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General discussion

Laptop starts up with only 75% of the screen width used

by r_honey Mar 20, 2009 2:30PM PDT

I purchased a Dell Studio laptop last summer. I occasionally have a problem where when I turn it on, the Laptop starts with only 70% of the screen width being used. The right 30% width goes black, and the content is resized to fit in the 70%. Initially, anywhere between 3-10 restarts made the screen normal.

Then I had another clue. Now, whenever it happens, I tilt the Laptop's screen (to approximately 130-140 degree angle to the horizontal). Then it boot it up and it starts up fine.

I am beginning to believe there is a gyroscope inside the screen, that is used to calculate the screen's position (so that the laptop can be put to sleep when the lid is closed) and that is malfunctioning.

I have no idea whether this is true (my gyroscope idea!!!). Has anyone else faced the same issue? Any Dell representative knows of the cause and the solution??

Discussion is locked

9 Posts
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Only partial screen when booting
by Aoman Mar 20, 2009 5:54PM PDT

You do not mention which OS you are running. I shall assume XP:

In <Control Panel><Performance and Maintenance><Power Options> there is an option for telling your computer what to do when the lid is being closed. This is associated with the "gyroscopic"function which you mention.

I presume you have tweaked this settings, but if not, try them.

Good luck!

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Partial Screen booting
by r_honey Mar 20, 2009 7:41PM PDT

The OS is Win Vista.

I have set the option you said to put my Laptop to sleep when the lid is closed.

However, the problem does not occur while closing or opening the lid on running system. It occurs when the Laptop is booted from a shut-off stage. Even the initial BIOS screen (which shows the Dell logo and a progress bar below) consumes partial screen width.

As there is no OS intervention at this stage as it has still not been loaded, I presume the problem is NOT with the OS, but either with the hardware or the BIOS.

Regarding gyroscopic remarks, it was a wild guess (considering they are used to monitor the orientation of space-crafts with respect to a reference point). I have no idea whether (and frankly believe they are not) present in these Lappis. Had they been present, the Lappis should have costed a bomb.

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Full screen toggle
by Osprey4 Mar 20, 2009 9:54PM PDT

Hi, r_honey:

The full screen toggle on my Lat D620 is Fn-F7. Try that.

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Would check that
by r_honey Mar 20, 2009 10:52PM PDT

I would check that the next time the problem occurs.

But a more fundamental problem is why this happens when the Laptop was shut down normally last time.

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Video drivers
by Osprey4 Mar 21, 2009 11:15AM PDT

Go to Dell downloads and look for an update to your graphics adapter drivers. The screen size should not be changing when shutting down unless you're using an external monitor or projector.

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That's what confuses me
by r_honey Mar 21, 2009 2:49PM PDT

Osprey4 said:
"The screen size should not be changing when shutting down unless you're using an external monitor or projector"

I am also confused. Laptop shuts down normally, the next time, it causes the issue. However, I will have a look at the Display Drivers upgrade.

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Did you find a fix?
by cavokak Apr 19, 2010 1:13AM PDT

I have a Dell XPS 1330 and this exact thing is happening to me. I was wondering if you ever found a fix for it?

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Yes.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 19, 2010 6:47AM PDT

I've fixed too many of these. The CLUE was this statement -> "Now, whenever it happens, I tilt the Laptop's screen (to approximately 130-140 degree angle to the horizontal). Then it boot it up and it starts up fine."

That's a well known connection, cable problem but many owners don't want to replace parts so you have to leave them to stew and figure it out that a new cable or more needs replacing. The bad news is that such parts may not be available and you might have to replace the entire LCD and top cover.
Bob

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Laptop starts up with only 75% of the screen width used
by rayallen100 Apr 22, 2010 11:22AM PDT

I have set the option you said to put my Laptop to sleep when the lid is closed.

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