flickering screen & spotty Start menu

After checking the video driver....

Run the attached Video Memory Stress Test to eliminate this being a problem with the HD 3000.

CosmicJest said:

Hello,

I have an Intel HD Graphics 3000 card in my Dell Inspiron computer that I bought new about 3 months ago. I've been having problems with the screen flickering (perhaps a refresh rate problem?), and also something very unusual - sometimes when I click on the Start button, when the start menu pops up the right half of it is crystal clear, but the left half is nearly unreadable. It's as if someone took an eraser and erased most of the words, but did a bad job of it. The icons look pretty much OK. Any ideas what's causing this and how to fix it?

Perhaps relevant: I've been having a problem with unexpected reboots and have run LOTS of hardware diagnostics as discussed in this thread:
(Dell Inspiron) No bootable device

Hi CosmicJest,

Kindly connect this laptop to an external monitor to isolate if it is an issue with the LCD or the video card of the system.

You should also update the graphic card drivers from here to check if it helps resolve the issue:

Video Driver

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

CosmicJest said:

The problem seems to have been fixed at the same time as this problem was resolved: (Dell Inspiron) No bootable device. Thank you to all helpers.

Hi CosmicJest,

Its great to hear that issue with the system has been resolved to your satisfaction. Kindly mark the thread as solved.

If you have any further queries feel free to reach out to us.

CosmicJest said:

Here we go again... after getting hard drive #3 installed last week and getting everything set up & synced, etc. etc., and having experienced absolutely no issues, I'm finally back to actually using the computer normally, so I took it off the power cord this morning, and... you guessed it, the screen started flickering again.

The tech that Dell sent out to replace my hard drive told me he thought the flickering screen problem sounded like a motherboard issue. So I would ask, do you agree? And if so, is it likely to leave me "in the dark" and dead in the water one day, or will it just be a nuisance? (Anybody who has followed my epic misadventure with this computer will understand that I don't want to call Dell again!)

Hi CosmicJest,

We truly regret the inconvenience that has been caused to you. Kindly connect the system to a external monitor and check if the flickering happens on monitor as well or not.

As it would help us isolate if it is an issue with the LCD or video card. This way we can replace the faulty part for you.

We truly appreciate the patience and cooperation that you have shown in this regards.

CosmicJest said:

Hi Sandeep,
I have attached an external monitor, and tested it for about an hour. My husband and I did not see any flickering on it. However, I cannot state for absolute certain that the computer's monitor flickered while attached to the external monitor. It is very difficult to try to watch two monitors at one time!

Can you tell me whether this problem is likely to end up with a dead screen one day? I would really like to be able to trust the computer to do my daily work, but at this point, do not feel that I can rely on it.

Hi CosmicJest,

I appreciate the time and effort that you took to troubleshoot the issue. You can monitor the system for more than a hour and check so I can arrange a replacement part to be sent out for the system.

I understand it would not be easy but I am sure replacement part should fix the issue with the system.

Kindly send me the service tag for your system on a private message along with owner's name and address for verification.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.