I just posted this in the Dell forums, I wonder if any of you computer wizards have any idea of what's happened and how to fix it?
 
Cheers
 
 

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System:

• Inspiron 531
• AMD Athlon Dual Core 6000+ 3.01GHz
• Windows Vista SP2 32bit
• NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430

Earlier on, the display on both monitors connected to my Inspiron (Dell 24" & Dell 22") went blank and entered Power Saving mode.
 
Both monitors are also connected to my XPS 8300 and they're working fine with that system. I also checked both cables and they too are working.
 
The monitors are usually connected to my Inspiron like this:

• The 24" monitor is connected to my Inspiron using a DVI-D to DVI-D cable
• The 22" monitor is connected via a DVI-D to VGA cable (the DVI-D slot on the PC to the VGA slot on the monitor)

However, if I run direct from the Inspiron's VGA slot, the monitor it's connected to is working fine.
 
The display showed an information screen that advised me to click OK to complete installation of the 'new' NVIDIA software. I have automatic updates switched off and I definitely didn't initiate any update procedure.
 
Anyway, I clicked 'OK' and reconnected the monitors as normal thinking everything would be ok, but they're still not working.
 
I had a problem not long after I had this PC when I updated the video drivers direct from NVIDIA - I could basically only run the display in 800x600 resolution; I contacted Dell Technical Support and they said it would be best to always get driver updates direct from Dell. I did this and the problem was solved.
 
I've tried to find the relevant video drivers on the Dell site, but for some reason my Inspiron no longer appears on my Registration details, only my newer XPS. I've tried to re-register but I keep getting told my Service Tag is no longer supported. I can't find anywhere else on this site where I can download the correct drivers from.
 
So I'm stuck - ideally I want to download the correct drivers to get my dual monitor setup working as it was before. I was tempted to do a System Restore but I don't know if that will work. In fact, I'm holding off on trying anything in case I end up accidentally disabling the VGA feed, then I won't be able to do anything with my system.
 
Why do Dell make life so bloody difficult for anybody who's bought a product from them once its warrany has expired
 

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Trying booting up in Safe Mode.  I'm not sure how you'd get into it for Vista, but it usually works if you hit "F12" just as Windows gets started.  It should give a menu to choose from a few options.  If I remember correctly, there will be two that are useful for you--Safe Mode, and Safe Mode with LAN drivers.  Try the regular one to adjust your video settings.  Try the one with the LAN if you want to reload your video drivers.  

Did you go to Device Manager - Hardware - get up your video card and instead of updating drivers - use the revert back to previous drivers? Is your video card done for?? I had a video card that worked under normal computing, but in playing a game it go dead - the grease between the GPU and the heat dispersement unit went bad and the video card would only work with a light load of video not a heavy load of game playing, I ended up buying a new video card that works. The video card went bad.

And although you can buy the grease to put back on the video card if taking it apart where the grease belongs, I figured that a faster newer video card (that did not cost too much) would do me better.

"I wonder if any of you computer wizards have any idea of what's happened"


Did you happen to click on one of my .mp3 links?

mike_mccue


"I wonder if any of you computer wizards have any idea of what's happened"


Did you happen to click on one of my .mp3 links?

What on earth for?
 
 
Maybe it was the vibrations from his hidden speakers that worked something loose at the back...
@Steve
 
For that nForce setup the latest drivers are here.
 
http://www.geforce.com/drivers/results/14874
 
Those are for Vista 32 which is what that PC shipped with
 
HTH

 Strummy, if I understand correctly you have one working? You may need to go to  the Nview setup and turn on the second again. Some Nvidia cards reset the monitor back to single display.  You should be able to right click on your desktop, away from any icons or toolbars> Nvidia control panel>"set up multiple displays>.....

I had no trouble with the nVidia drivers on mine but I need to uninstall all the existing drivers first otherwise they wouldn't install correctly.
 
Here's the Dell support page for the downloads for that machine.
 
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-531

Silly question: did you open up the computer?

I once "repaired" my neighbour's computer by removing all the dust from the video cards cooler.

alexoosthoek


Silly question: did you open up the computer?

I once "repaired" my neighbour's computer by removing all the dust from the video cards cooler.

Trouble is with that machine Alex is that the graphics are on-board there's nothing to fix, if it is a hardware fault it means an add-on card.
 
So hopefully it's just a driver issue.