Hello, users. First of all, sorry for my english. This post is to tell you my experience with this very know problem and how I solved it.
Computer specifications:
- Dell Studio 1558 (bought in 2010)
- Intel Core i5
- 4 GB of RAM
- ATI/AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5470
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits
Problem:
- The problem started with the common error "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered...".
- This was followed by several BSOD, associated to the video card (atikmpag.sys file).
- Finally, after a couple of weeks, the laptop screen turned black, but the laptop was still in operation.
Considerations:
- Is not a display problem.
- Is not a driver problem.
- Not even a video card problem.
- It is a manufacturing problem, where the video card soldering is ruined because of overheating.
- DO NOT LET TECHNICIANS TO REPLACE YOUR DISPLAY OR MOTHERBOARD.
Solution:
- Take your laptop to a specialized technical service, and ask to do a "reballing process", which consists of desoldering, cleaning, and soldering again the video card.
- This process requires the correct equipment, which is a high-precision infrared soldering machine. DO NOT LET TECHNICIANS TO USE A HEATING GUN.
Well, this is all I have to tell. I did this process and I have my laptop working better than ever. The costs of reballing, at least in my country, are very low compared to a motherboard replacement. For reballing it is 120 dollars, and for a motherboard replacement it is around 500 dollars.
I'm very dissapointed with Dell about this issue. Hope my comment is helpful.
Regards,
Ignacio Vallejos