Computer Display Crash

[TButton]

Ok, so for a little over a year now my computer has been crashing at random times, from right at start up to browser searching to running 3D modeling and rendering programs. Its starts with my screen going black followed by a lag in sound if I have music playing. I have upgraded the amount of memory in my computer, updated the display driver, and I have upgraded my BIOS. I have run GPU tests and temperatures are running normal. Anyone know what is the problem here? Here is some info it helps...

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Precision M6500
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A10
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU X 920 @ 2.00GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 16308MB RAM
Page File: 4588MB used, 28026MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: Quadro FX 2800M
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_061D&SUBSYS_02EF1028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 485 MB
Dedicated Memory: 997 MB
Shared Memory: 3583 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD0241
Native Mode: 1920 x 1200(p) (60.034Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.3250 (English)
Driver Version: 9.18.13.3250
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/24/2014 03:40:24, 18224080 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-455D-11CF-2A7F-E2221FC2C435}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x061D
SubSys ID: 0x02EF1028
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Driver Strong Name: oem68.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section042:9.18.13.3250😛ci\ven_10de&dev_061d&subsys_02ef1028
Rank Of Driver: 00E00001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

 

[KevinAr18]

I spoke to soon, I thought it worked but it just crashed and the external monitor lost signal as well.

You know the event log you sent me?

Can you check the one from this date:
Information 3/30/2014 12:16:21 AM Kernel-Power 89 (86)
when I read that item, it shows me this message:

Spoiler

The description for Event ID 89 from source Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.

The following information was included with the event:

21
ACPI\ThermalZone\THM_
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
380
0

the message resource is present but the message is not found in the string/message table

A lot of them say description cannot be found... do you see the same message as me or does it actually tell you different details on your computer? I'm not running Windows 7, so I'm wondering it maybe I am not seeing the same details in the log because my version of Windows is older.

 

[TButton]

I spoke to soon, I thought it worked but it just crashed and the external monitor lost signal as well.

You know the event log you sent me?

Can you check the one from this date:
Information 3/30/2014 12:16:21 AM Kernel-Power 89 (86)
when I read that item, it shows me this message:

Spoiler

The description for Event ID 89 from source Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.

The following information was included with the event:

21
ACPI\ThermalZone\THM_
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
380
0

the message resource is present but the message is not found in the string/message table

A lot of them say description cannot be found... do you see the same message as me or does it actually tell you different details on your computer? I'm not running Windows 7, so I'm wondering it maybe I am not seeing the same details in the log because my version of Windows is older.

Mine says,
ACPI thermal zone ACPI\ThermalZone\THM_ has been enumerated.
_PSV = 0K
_TC1 = 0
_TC2 = 0
_TSP = 0ms
_AC0 = 0K
_AC1 = 0K
_AC2 = 0K
_AC3 = 0K
_AC4 = 0K
_AC5 = 0K
_AC6 = 0K
_AC7 = 0K
_AC8 = 0K
_AC9 = 0K
_CRT = 380K
_HOT = 0K
_PSL - see event data.

 

[TButton]

Not sure why but I checked the event viewer again after the last crash and there is a 14 minute period leading up to the crash as well as during the crash where there were no recorded events.

 

[KevinAr18]

I hate to bother you to do this, but could you re-save the event log, but this time save it a little differently (so some of the missing data I can see on my computer)? I see that some data is missing when I try to view it.

Do this:
* Go to your log like normal.
* Right click to save it as a evtx file.
* After you hit save it will ask you about "Display Information"
* This time, check the option that says: "Display information for these languages" ... it will probably pick english.

This should let me see the extra information in the log. I'm hoping this change might show something of use.

 

[KevinAr18]

Apparently other people are having similar freezing issues with this model Dell laptop.

Anyways, RAM seem to be a common cause... and maybe the graphics card, but I'm not 100% sure about the latter.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/19336090/19821069.aspx
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArbgwfRFUvfHdDBuT0xhMEkwOVdielJqVHc0MWRFZUE&authkey=CM3Qx9YO&hl=en&authkey=CM3Qx9YO


Suggestions:
1. Can you run a RAM test?
Go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools> Memory Diagnostics Tool. Pick the restart and check computer option. Let it run a thorough test. Maybe even add more tests to the run and let it test for longer.

2. Optionally, you could try putting in different RAM for a while (yeah, not so great a solution, I know ). They say the HYNIX RAM is the problem for a number of people and to get Samsung instead (although any non-NYNIX should be good I suspect).

3. I would say switch to the internal graphics, but I don't think you have one.

 

[TButton]

Apparently other people are having similar freezing issues with this model Dell laptop.

Anyways, RAM seem to be a common cause... and maybe the graphics card, but I'm not 100% sure about the latter.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/19336090/19821069.aspx
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArbgwfRFUvfHdDBuT0xhMEkwOVdielJqVHc0MWRFZUE&authkey=CM3Qx9YO&hl=en&authkey=CM3Qx9YO


Suggestions:
1. Can you run a RAM test?
Go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools> Memory Diagnostics Tool. Pick the restart and check computer option. Let it run a thorough test. Maybe even add more tests to the run and let it test for longer.

2. Optionally, you could try putting in different RAM for a while (yeah, not so great a solution, I know ). They say the HYNIX RAM is the problem for a number of people and to get Samsung instead (although any non-NYNIX should be good I suspect).

3. I would say switch to the internal graphics, but I don't think you have one.

I have already replaced the RAM with Kingston and I have run tests,
I have disabled my graphics card in addition to my wireless and I have the battery removed. I'm testing this solution, I want to see if maybe there are multiple issues causing the crashes.

 

[TButton]

So I think I have narrowed down the issue to the graphics card. Although I don't know if it is the graphics card itself, its software, or its wiring. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I have checked the graphics card temperatures and performance before without any errors or problems. I'm not all that familiar with the effects the graphics card can have but it seems it shouldn't necessarily be a bad graphics card causing the problems.

 

[KevinAr18]

So I think I have narrowed down the issue to the graphics card. Although I don't know if it is the graphics card itself, its software, or its wiring. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I have checked the graphics card temperatures and performance before without any errors or problems. I'm not all that familiar with the effects the graphics card can have but it seems it shouldn't necessarily be a bad graphics card causing the problems.

CPU:
Do you know how to monitor temperatures and clock speeds on the CPU? You could maybe see if it is overheating.
Example program: http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

BTW, it might also be worth looking for this fan grill on your laptop to see if it is blocked with dust. Even though you blew out the dust, this appears to be a hidden part that might still be clogged:
http://seakayakphoto.blogspot.com/2014/01/dell-precision-m6500-workstation.html

Graphics Card:
So... one option is to switch to onboard graphics and stop using the Quadro FX 2800M graphics card ... if your computer had onboard graphics. Are you willing to contact Dell chat again and ask them for instructions on how to disable the Quadro and use onboard graphics (or even find out if you have onboard graphics)?

Alternatively, it may be possible to replace the Quadro FX with another model, but you would have to know for sure that it really is broken before you did that ... and you said that it is not even reporting temperatures problems, so I wonder....
Would you be willing to run GPU-Z and tell it to save to a log file; then the next time it crashes send me the log file?
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
If you find a way to log CPU temperatures to in another program, that'd be great.