Background:
Laptop = Gericom Hummer FX 5600
Purchase Date = Feb 2004
Warranty = Expired Feb 2005
Hardware:
Intel Pentium 4
512MB DDR RAM
Nvideo GeForce FX 5600
Software:
Windows XP: Home
Problem:
The screen will either:
(1) go black [assume it goes off] and back on and produce some messed up image like in the attachment (although that's the worst I have ever had - usually it's just the mouse image that's messed up)
(2) go black [assume it goes off] and stay off, requiring a restart. Note: If I press something like caps lock, it takes 5-10seconds for the caps lock image to show as on on the keyboard, so it lags up when it does this - possible CPU problem?
If it returns, and the GFX are messed up, I can get it back to normal by minimising the window and reloading it. So it doesn't stay like that.
When problem occurs:
If I'm in Microsoft Word it'll do it every now and then (go black and stay off), if I preview some animations on Microsoft Powerpoint it'll do it (go black, then come back on) and after doing this about 25 times after trying to preview 25 animations it'll go black and stay off. In addition, at random times that have no pattern. But if I use microsoft word I can place a bet that within some time it'll go black and stay black.
History:
In Jan 2005 my laptop power cable stopped working, so I had to send the laptop back (Feb 2005) for a new one (As the replacement didn't work).
They sent it back, with a new charger, and working. And they said they changed the CPU too.
This problem started straight away. I contacted them, saying that I can not send it back for some time as I needed the computer for exams and college, they said to contact them near the time when I could send it back. So after phoning them today, and trying to explain to a dutch man (the dutch like to stand their ground) that it was their fault because the problem occured AFTER they had 'fixed' the original issue, during the warranty date, he said they could pick it up but I 'may' get a bill. So I figured I'd try and fix it myself, or try.
What i've done:
For some reason I thought it was a graphic driver problem (after getting the problem using powerpoint today).
So I tried to re-install my graphic drivers, and well, I got the error: ''The NVIDIA Setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit.'' - so it says it cant detect/identify my video drive?
Anyway, I then had some idea to update all drivers I could, so next was the CPU. After realising there are no driver updates for CPUs I found a program to test the speed of your processor, slightly bored and annoyed I downloaded it anyway, only to get the error: ''ADVISORY! The Hyper-Threading Technology Test Utility
was unable to identify if all the core components are present'' (Full details in attachment)
Why post here?
Well, I have no idea of I can fix it myself, and would rather see if I can before sending it off.
I was going to consider re-formatting the computer, but that's annoying and such a long process, and I am sure it's not needed (And may not even fix my problem)
Attachments:
(1) Error - showing what happens after the screen goes black and if it returns (remember: If it returns, and the GFX are messed up, I can get it back to normal by minimising the window and reloading it. So it doesn't stay like that.)
Here: http://www.spark911.com/tech/screen.gif
(2) CPU report
Here: http://www.spark911.com/tech/cpu_report.txt
Laptop = Gericom Hummer FX 5600
Purchase Date = Feb 2004
Warranty = Expired Feb 2005
Hardware:
Intel Pentium 4
512MB DDR RAM
Nvideo GeForce FX 5600
Software:
Windows XP: Home
Problem:
The screen will either:
(1) go black [assume it goes off] and back on and produce some messed up image like in the attachment (although that's the worst I have ever had - usually it's just the mouse image that's messed up)
(2) go black [assume it goes off] and stay off, requiring a restart. Note: If I press something like caps lock, it takes 5-10seconds for the caps lock image to show as on on the keyboard, so it lags up when it does this - possible CPU problem?
If it returns, and the GFX are messed up, I can get it back to normal by minimising the window and reloading it. So it doesn't stay like that.
When problem occurs:
If I'm in Microsoft Word it'll do it every now and then (go black and stay off), if I preview some animations on Microsoft Powerpoint it'll do it (go black, then come back on) and after doing this about 25 times after trying to preview 25 animations it'll go black and stay off. In addition, at random times that have no pattern. But if I use microsoft word I can place a bet that within some time it'll go black and stay black.
History:
In Jan 2005 my laptop power cable stopped working, so I had to send the laptop back (Feb 2005) for a new one (As the replacement didn't work).
They sent it back, with a new charger, and working. And they said they changed the CPU too.
This problem started straight away. I contacted them, saying that I can not send it back for some time as I needed the computer for exams and college, they said to contact them near the time when I could send it back. So after phoning them today, and trying to explain to a dutch man (the dutch like to stand their ground) that it was their fault because the problem occured AFTER they had 'fixed' the original issue, during the warranty date, he said they could pick it up but I 'may' get a bill. So I figured I'd try and fix it myself, or try.
What i've done:
For some reason I thought it was a graphic driver problem (after getting the problem using powerpoint today).
So I tried to re-install my graphic drivers, and well, I got the error: ''The NVIDIA Setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit.'' - so it says it cant detect/identify my video drive?
Anyway, I then had some idea to update all drivers I could, so next was the CPU. After realising there are no driver updates for CPUs I found a program to test the speed of your processor, slightly bored and annoyed I downloaded it anyway, only to get the error: ''ADVISORY! The Hyper-Threading Technology Test Utility
was unable to identify if all the core components are present'' (Full details in attachment)
Why post here?
Well, I have no idea of I can fix it myself, and would rather see if I can before sending it off.
I was going to consider re-formatting the computer, but that's annoying and such a long process, and I am sure it's not needed (And may not even fix my problem)
Attachments:
(1) Error - showing what happens after the screen goes black and if it returns (remember: If it returns, and the GFX are messed up, I can get it back to normal by minimising the window and reloading it. So it doesn't stay like that.)
Here: http://www.spark911.com/tech/screen.gif
(2) CPU report
Here: http://www.spark911.com/tech/cpu_report.txt
