[moscatomg1]

Hello, a recent issue cropped up w/ my system in the way of some kind of odd looking, patterned screen glitch/freeze. I'll attach an image from another user that comes closest to what it looks like. This problem mostly (maybe entirely) occurs upon sys. start-up--but only out of hibernation as far as I can tell. . . . Most people that similarly describe this problem in other forums get responses that indicate this relates to the GPU going bad. . . . But I certainly don't know--and I don't know where to start in terms of diagnosis.
Thank you for any help!

Toshiba nb505-n508bl
Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Atom CPU N455 @ 1.66 GHz
RAM 2.00 GB
32 bit OS

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by moscatomg1, 20 December 2013 - 06:15 PM.

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Hello moscatomg1

Does it happen in Safe Mode.
Does the base of the netbook get hot when in use - has the inside of the netbook ever been cleaned out of heat trapping dust, if never or for some time please see the example cleaning guide here, it is by HP but the principle is the same.

The first test that I suggest you do if you can is to connect the Toshiba nb505-n508bl up to an external display by way of the VGA port, you may need to press the Fn and the F5 keys down in unison for the display to be toggled to the external display, once done use the computer as you normally would to see if the behavior is reproduced on the external display, if it is it rules out an actual screen issue and so the GPU and overheating causes should be checked.

[phillpower2]

Hello moscatomg1

Does it happen in Safe Mode.
Does the base of the netbook get hot when in use - has the inside of the netbook ever been cleaned out of heat trapping dust, if never or for some time please see the example cleaning guide here, it is by HP but the principle is the same.

The first test that I suggest you do if you can is to connect the Toshiba nb505-n508bl up to an external display by way of the VGA port, you may need to press the Fn and the F5 keys down in unison for the display to be toggled to the external display, once done use the computer as you normally would to see if the behavior is reproduced on the external display, if it is it rules out an actual screen issue and so the GPU and overheating causes should be checked.

[moscatomg1]

It has been cleaned--about 6-8 months ago. But I'll check it again. Also, IF it does end up being the GPU going bad (which may take a little bit to better confirm since this is an intermittent glitch once every few days), then from what else I've read it seems like that's it for my system, right? No easy replacement for GPU since it's in the board?
In theory, if I wanted and if the GPU just flat out dies soon, would it be a simple switch to move my hard drive from this to another nb505 (one with all of the exact same specs/hardware)??
Also, out of curiosity: since this was a comparatively weak system for easily displaying high def. video, could I have possibly shortened the life of my GPU by watching too many 720p videos the last 2-3 years??

Thank you!
Toshiba nb505-n508bl
Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Atom CPU N455 @ 1.66 GHz
RAM 2.00 GB
32 bit OS

[phillpower2]

Does it happen in Safe Mode.
Does the base of the netbook get hot when in use

Please answer the above for us.

If it is the integrated video chip the options are to have the chip replaced or the MB replaced, both are rarely a viable financial option.

In theory, if I wanted and if the GPU just flat out dies soon, would it be a simple switch to move my hard drive from this to another nb505 (one with all of the exact same specs/hardware)??

Yes

Also, out of curiosity: since this was a comparatively weak system for easily displaying high def. video, could I have possibly shortened the life of my GPU by watching too many 720p videos the last 2-3 years??

Not significantly no.

You are welcome btw

[moscatomg1]

You are welcome btw

Oh, I'm always very grateful for the help I get here at geekstogo--I don't know what I'd do w/out these forums!

And as for the heat question, no--it doesn't ever feel hot. . . .
For safe mode, I need to try that. Again, it's tricky b/c it only will happen at start-up as far as I can tell. . . .

Oh, and one more thing: any possibility this could be caused by cold temps. inside my house (we've been having heat problems and some mornings it's been 53-54 degrees F. indoors)? The two seem to have coincided, so that's why I ask.

Thank you!
Toshiba nb505-n508bl
Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Atom CPU N455 @ 1.66 GHz
RAM 2.00 GB
32 bit OS

[phillpower2]

You are welcome btw

Oh, I'm always very grateful for the help I get here at geekstogo--I don't know what I'd do w/out these forums!
Thank you

And as for the heat question, no--it doesn't ever feel hot. . . . That is a good sign.
For safe mode, I need to try that. Again, it's tricky b/c it only will happen at start-up as far as I can tell. . . . To check this out you will also need to use the computer as you normally would but kept in Safe Mode

Oh, and one more thing: any possibility this could be caused by cold temps. inside my house (we've been having heat problems and some mornings it's been 53-54 degrees F. indoors)? The two seem to have coincided, so that's why I ask.
Not likely as it would need to be circa sub zero to start having an affect, also keep in mind that the CPU and GPU heat up in a matter of seconds.

Thank you!
Toshiba nb505-n508bl
Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Atom CPU N455 @ 1.66 GHz
RAM 2.00 GB
32 bit OS

[moscatomg1]

Hello again. Well, this problem is persisting. I did my best to clean the fan--as carefully as I could w/ the end, slotted tip of a vacuum hose near the netbook's exterior side where the fan can be seen. (Not recommended, I know , but at least I powered the sys. off first--and it does visibly look cleaner now. I took the keypad off the top, too, to examine the fan from that vantage as well. There's still a little bit of hardened looking build-up on the edges of the fan's tiny blades, but I don't have any way to remove that. . . .) Also, I still haven't been able to catch this issue at start-up in safe mode due do it's irregularity of occurrence and only appearing with start up from hibernate.

BUT here's a question related to that: if this issue does, in fact, only happen when booting out of hibernation as I've witnessed, then how do I test that in Safe Mode??

(B/c there doesn't seem to be an option to start up from hibernate in Safe Mode; moreover, Safe Mode will not allow shut down via hibernate.)

Regardless, I will try to keep testing this start up from hibernate while connected to an external monitor--as recommended.

Lastly, not that it helps much, but I was able to finally take a picture of my actual system's screen when this happened (that previous image I said I just took from elsewhere, as I thought it looked somewhat similar).

Thank you again for your patience! (And by the way, Merry x-mas!)

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by moscatomg1, 26 December 2013 - 10:22 AM.

[moscatomg1]

Update: Unfortunately, I'm having difficulty with the test recommendation of the external monitor (as I understand, to differentiate between possible gpu vs. actual screen issues). The reason, which I'd forgot: historically, my netbook seems to need at least a brief moment between start up and connecting the ext. monitor; otherwise, the netbook appears to freeze, and both the netbook and ext. monitor remain black/blank. . . . I will continue to try, but I don't anticipate much success as far as this particular test goes. . . . Again, at any other point in system run time there probably wouldn't be an issue pursuing this test--except that start up is again precisely when the screen glitch and sys. freeze seem to occur.

So I think I may be stuck here for the time being. I'm not sure what to do.

[phillpower2]

Looking at your screenshot both artifacting and a loose or damaged video cable/ribbon are possible.

Are you pressing both the Fn and the F5 (from memory) keys down at the same time to toggle between the two displays.

[moscatomg1]

Hi again phillpower2, thanks for the reply.

both artifacting and a loose or damaged video cable/ribbon are possible

I don't know what artifacting relates to. . . . Also, if it is a damaged video cable/ribbon, would that be a job recommended for a specialist (and any idea on costs)?

And now I have received my first BSOD. It seems related, as it also happened on start up out of hibernate. I'll attach screenshots of the report. Will the info contained in the minidump file and the other file be of potential help?? If so, I've zipped & attached that minidump file. But I can't seem to find that other file listed by the BSOD report (even w/ the folder properties set to view hidden, sys. files, etc.).

Thank you!

Attached Thumbnails

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Attached Files

•  122813-33243-01.zip   33.83KB   164 downloads

[phillpower2]

Hello moscatomg1

Artifacts are commonly caused by overheating and/or unstable voltages (too high).
Replacing or checking out the video ribbon is a task best left to a competent person, it can also be expensive.

Are you using the notebook connected to an external screen, if not please do so and see if the issue happens when hooked up to that and whether the image displayed is garbled like in your earlier screenshot.

Have you tried safe mode regardless of hibernation, this to see if the computer behaves normally or not.

Provide an update on the above and then refer to the details below please;

To see if we can identify any driver conflicts please refer to the copy/paste details below provided courtesy of jcgriff2

1. Create a Windows System Restore Point -
Vista - START | type rstrui - create a restore point
Windows 7 - START | type create | select "Create a Restore Point"

2. Run the Driver Verifier -
Go to START | type verifier | make these selections -

1. Select 2nd option - "Create custom settings (for code developers)"
2. Select 2nd option - "Select individual settings from a full list"
3. Check these boxes -▪ Special Pool
▪ Pool Tracking
▪ Force IRQL checking
▪ Deadlock Detection
▪ Security Checks (new as of Windows 7)
▪ Concurrency Stress Test (new as of Windows 8)
▪ DDI compliance checking (new as of Windows 8)
▪ Miscellaneous Checks4. Select last option - "Select driver names from a list"
5. Click on the Provider heading - sorts list by Provider
6. Check ALL boxes where "Microsoft" IS NOT the Provider
7. Click on Finish
8. Re-boot*** IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ:

- If the Driver Verifier (DV) finds a violation, it will result in a BSOD

- After re-start, you may not be able to log on to normal Windows
... • Boot into SAFEMODE - tap the F8 key repeatedly during boot-up
... • Select "System Restore"
... • Choose the restore point that you created in step #1

- For Driver Verifier status
--- select last option, 1st screen -or-
--- type verifier /query (in a cmd/DOS screen)
- To turn Driver Verifier off - verifier /reset then re-boot

- The Driver Verifier needs to run as long as possible - even if the status screen appears clear.
- All future BSOD dumps must be VERIFIER_ENABLED_MINIDUMPs - otherwise the dump(s) are of no use

If your system does BSOD while the Driver Verifier is running, please retrieve the dump file from c:\windows\minidump and attach it to your next reply.

You are welcome btw

[moscatomg1]

Thank you for the instructions. So . . .

The sys. does seem to work fine in Safe Mode.

But I will need to wait for the garbled screen to appear again and connect to ext. monitor after it appears and freezes to see.

If the Driver Verifier (DV) finds a violation, it will result in a BSOD

It did result in BSOD at startup.

And I assume since I couldn't figure out how to actually run it afterwards (after the settings and then the BSOD), then it isn't supposed to work/run (w/out further steps).

Also, I think I misunderstood something, but the sys. restore option after the BSOD and reboot in Safe Mode was not an actual option that appeared in the boot options--it had to be done after Safe mode start up. Again, it's probably my little misunderstanding, but I thought I'd mention it in case that should have displayed there.

Thank you!

Edited by moscatomg1, 28 December 2013 - 02:29 PM.

[phillpower2]

You are welcome

When you are in safe mode watch a video or do some gaming and see what happens.

Extend the screen so that it shows on 2 displays, see here

AS DV resulted in a BS at start up the issue would not appear to be caused by a 3rd party driver so your OS should be checked next.

Safe Mode was not an actual option that appeared in the boot options--it had to be done after Safe mode start up.

That is the correct procedure.

I will provide the next steps after your next update, btw do you have a Windows 7 installation disk.

[moscatomg1]

Thank you!

OK, update: unfortunately, I'm having trouble using ext. monitor when in safe mode. Normally, in regular operating mode, I use the "Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile" icon on the corner desktop toolbar (the left, blue icon in the screenshot). However, that will not appear in Safe Mode--and I cannot seem to find it in any search. And the normal way to use ext. monitor--via the control panel menu(s)--will not recognize any ext. monitor when connected. Is there anything I can do to still test this?

Oh, I have windows 7 install--but on usb drive.

Thanks again!!

[phillpower2]

Ok stick with the notebook screen and normal mode for now.

You may not need your Windows media but it is good that you have, if it is needed you will need to change the boot sequence in the BIOS but hopefully it will not be necessary.

To check out the OS please run SFC, if there are any errors found you may need to run SFC 3 or 4 times to complete all repairs, this make take you a while and I will be going offline shortly as it is getting late here.

Go to Start and then to Run ("Start Search" in Vista - 7)
Type in: sfc /scannow
Click OK (Enter in Vista- 7)
Have the correct Windows CD/DVD handy (not always required).
If System File Checker (sfc) finds any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc does not find any errors in Windows XP, it will simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".
For Vista & W7 users ONLY: Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. You'll see CBS.log file.

The log will be large so upload it to http://www.mediafire.com/ and then post the download link here.

How to use mediafire http://en.kioskea.ne...es-to-mediafire