Between the repeated, (as in several times a day), head-ache inducing, epilepsy triggering, bad disco flashbacking 'display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and recovered' messages, the websites that aren't loading (Drudge, Betsy's Page, and a couple others simply refuse to load*), and other irksome glitches, it is going back in the box and to its maker.
I do not know how much is operator error and how much is a dud computer and how much to lay at the doors of Dell and/or Vista.
The HM kindly bought it as a surprise for me, and I feel badly for him. Any suggestions, recommendations for a replacement? Or failsafe fixes for dummies for this one before about noon tomorrow?
*I know it's this computer because I will try fruitlessly to load up one of those pages, and after fifteen minutes or so of unproductively spinning my icons, I'll log on to the HM's laptop and bring the same page up immediately.
No advice, just a lot of sympathy from a recipient of a Dell laptop with Vista.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby meant well, too.
It needs to go back. It's the comp, not you.
ReplyDeleteHeadmistress, Apparently you are very much not alone. Some people seem to have gotten good mileage out of an NVidia driver update. See these sites:
ReplyDeleteA Solution?
The problem and a bunch of suggestions
More people with the same problem - and more suggestions (a bios upgrade?)
Googling your error in quotes returns 659 responses which is pretty high, I think. I'd go with the driver update if I were you.
Dells have always been very good to me, both at work and at home, so it would be a tough call for me to recommend you go elsewhere. If you bought it new have you called Dell about it?
Before you mail it back--several websites I found indicate it's a Vista error that can be fixed by installing a patch.
ReplyDeletehttp://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=229865
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista/700052-display-driver-nvlddmkm-stopped-responding.html
Good luck!!
Lenovo Thinkpads are industry-praised as one of the better laptops out there (I think). We've had one for a couple months and there have been zero problems. (the Thinkpad models used to be IBM, but then were bought by or sold to Lenovo)
ReplyDeleteMy father-in-law has a 10 year old Thinkpad that is still alive and well, and used very frequently.
MerryK and Ladybug (who visited you recently) love their MacBooks. As an avid Mac user myself (and one who has to suffer with XP at work :( ), I would heartily recommend a Macbook!
ReplyDeleteThat being said, too bad you couldn't have gotten one with XP loaded.
Go to walmart or bestbuy and pick up a Toshiba Satellite. I've had two and they are great!
ReplyDeleteDHM,
ReplyDeleteWhat Rachel said. I have a Toshiba Satellite and it has never given me a problem.