rome]

The Dell Latitude D800 is a laptop right?. You say it has two fans and a video card, so I want to be sure we are talking about the same thing.

If it's a laptop, which is what I remember the d800 being, this could be a invertor issue, but first let me know if its a laptop or desktop.

Also when you say "gray", do you mean it is dim or dark or that it is colored gray?

Yes is a laptop. Two fans= (Fan#1-cooling system for CPU) (Fan#2- cooling system for video card. Its fastened to the video card). "Gray"= I don't see anything. No logo, no background, just a dim gray colored screen. Thanks for your help.

 

[arrow_runner]

I just want to mention that you're probably right with your external monitor test for this particular laptop, but I've seen more than you'd imagine where they will display on an external display fine, but not on the internal LCD and it's because of a bad motherboard. (BGA grid for the video chip to be exact.)

 

[Rome]

No graphics when connected to external monitor.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

I just got a Dell Latitude D830 in today with a similar issue.

It worked when I first turned on, then got the blue screen of death with bands missing and the screen started going south real fast after that.

Customer said that they got a "blue screen" but I did not get much detail after that - they thought the lcd needs to be replaced so they probably saw the same thing.

Now, laptop will not show anything - external monitor does not work. Weird though when I hit the function key and the CRT / LCD F8 key on the laptop, the external monitor says:

Can not display this video mode
optimum resolution 1440x900 60Hz

So basically, when the external is hooked up, the monitor does not detect the video but when I press Fn F8, I get the above message.

I would think this is a video card issue and since integrated into the board, a new system board is in order.

This could have happened due to overheating on Rome's D800

I think the fans on this D830 work.

 

[NYJimbo]

I just got a Dell Latitude D830 in today with a similar issue.

It worked when I first turned on, then got the blue screen of death with bands missing and the screen started going south real fast after that.

Customer said that they got a "blue screen" but I did not get much detail after that - they thought the lcd needs to be replaced so they probably saw the same thing.

Now, laptop will not show anything - external monitor does not work. Weird though when I hit the function key and the CRT / LCD F8 key on the laptop, the external monitor says:

Can not display this video mode
optimum resolution 1440x900 60Hz

So basically, when the external is hooked up, the monitor does not detect the video but when I press Fn F8, I get the above message.

I would think this is a video card issue and since integrated into the board, a new system board is in order.

This could have happened due to overheating on Rome's D800

I think the fans on this D830 work.

If you chill down the machine and then start it, does it do anything at all?. I mean really cool it down, not freezing, but chilly.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

If you chill down the machine and then start it, does it do anything at all?. I mean really cool it down, not freezing, but chilly.

That's funny you mention that because when they dropped off the computer, it was pretty cold out and I think it might have been in their car most the day. The video worked for about 3 minutes.

If I chill it and get video, what do you have in mind? Does the system board need to get baked? I was reading somewhere that baking the board could possibly correct video issues because it melts the solder back into place.

 

[NYJimbo]

That's funny you mention that because when they dropped off the computer, it was pretty cold out and I think it might have been in their car most the day. The video worked for about 3 minutes.

If I chill it and get video, what do you have in mind? Does the system board need to get baked? I was reading somewhere that baking the board could possibly correct video issues because it melts the solder back into place.

If heat ends up being the issue it could be that some chip(s) have become heat sensitive also it could just be the cpu cooling fan is not working. You would have to check all that out.

Chilling it or doing the boot outside after its cooled down, but not if its below 40 degrees, might give you clues.

If she runs perfect when cold but starts to get worse its a thermal issue, the question is if its the fan, clogged filters or some damage to the motherboard from the heat. Even if the fan is turning you have to check the filters/vents for clogging. I repair laptops every day and most of them come in with enough dust to make a small pillow out of.

If you can get some kind of temp sensing software to run on a cold boot or checking the temps in the bios if that option exists, I would watch it until the machine fails to see if thats it.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

Cool thanks! I will post my findings...

Ok, so the CPU fan is not turning on - not really any dust inside the computer although the keyboard is grose!

Going to try leaving outside for a few...

 

[nj_computer_repair]

The computer will not display anything even after being cooled down. I will try cooling it again tonight because it's suppose to be colder so we will see.

I swapped with another fan I had laying around - the replacement fan did not turn on either.

(there actually was a dust bunny in the heatsink grille but it was on the inside near the fan so had to take the heatsink off to see it)

Could the cpu be damaged also? The laptop turns on, the bluetooth light turns on, it recognized the power supply, the hard drive light blinks and it seems to go through the motions of loading Windows.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

I got the laptop to about 45 F and still no video - I hooked up to an external monitor and when I hit fn f8, the external showed gray blocks and was spasing out. I would think it's the onboard video causing the issue. My guess is RoHS compliant solder not holding up as usual.

 

[NYJimbo]

I got the laptop to about 45 F and still no video - I hooked up to an external monitor and when I hit fn f8, the external showed gray blocks and was spasing out. I would think it's the onboard video causing the issue. My guess is RoHS compliant solder not holding up as usual.

Yeah, it shouldnt even have to be that cold, just very cool. If the ext monitor is doing that then you have big problems.

But just to be sure, you get no good video, even when its doing POST ?

 

[nj_computer_repair]

Yeah, it shouldnt even have to be that cold, just very cool. If the ext monitor is doing that then you have big problems.

But just to be sure, you get no good video, even when its doing POST ?

No video during post on laptop lcd and garbled grey boxes during post on external only when really cold.

I had the same exact issue on an ASUS laptop a while back but could not find a replacement board at the time. This one will probably go to laptop limbo because of the cost to repair.

Thanks for the help NYJimbo.

 

[RevivedCS]

Actually, I'm very familiar with this model. The d800 has a dedicated video card and that is all you need to get this laptop back up and running. It's a simple and inexpensive fix. If I had one in stock, I could get it to you. Please let us know how it goes.

You do not have to replace the entire motherboard.

 

[nj_computer_repair]

Actually, I'm very familiar with this model. The d800 has a dedicated video card and that is all you need to get this laptop back up and running. It's a simple and inexpensive fix. If I had one in stock, I could get it to you. Please let us know how it goes.

You do not have to replace the entire motherboard.

I believe that the dedicated video was available for the d830 also but the one I have has the integrated video.

 

[RevivedCS]

I believe that the dedicated video was available for the d830 also but the one I have has the integrated video.

That may be the case but as far as I remember on the D820 and D830, they became integrated. So you know you'd have to replace the mobo in that case. Or, rework the BGA on the mobo.