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Screen flashing colors at start up

Anonymous
2013-05-26T11:56:14+00:00

Dell Inspiron N1070 running Windows 7 - all updates installed.

The laptop will not always complete start up routine.  Sometimes it "flashes" colored screens (red, green, blue, gray, etc) and will do so continuously.

Shutting it off and re-starting usually solves the problem.

Can someone tell me if this is a hardware or software problem.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2013-05-27T06:15:38+00:00

Hi,

Adding to the valuable suggestion provided by Billybogs, you may also refer to the following steps:

The issue (flashes" colored screens) you’re facing could be related to drivers and could be resolved by updating thedisplay drivers. Without the correct driver, the hardware or device that you want to use won't work properly.

Also refer to:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly

Let's try to boot the computer in low resolution mode and check the issue status.

Low resolution starts Windows using your current video driver and using low resolution and refresh rate settings. You can use this mode to reset your display settings.

Refer the section:

Enable low-resolution video (640×480)

Please post back with the issue status.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-27T05:51:23+00:00

    You could try going to the Dell web site and getting the latest driver for your graphics adapter but it sounds like a hardware issue to me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-05-27T11:47:05+00:00

    I went to Dell and selected the recommended driver and downloaded the file.  When attempting to install the driver file I found that the same driver is already installed.

    I checked my Microsoft update settings and found that I was not  automatically updating device drivers.  I turned on device driver updates and did a manual update search.  No driver changes were  listed as available updates.

    I changed the video resolution to 800 x 600 (lowest possible), but that renders the computer almost unusable so I am not going to pursue that option.

    I appreciate your feedback, but I will just have to see if this problem continues before taking any other action.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-01T17:38:06+00:00

    I have started and shut down the lap top several times without incident since I posted this question.  I have not had a single "flashing colors" incident.  So for the time being I will not make any changes.  If the problem reoccurs I will follow your recommendations.

    Thank you very much for your support.

    Ben

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-05-28T04:38:16+00:00

    Hi Ben,

    • The error "same driver is already installed" comes up while installing the latest drivers because you have not uninstalled the previously installed drivers for the graphics card.
    • Or could be because the latest driver is already installed but it is corrupt or not completely installed.

    Now try these steps:

    a. Uninstall the graphics card software from Control Panel.

    b. Now Open Device Manager ,locate the graphics card device and right click on it

    c. Now select properties.

    d. In the properties window, under

    Driver tab, click on Uninstall button.

    e. If you’re sure you want to delete the driver click OK.

    Note: If you want the driver completely removed from the computer check “Delete the driver software for this device.”

    f. Restart the computer, again go to device manager and press F5 it will scan for "hardware changes".

    Note:

    Scan for hardware changes do not reinstall a Plug and Play device if a driver is already installed on the computer. If the device has not been uninstalled, Scan for hardware changes does not detect the connection of the device as a change.

    g. Download the graphics card drivers from Dell website and install the same to check if the error persists.

    Please post back with the issue status.

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