Hardware Problem Or Else?

stuck4now · 12-24-2008, 02:19 PM

I have a HP Dv9548us Laptop bought 1.2 years before. Last week while I was watching movie on it, the screen started flickering and the computer was shut down. I restarted the laptop ,it started normally but 5 min later it did the same thing. I ran a hardware test and a memory test but without any errors. I checked the fan, ran the antivirus Mcfee test, cleaned the comp, changed the Lithium battery but nothing proved helpful. I even bought a laptop cooling pad. BUT The problem is worsening till then. Now the laptop is not even starting until I uninstall the GeForce 8600M GS driver of the laptop by going in the safe mode. If I install the driver again it does not start again. Also even if I uninstall the graphics driver the startup screen shows red white dotted lines but the computer starts and works on standard VGA graphics adapter. Can anyone give me the idea whats wrong? Is it the video card or psu or something else which is dying?

**grimx133** · 12-24-2008, 07:29 PM

It does sound like a driver problem. Where are you getting yours from? The regular desktop drivers should not be used in laptops, if they work at all, there will still be problems galore. I have had some success in the past with modded notebook drivers, omega used to put some out, but doesn't anymore, though you may be able to get an old driver there. The good news is that nVidia finally started releasing drivers for their mobile gpu's. Use the link in this news page. http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4742

On the temperature issue, have you checked the bios and/or installed any monitoring software to see what they are? Do a search for NHC, it's pretty good. Full name is Notebook Hardware Control, I'd put in a link, but I'm at work so have to limit my internet usage somewhat.

12-24-2008, 02:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
stuck4now Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista home premium 32 SP1	Hardware Problem Or Else? I have a HP Dv9548us Laptop bought 1.2 years before. Last week while I was watching movie on it, the screen started flickering and the computer was shut down. I restarted the laptop ,it started normally but 5 min later it did the same thing. I ran a hardware test and a memory test but without any errors. I checked the fan, ran the antivirus Mcfee test, cleaned the comp, changed the Lithium battery but nothing proved helpful. I even bought a laptop cooling pad. BUT The problem is worsening till then. Now the laptop is not even starting until I uninstall the GeForce 8600M GS driver of the laptop by going in the safe mode. If I install the driver again it does not start again. Also even if I uninstall the graphics driver the startup screen shows red white dotted lines but the computer starts and works on standard VGA graphics adapter. Can anyone give me the idea whats wrong? Is it the video card or psu or something else which is dying?

12-24-2008, 07:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 2,203 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Hardware Problem Or Else? It does sound like a driver problem. Where are you getting yours from? The regular desktop drivers should not be used in laptops, if they work at all, there will still be problems galore. I have had some success in the past with modded notebook drivers, omega used to put some out, but doesn't anymore, though you may be able to get an old driver there. The good news is that nVidia finally started releasing drivers for their mobile gpu's. Use the link in this news page. http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4742 On the temperature issue, have you checked the bios and/or installed any monitoring software to see what they are? Do a search for NHC, it's pretty good. Full name is Notebook Hardware Control, I'd put in a link, but I'm at work so have to limit my internet usage somewhat. __________________