Dreaded RSOD

[Rockinacoustic]

So of course Murphy's law comes into effect right after my warranty expires. I got to start-up my trusty Inspiron e1505 a few hours ago, and every pixel that was once black is now red. This Has actually happened before, but it went back to normal luckily those few times. Now it appears the inverter has actually jumped the boat.


I'm unsure whether it's a bad inverter or the screen itself though. Is there anyway to pin-point it exactly?A few Google searches point to such but I just want to be sure. Another question I have is if anyone knows a trusty parts site for such a product. I get alot of hits for the part I'm looking for but most of them seem 'shady' if you know what I mean.


Thanks in advanced.

 

[TheStu]

To the best of my knowledge, the inverter is just there to control power to the backlight, so it should have anything to do with turning black to red.

Also, do you notice any other color shifts? Blue to green, orange to chartreuse?

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: TheStu
To the best of my knowledge, the inverter is just there to control power to the backlight, so it should have anything to do with turning black to red.

Also, do you notice any other color shifts? Blue to green, orange to chartreuse?

Nope, whenever this has happened it's just been red. The screen itself is fine, no dead pixels, but just the color shift.


Here's a link I found off youtube that is exactly what I'm experiencing Example

 

[TheStu]

i think there is a program you can get that will fix stuck pixels. You might want to try that and see if it makes any difference.

Also, see if the exact same problem occurs if you hook up an external monitor. If it does, then the graphics chip is busted, if it doesn't then it is isolated to somewhere between the graphics chip and the display (display included)

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: TheStu
i think there is a program you can get that will fix stuck pixels. You might want to try that and see if it makes any difference.

Also, see if the exact same problem occurs if you hook up an external monitor. If it does, then the graphics chip is busted, if it doesn't then it is isolated to somewhere between the graphics chip and the display (display included)

Good idea, i'll wait 'til I get back to school to try the VGA out to my LCD monitor.

Any specific program you recommend for stuck pixels?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: TheStu
i think there is a program you can get that will fix stuck pixels. You might want to try that and see if it makes any difference.

Also, see if the exact same problem occurs if you hook up an external monitor. If it does, then the graphics chip is busted, if it doesn't then it is isolated to somewhere between the graphics chip and the display (display included)

Good idea, i'll wait 'til I get back to school to try the VGA out to my LCD monitor.

Any specific program you recommend for stuck pixels?

No unfortunately, the only ones I know are made for OS X... sorry.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Well I tried both. I used a stuck pixel program I found off sourceforge; nothing. I also tried the VGA out on my 19'' Samsung LCD and it worked perfectly, so that eliminates the defective GPU idea. Thanks for the help though Stu

I suppose that pinpoints it to my laptop's screen. My question still remains which part exactly though?

 

[mooseracing]

If you are seeing color on the monitor and its not real dim my vote in the screen.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: mooseracing
If you are seeing color on the monitor and its not real dim my vote in the screen.

Yes, basically that's it. The monitor is retaining its brightness and color, its just that when it boots everything is pretty much red, and in windows certain pixels that should be black glow red.

So is this a do-it-myself project or would I be better finding a more reputable service?

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: mooseracing
If you are seeing color on the monitor and its not real dim my vote in the screen.

Yes, basically that's it. The monitor is retaining its brightness and color, its just that when it boots everything is pretty much red, and in windows certain pixels that should be black glow red.

So is this a do-it-myself project or would I be better finding a more reputable service?

When I had an Inspiron 1705 I used these guys Parts-People all they do is Dell laptop repairs and parts.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: mooseracing
If you are seeing color on the monitor and its not real dim my vote in the screen.

Yes, basically that's it. The monitor is retaining its brightness and color, its just that when it boots everything is pretty much red, and in windows certain pixels that should be black glow red.

So is this a do-it-myself project or would I be better finding a more reputable service?

When I had an Inspiron 1705 I used these guys Parts-People all they do is Dell laptop repairs and parts.

Thanks for the recommendation compman. Its seems more economical to do this myself though. Any other places perhaps cheaper?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: TheStu
To the best of my knowledge, the inverter is just there to control power to the backlight, so it should have anything to do with turning black to red...

Any inverter I've ever dealt with (generically speaking) simply converts DC to AC.

If that's the case with lappys, then you would be correct!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
Here's a link I found off youtube that is exactly what I'm experiencing Example

~Cool

HERE'S MINE

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic


So is this a do-it-myself project or would I be better finding a more reputable service?

Look at any of the LCD replacements directions on the web, they are pretty much all similar.

If you are doing it yourself take it apart first and get the p/n off the lcd and search web/ebay that way.

I was able to get one for 40 bucks shipped that was brand new that way instead of trying to buy one that was listed by model for my laptop.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
Here's a link I found off youtube that is exactly what I'm experiencing Example

~Cool

HERE'S MINE

Heh, not that literal Vin

Originally posted by: mooseracing

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic


So is this a do-it-myself project or would I be better finding a more reputable service?

Look at any of the LCD replacements directions on the web, they are pretty much all similar.

If you are doing it yourself take it apart first and get the p/n off the lcd and search web/ebay that way.

I was able to get one for 40 bucks shipped that was brand new that way instead of trying to buy one that was listed by model for my laptop.

Considering screen's for my laptop are going for >$200 I'm thinking I might as well send it in to a reputable service, such as the one compman sent me.

I've taken apart my laptop before, and it probably wouldn't be hard to replace... I'll see, school's wrath of midterms is still raining down as of now.

Thanks everyone for the input so far. If you know of any other sites or possible scenarios for repair it'd be much appreciated.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

~Cool

HERE'S MINE

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Heh, not that literal Vin

Heh!

What's wrong with Rammstein?

EDIT

Ah! I get it now...

Dreaded RSOD = Red Screen of Death

I though it meant Dreaded Rammstein Songs on Drugs.

Sorry!

 

[Rockinacoustic]

So after a series of back and forth flashed between normal and the red tint, it seems to have finally gone back to normal.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
So after a series of back and forth flashed between normal and the red tint, it seems to have finally gone back to normal.

Heh!

Rather ironic, don't you think - as all this junk is made in China now...

 

[TheStu]

Yes, Vin, we know. You love Vista, you love ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost is perfect for laptops. Like your Toshy Lappy that you want to bone 600 times (or you got it for 600 bones... i think those two are interchangeable). All the laptops are made in china, they are all junk, and yours was junk, until you put 4GB of RAM into it, and a 4GB jump drive, which is like RAM, but not, so you have like 1.21 JiggaBytes of RAM now in your system, you never hear the hard drive spin up. :beer:

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
So after a series of back and forth flashed between normal and the red tint, it seems to have finally gone back to normal.

Heh!

Rather ironic, don't you think - as all this junk is made in China now...

The lead is probably done seeping out of the screen in my case.

Originally posted by: TheStu
Yes, Vin, we know. You love Vista, you love ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost is perfect for laptops. Like your Toshy Lappy that you want to bone 600 times (or you got it for 600 bones... i think those two are interchangeable). All the laptops are made in china, they are all junk, and yours was junk, until you put 4GB of RAM into it, and a 4GB jump drive, which is like RAM, but not, so you have like 1.21 JiggaBytes of RAM now in your system, you never hear the hard drive spin up. :beer:

Watch it Stu, your Macbook wasn't kissed by an angel yah know.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
So after a series of back and forth flashed between normal and the red tint, it seems to have finally gone back to normal.

Heh!

Rather ironic, don't you think - as all this junk is made in China now...

The lead is probably done seeping out of the screen in my case.

Originally posted by: TheStu
Yes, Vin, we know. You love Vista, you love ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost is perfect for laptops. Like your Toshy Lappy that you want to bone 600 times (or you got it for 600 bones... i think those two are interchangeable). All the laptops are made in china, they are all junk, and yours was junk, until you put 4GB of RAM into it, and a 4GB jump drive, which is like RAM, but not, so you have like 1.21 JiggaBytes of RAM now in your system, you never hear the hard drive spin up. :beer:

Watch it Stu, your Macbook wasn't kissed by an angel yah know.

Never said that it was, just mentioning out that Vin seems to only have a few preset phrases.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
Watch it Stu, your Macbook wasn't kissed by an angel yah know.

Let's keep it succinct...

It's 'engel' not 'angel'...

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Never said that it was, just mentioning out that Vin seems to only have a few preset phrases.

Oh, please! This forum is a joke!

It's comprised of fan clubs, not experts, like the rest of AnandTech...

When my Chinese POS lappy let's me down, I'll let you know!

Will you do the same?

 

[KK]

you get it fixed?

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: KK
you get it fixed?

Nope, didn't have too. It's worked perfectly since that last post I had. The only thing I did was change my desktop from a dark to a brighter picture, and wala- it flickers back to normal. Whether that had anything to do with it is still beyond me.