Dell Studio laptop BSOD caused by ATI Radeon driver - what to use?

[ortho85]

4 year old Dell Studio XPS, running Windows 7 Professional.

Today, after no obvious changes (except a reboot) my Dell Studio XPS started blue-screening, with the error "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed". On reboot there were odd characters across the screen, Windows started to load, then BSOD again.

After much head-banging and time-wasting I read the BSOD message! I was able to boot into Safe Mode.

Uninstalling the driver for my ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670 allows me to boot normally, but obviously with crap graphics.

I have tried reinstalling the drivers from the Dell site, and those from the AMD site, but both cause the same BSOD.

Are there other drivers I can use?

 

[GokAy]

Try a System Restore to a date prior to the issue. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

 

[ortho85]

Thanks, but I should have said that I have done that twice. First to 2 days back, then to 5 days back.

Both came to the BSOD again.

I'm thinking of restoring an image from last year to see if that helps, unless anyone has a better idea?

Cheers,

BK

 

[GokAy]

Try loading defaults in BIOS.

Clean the insides of your case, remove the GPU and reseat it. Check cables and whatnot.

Also:
Follow http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html
Make sure the zip file includes the dmp file/s. If not, configure a small memory dump - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html and wait/trigger another BSOD. then re-run the "Dm log collector" and attach the new report.

Get the report in Safe Mode if normal mode BSOD you.

 

[Berton]

Clean the insides of your case, remove the GPU and reseat it. Check cables and whatnot.

Kinda hard to do with a Notebook/Laptop, requires major disassembly to accomplish all that. [I have an XPS 17/1747.]

 

[GokAy]

Yes, that would be true. It seems I have ignored that bit there are methods to attemp a cleaning without opening though (I will ask another member to post his method) You go and monitor your temps.

Try a clean startup http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html
And with another user account

Also follow instructions for BSOD report, link in previous post.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello ortho I understand you need to clean the laptop without having to disassemble it. Very occasionally one finds a laptop that the fan can be removed without disturbing the case but I have only ever come across a few.

Here is a little ditty of mine please follow the instructions especially the ones in RED

CLEANING A LAPTOP FAN & COOLER RAD

The thing you do is toturn over the laptop (remove the battery) and shine a very bright light intothe air intake aperture (you will see the fan there) and then while doing thatlook at the outlet vent on the end of the laptop you should see the light quiteclearly shining through the cooling " radiator" - if not it willbe partially or completely clogged and will need cleaning as will probably thefan opening and the fan blades.

You can clean the fan andradiator by blowing it out using a compressed air can in short burstsfrom the fan aperture and if the clogging is really bad or quite visible youcan loosen it GENTLY by inserting some chinelle craft wires ( they look likepipe cleaners) .
If you like you can buy one of those really cheap HOGS HAIR artists brushes to loosen the crud on the fan while it is stationary.

BUT ONE WORD OF WARNING DONOT blow the air into the fan opening without inserting say a plastic rod orlarge cable tie to stop the fan from spinning as the air blast will spin thefan at a very high speed that it is not designed to take and may wreck thebearing!!
My pics are for anexample only and of a Toshiba but laptops are usually set up the same way