[kr236rk]

hi

newb

am typing on an old P4. have a vista/dell inspiron 531 running NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 which appears to come under the heading of integrated Graphics Part (IGP)?

the nVidia seems to have failed catastrophically since Windows did a driver update/patch on it, and now all i have is a black screen

can i remove the nVidia or even replace the entire MoBo to get round this colossal crash please? the system will not boot into safe mode so i can only think of drastic action to salvage this system

thanks

Ric

 

[Floop]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

How do you know this is a problem with the onboard video card? It could be anything from the PSU to the CPU... Please tell us exactly (if anything) what heppens when you boot up your PC.

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

How do you know this is a problem with the onboard video card? It could be anything from the PSU to the CPU... Please tell us exactly (if anything) what heppens when you boot up your PC.

Hi Floop,

well, as i said, this business only started after the nVidia update - before that time there were no worries

now i start up into screen black with an "optimum mode" sign on the screen - the monitor controls were set on Low-Medium before i lost control of the visuals. the hard drive pilot light flickers as if it were doing something; attempts to F8 into safe mode result in the pilot light going out completely

inserting a new motherboard would be my last ditch attempt to salvage this system

help appreciated / thanks

Ric

 

[dai]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

try a windows restore to a date before the update

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

Can you see the Dell Logo splash screen on start up before any widows drivers load?

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

thanks Dai and Wrench,

just screen black :-|

someone suggested this morning i try a new monitor, and after several bumpy starts the nVidia control panel allowed me to run an ancient pre-LCD monitor at the nVidia default setting of 1024x768/75htz which is what i was using any way i am sure?

the resolution had set itself to 640x480/60htz and i never ever work from a resolution with two sets of triple digit values

guess i need to take a deep breath and plug the Samsung LCD back in and try the nVidia default setting, before i am plunged back into night vision?

will update / thanks

R

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

I'm confused the Go series is Laptop video but a 531 is a desktop is this a desktop PC?

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 replacement?

sorry - it's a 'Ge', a GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 - think i had no access to the pc or its properties when i initially posted, again my apologies :-o

R

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

Back to problem, did you get the resolution corrected on the crt monitor?

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

Back to problem, did you get the resolution corrected on the crt monitor?

plugged her in - the vista welcome screen came up - i typed in my pass - a message came up saying "windows cannot open" or something: the screen then went black, but with a reduced info bar at the bottom and a single (odd) icon on the screen, a trash can. i hit restart. this time i made it to the desktop icons but they were huge. went to the nVidia tab and noticed "default resolution" and hit on it. got normal size icons. now i need to try that trick on the LCD. will update

thanks

R

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

While you have the screen working try rolling the driver back in device manager.

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

While you have the screen working try rolling the driver back in device manager.

got that panel open - could be tricky - after the initial (disastrous) driver patch i downloaded another off the web and then still another form the nVidia site, to try and rectify the instability: so if i roll back it might take several spins before i get back to where i started out from - thanks to nVidia

what do you think?

device manager says nVidia controller is working ok at the moment

thanks

R

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

If it's working ok let it be, when updating/installing video drivers it's best to do it from safe graphics mode by tapping F8 on boot and selecting from the list, disable any antivius/malware programs and then install the drivers.

 

[kr236rk]

that's a good tip - thanks - i hope my F8 works now that i have the monitor back. will update on reconnecting the lcd

update

total madness

unplugged the Dell crt and plugged in the Samsung lcd - the Samsung was working! but it was working at the Dell resolution of 1024x768 / 75htz

i clicked on 'Restore Defaults' in the nVidia panel to see what would happen? the Vista recognised the Samsung and altered the resoloution to 1280x1024 / 60htz. i clicked apply, the screen went black

whatever else i tried after this the Samsung remained black screen with resolution message floating around on it; every time i swopped back to the Dell crt it was working, even on the lcd resolution (with tiny icons). I have now reset the resolution to the lower Dell setting and left it at that for now ~ i am totally stumped!! :-o

but at least the computer is basically okay, it is just the monitor thing which is screwed up.

 

[Floop]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

Are you sure you have downloaded the latest drivers for this onboard video? And also, how old is the samsung LCD and what are the dimensions of it?

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

Are you sure you have downloaded the latest drivers for this onboard video?

well, yes - Windows updated the nVidia driver ~ that's when the monitor lost it; there was a Dell driver update for the nVidia in the Dell Help desktop icon, so i downloaded that; then i visited the official nVidia page and found the driver patch there and downloaded it

And also, how old is the samsung LCD and what are the dimensions of it?

it says "October 2005" on the back so it must have been old stock when i bought it several years ago; it's a 17"

thanks

R

 

[Floop]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

Sorry, you said windows updated the driver, but surely if this a Geforce Ge 6150 you should be downloading drivers from: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
I don't think this is the problem but update your drivers from here and see what happens.

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

17" wide or 17" square monitor?
Are you sure the monitor does support 1280x1024 and not 1024x768?

 

[kr236rk]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

17" wide or 17" square monitor?
Are you sure the monitor does support 1280x1024 and not 1024x768?

hi Wrench

well, the nVidia control panel recognised the Samsung (when it did recognise it) as it recognises the ancient Dell E773p crt - tried the Samsung this evening, it worked 100% for 15 seconds then went black again

have been to the Dell site and downloaded the latest drivers for nVidia and indeed the CPU and received a confirmation window that the nVidia was updated

the nVidia is a GeForce 6150SE nForce 430

last ditch (how many last ditches are there? :-o) will be to plug in an LG lcd and see what nVidia makes of that?

bests ;|

R

 

[Wrench97]

Re: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 replacement?

If it is working properly on the CRT I'm thinking it may be a monitor problem or possibly a video cable did you check the monitor end of the cable to make sure it's tight?