[Hidden-tech] Weird screen display issue with Dell E1505 Inspiron

[Robert Heller]

At Fri, 03 May 2013 11:49:29 -0400 bluemoon at crocker.com wrote:

> 
>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> 
> 
> Thanks for all the responses folks. What I am don't understand from 
> most of these is why this only happens when the computer power cord is 
> plugged in per the third item in my initial posting. All of these 
> suggestions/theories make potential sense in terms of the actual 
> screen versus a plugged in monitor but why ONLY when plugged in to a 
> external power source? Not sure if everyone saw that final piece of my 
> message. If not, does that piece of the puzzle add anything or 
> invalidate anything so far offered and any thoughts as to how that 
> relates?

If the inverter is 'flacky', it might be going into failure mode with the
external power due to *slightly* higher voltage. OR it could be a simple
mechanical issue resulting from circuit board flexing due to the weight of the
power cord.  Or something like that -- adding any sort of stress to frayed 
wires or weak solder joints or dieing components would result in these 'early' 
failure mode signs.

> 
> Thanks again,
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Wondering if anyone out there has ever run into this weird problem I
> am having, which only started somewhat recently.
> 
> 1. When plugged in, the screen goes dark (not black but as though
> through a dark glass such as that used to view an eclipse so that if I
> look hard and in the right light I can sort of see the outlines of
> screen images). When this first started happening a few months ago it
> would only happen after a minute or so and then it began happening
> faster until now it is virtually immediate. Cycling through the
> CRT/LCD options using the Fn key used to get it back reliably and now
> it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't (more often doesn't) but even
> when it does it is only for a second or two. Closing the lid and
> opening it does work and again only for that brief moment. I first
> noticed it when I was using the computer at someone else's location
> and thought there might have been something weird with their power
> supply or their internet connection or something, especially since at
> that time it was inconsistent, but I've tried it elsewhere and it is
> universally consistent now.
> 
> 2. I am running Windows XP Pro and notice that if I boot up when
> plugged in the screen stays lit through the boot process right up (the
> Windows screen image) until the "Welcome" screen appears and then
> reverts to misbehaving.
> 
> 3. When I am using my computer unplugged or docked with a monitor
> plugged in everything is fine.
> 
> 
> Is this weird or what? Anyway, it is obviously making it really hard
> to work remotely as I only have as long as the battery lasts which
> these days is from 30" to a couple of hours depending on what I am
> doing.
> 
> Thanks for any ideas/suggestions.
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members   
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
> 
>                            

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933 / heller at deepsoft.com
Deepwoods Software        -- http://www.deepsoft.com/
()  ascii ribbon campaign -- against html e-mail
/\  www.asciiribbon.org   -- against proprietary attachments