Re: crazy screen

["Damon L. Chesser" <damon@damtek.com>]

Jerome BENOIT wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have just launch a diagnose software provided by Dell:
> the video memory seems corrupted (error in writting or reading).
>
> What may I do ?
>
> Jerome
>
> Jerome BENOIT wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > thanks for your answer:
> > unfortunately I am now far away from the external screen
> > (this happened during a workshop).
> >
> > I have indeed a switch button on my Dell Inspiron 8200 (fn + F8):
> > I used it to get the image on the external screen, but I forget
> > to switch back, hence the troubles I guess.
> >
> > Is there a (simple) way to reset the settings ?
> >
> >
> > Jerome
> >
> > Sylvain Le Gall wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > On 05-11-2006, Jerome BENOIT <jgmbenoit@mailsnare.net> wrote:
> > > > Hello List,
> > > >
> > > > two days ago I plugged my daily updated Etch laptop to an external 
> > > > screen
> > > > (in practice a projector) and everything went fine until the shutdown.
> > > > But since then my screen is `crazy': at start up, I funny caracter 
> > > > appear
> > > > everywhere; in console mode the size of the caractere are no more 
> > > > apropriate;
> > > > in console mode, vertical and horizontal line appear and disappear 
> > > > in different
> > > > colours; in gnome session the same happens.
> > > > I guess that something was modified and need to be reset,
> > > > but I do not know what to do ? May be my screen is dying ?
> > > >
> > > > Any idea is welcome.
> > >
> > > Maybe, you switch your computer to external screen output (sometimes 
> > > there is a
> > > button Fn + F7 to do it). And your OS and X server try to synchronize
> > > things using the settings of this output which doesn't exist, hence the
> > > problem...
> > > What should be done :
> > > - try to switch again to external screen (do the same manipulation once
> > >   or twice, sometime there is settings for LCD -> External -> 
> > > External +
> > >   LCD),
> > > - try to replug your computer to the external screen.
> > >
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Sylvain Le Gall
Do you have access to a live cd like knoppix or ubuntu live?  If so, 
boot into it and that will test your screen.  If it works, then what you 
need to do is reconfigure your xserver/xorg config.  One way you can do 
this is to copy the live cd /etc/X11/xorg.conf into 
hda/etc/X11/xserverconfig (I forget the exact name for xserver) or 
hda/etc/X11/xorg.conf then reboot.

I find it doubtful that just running an external screen damaged your 
video card.  Most likely your xorg/xserver config file changed or your 
fn-F8 is in the wrong position.  It is possible your card is damaged 
though.  This test will prove that, one way or another.

HTH

--
Damon L. Chesser
damon@damtek.com
damon@okfairtax.org