Thin blue line down left hand side of Dell 1525 laptop

I found this on the Dell support page . It's the response from their techs. This is just one part of the conversation. You should read the rest for better specifics to your particular problem. Also, you can create an account and do diagnostics from their site. You use your SERVICE TAG number on the bottom of your computer to identify your computer with their records. Doing this should also give you access to your warranty information. It's not uncommon for them to send a local tech to your home to fix it.

So the trick when troubleshooting graphic problems is to determine if it is the LCD or the video card. The easiest way is plug in an external monitor to the notebook, if the external monitor shows the picture fine then the problem is with the LCD.

If the external monitor has the same problem then it is a problem with Windows / video drivers or with the video card itself.

That test ofcourse requires having an external monitor, if you don't have one then the diagnostics can help. The key to running diagnostics is to run the BIST test. Run diagnostics by starting the system while holding down the FN key or by tapping the F12 key and choose diagnostics. Allow the basic tests to start, after a moment you may notice a video test running, allow it to run and it will ask if it looked ok, you should choose no, this will start the BIST. What happens is that once the BIST starts the video signal is actually generated by the LCD and not the video card. So if you noticed the graphic problems while running normal diagnostics, you selected no, the graphics test didn't look good, the LCD would create its own signal, so if all of a sudden the image started looking good, with no problems that implies that the problem is with the video card, while if the picture still looked bad and had the same problems the LCD is defective.

So the questions that should be asked, are as follows:

While running the video test it will ask if the display looked alright. You chose no, the BIST started, did you still notice the vertical lines?

You tested with an external monitor, did the vertical lines go away?

If you answered yes to these three questions then the problem lies with the LCD. If you answered no to the questions then the problem lies with the video card.

TB

Try the next oldest restore point until the issue is resolved. Any software installed after the selected restore point needs to be reinstalled.
If system restore still doesn't work, run the "Pre-Boot System Assessment (PSA) Diagnostics and Error Codes For Dell Computers", you may click the link below to go directly to the support site, it contains instructions in running PSA Diagnostics and Error Code List with possible fixes.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=266787#Issue2
Hope this helps.

If you receive an error during PSA Diagnostics, look below for the associating error code. If the Error

Error Code

Error Message

Link to Possible Fix

PSA 1000-0111
PSA+ 2000-0111

(Name of Exception) exception occurred at selector XXh offset XXh.

Contact Dell

1. Turn off the Computer.
2. Hold Down the FN Key on the keyboard and press the power button, then Release both buttons.
3. This should start your PSA Diagnostics
4. You will see two color bar screens appear in succession, on the second color bar screen there is a message asking you if you saw the color bars. Press the N key for No to start the LCD BIST.
5. The LCD BIST will run several full colored screens in succession with a beeping sound.
6. Check for any lines, distortions, or abnormalities you were seeing in the Operating System here.
7. Once the Diagnostics are finished you will see an Error message appear, this is Normal. Press the N Key to end the Diagnostics or Press the Y Key to continue the PSA Diagnostics.
8. If no sysmptoms were displayed please continue on to the next step, if they were displayed please go to the last step.

An out of date Video Driver or BIOS can cause abnormal screen issues.
Visit the Dell Drivers and Downloads website and input your Service Tag to get updates specific to your computer.
If you need assistance in Downloading and Installing Drivers or BIOS. Click here for Installation Instructions
Click Here to Launch the Dell Drivers and Downloads Website

need to find out if the issue is with the display, power chord, vga cable, vga card or the connectors...

1. disconnect all the cables from the LCD or the monitor, now just connect the power chord and power on the display and now see if it gives you any display

2. Try swapping the power chord with the tower (if its a desktop).

3. Try and change the VGA or the HDMI cable to test if the issue is with the cable or not, (the cable that usually goes from the back of the display to the tower)

If the issue is with video card then launch PSA on your Dell machine and perform LCD bist test.

To launch PSA:

1. Restart the system.

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2. At the Dell logo screen, press <F12>.
Note:
Some systems do not have an F12 key, to access the boot options you have to press the <0> (zero) key at the Dell logo screen.
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3. At the One Time Boot menu, press the <Down> arrow key to highlight Diagnostics, then press <Enter> to begin PSA.

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4. Write down any error codes listed.


Steps to perform LCD BIST after PSA is launched:

1. Watch the screen and listen for the color bar test prompt tones emitted by the PSA Diagnostics. If the screen is visible, one will see the PSA diagnostics draw a series of multi-colored bars across the screen. When completed, a prompt asking if the pattern was seen appears, accompanied by a brief series of tones.

2. Press <N> or wait approximately 30 seconds to fail the color bar test.

3. Watch for the LCD BIST color generation and listen for the beeps every 2 seconds that indicate LCD BIST is running.
LCD BIST runs for approximately 20 seconds, then stops. The 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 error code is then displayed when the LCD BIST is complete. If LCD BIST does not initialize, then the system may not have been upgraded to PSA version 3019.

1. Check for a stuck F2 key (That prompts system setup)
2. From a power off State, press Fn+Power and run diagnostics on the system, after the PSA diagnostics, press N to not complete the memory diags, go to the Dell diagnostics, Customer, keyboard test and test the keyboard, then run the HDD diagnostc there too.

Run a diagnostics LCD BIST check if the same issue still happens then this is LCD panel replacement.

turn off laptop.
press and hold on the D then press Power button.
during the LCD BIST test check if the black line down right side of the screen is visible. if yes LCD needs to be replaced. if not connect your laptop to an external monitor check if the black line display appears to the ext monitor, if yes uninstall / reinstall video driver if fails replace video card or if it is built in replace motherboard.

if no ext monitor available then run PSA (press and hold Fn key then press Power button)

check if the black line is visible. Check also in BIOS is black line is visible, if yes then uninstall reinstall first the video driver if fails replace LCD.

Try connecting an external monitor to the Dell Inspiron 9300and see if the vertical line is also present on the monitor. If themonitor display is fine, then your laptop’s LCD display panel isdefective. If the monitor also displays the vertical line, then yourproblem is with either the video card or motherboard located insideyour laptop.
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Another answer:

run the PSA diagnostics. to do so, press and holdany non-keyboard button( like the internet hotkey or access directbutton or even the speaker mute button) and then press the power buttonand power up your system. if your inspiron doesn't have a non-kbbutton, then press the <fn> key.
release both the buttons and the diagnostics begin to run.after thediags finish. if the monitor is working fine, it'll simply say"passed". however, if it fails it would emit a few beep codes.carefully check those beep codes:
1.) if you get a 3-3-3 or a 3-3-4 error beeps, then we use the LCDbuilt in self-test (BIST). boot to PSA diagnostics again. Watch thescreen and listen for the color bar test prompt tones emitted by thePSA Diagnostics. Press <N> or wait approximately 30 seconds tofail the color bar test. The system will emit a 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 PSAerror after failing the color bar test. Wait for two iterations of thefailure code then press <Y>.
Watch for the BIST color generation and listen for the single beeps that indicate LCD BIST is running.
NOTE: Patterns of flashing color should appear on the screen. Withevery color change, an audible beep will be heard. If the patterns ofcolor do not appear, and the beeps are audible, an LCD failure may bethe issue. If the patterns of color appear, a video card or motherboardfailure may be the issue.

2.)if you get an error code apart from 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 :Ensure thesystem is powered off. Press and hold the <Fn> key and press thepower button to power the system on. Release both buttons.
The PSA diagnostics sequence begins. Make note of any alert tones or error messages.
error codes:
123- memory fails
141,142,143,144,145,146 hard drive error
147- IDE optical drive fails
148 optical drive built in test fails
122-memory test initialization test failure
111- fatal diagnostics exception.

i really hope you dont get any of these. these will help you determine,if you need to change the LCD. when you call dell, they will run youthrough these steps anyways. so if you finish them beforehand, you wontpay much to talk to them. cheerio then.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060722190406AAHejuS

Run the PSA Diagnostics and Obtain the PSA Error Code

To run the PSA diagnostics and obtain the PSA error code, perform the following steps:
Shutdown the computer.

Press and hold the <Fn> key, then press and release the power button.
Release the <Fn> key when the lock lights above the keyboard begin to flash or Diagnostic boot selected is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

Release the <Fn> key.
The PSA diagnostics sequence begins.
After approximately 2 minutes the system produces a number of alert tones.
After the alert tones, the system produces either a series of low beeps or error codes.

Note:
PSA diagnostics will prompt for input during some tests. The resulting error message does not necessarily indicate hardware failure.
For example, input is required during the color bar test. Failure to input a response will eventually result in a timeout error: 1000-0333 Graphics test timed out waiting for keyboard response. This does not indicate a graphics failure has occurred.


Note the sequence of beeps or error codes.

Initialize LCD BIST Diagnostics



You can initialize the LCD Built-in Self Test (BIST) in two ways, depending on the revision of Pre-boot System Assessment (PSA) diagnostics:
PSA versions 3019 and greater run LCD BIST immediately after failing the color bar test, via user input of <N> or waiting for it to time out prior to generating the 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 error. PSA version 3019 became available in November 2005 on various Dell laptops. The PSA version is upgraded with the BIOS.

With older versions of PSA diagnostics prior to November 2005, LCD BIST runs after responding with a <Y> after receiving a 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 error code.
To initiate the LCD BIST on PSA versions 3019 and greater:
Boot to the PSA Diagnostics.
Watch the screen and listen for the color bar test prompt tones emitted by the PSA Diagnostics. If the screen is visible, one will see the PSA diagnostics draw a series of multi-colored bars across the screen. When completed, a prompt asking if the pattern was seen appears, accompanied by a brief series of tones.
Press <N> or wait approximately 30 seconds to fail the color bar test.
Watch for the LCD BIST color generation and listen for the beeps every 2 seconds that indicate LCD BIST is running.
LCD BIST runs for approximately 20 seconds, then stops. The 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 error code is then displayed when the LCD BIST is complete. If LCD BIST does not initialize, then the system may not have been upgraded to PSA version 3019.
To initiate LCD BIST on systems with PSA versions prior to 3019:
Boot to the PSA Diagnostics.
Watch the screen and listen for the color bar test prompt tones emitted by the PSA Diagnostics.
Press <N> or wait approximately 30 seconds to fail the color bar test.
The system emits a 3-3-3 or 3-3-4 PSA error after failing the color bar test. Wait for two iterations of the failure code and then press <Y>.
Note:
On a working LCD, the PSA diagnostics shows the following message:
Error Detected, continue testing? Yes or No or Retry.


Watch for the BIST color generation and listen for the single beeps that indicate LCD BIST is running.
Patterns of flashing color should appear on the screen. With every color change, an audible beep is heard. If the patterns of color do not appear, and the beeps are audible, an LCD failure may be the issue. If the patterns of color appear, a video card or motherboard failure may be the issue.
IF AN ERROR IS INDICATED, PLEASE CALL DELL SO YOU CAN SEND SYSTEM TO SERVICE DEPOT FOR REPAIR (WE'VE JUST TRIED TO ISOLATE ISSUE TO SEE IF ERROR IS CAUSED BY HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE, OR JUST SOME CONFIGURATIONS)

Thanks and Goood luck! =)