computer freezes, video problem suspect

[waltzcar]

I've been having multiple freezes, and I have tried updating my video driver (has not solved the problem).  When I checked my device manager I notice that I have 6 default monitors listed.  Could this be the problem? I am running a Dell Inspiron E1705 laptop with an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 video driver.

[jason2074]

How long does it makes the randomly freezes? Does it happen in safemode or BIOS only also?

[waltzcar]

At first it was happening almost every time I scrolled, but then I reinstalled the video driver (I already had the latest update), and now it is less often.  The last time was while my screen saver was running.  When it freezes, I shut it off by the power button and then restart it in regular mode and it seems to run normally (until the next freeze).  I have not tried safe mode; I wouldn't know what to look for.

[jason2074]

Safemode will determine if its a hardware or software problem. If it doesn't freeze in safemode then its a software installed problem.

[waltzcar]

Since I do not see a pattern of actions that cause it to freeze, I do not see a way to test it in safe mode.

[patio]

Since I do not see a pattern of actions that cause it to freeze, I do not see a way to test it in safe mode.

That may be true...however if you were to run the PC for say 10 to 12 hours and it gets no freezes chances are it's a software issue...
You have nothing to lose by trying it.

[waltzcar]

I have been having lots of problems again today, after several days with no problems at all.  I tried to start it in safe mode, and it froze upon booting.  the last line was
...WINDOWS\System32\Drivers\Mup.sys
That's as far as it went, then I had to shut it off with the power switch.

[patio]

mup.sys is the last thing loaded on startup...if it's hanging there you need to do a Repair install...
What ver. of Windows would this be ? ?

[waltzcar]

I don't think it was really hung up in safe mode; I just didn't wait long enough...but I had three or four failures in a row today.  I'm running in safe mode with networking, and am able to navigate and scroll with no issues...so far.  I have Windows XP media edition on a Dell laptop.

[Salamander]

Sounds like a power supply issue. Have you upgraded graphics card recently?

[patio]

He hasn't been back in a Month...

[waltzcar]

I think this is solved; I had to download .NET version 1.1 in order for my ATI Radeon Mobility x1400 video driver to properly work.

[waltzcar]

Well, thought this issue was resolved, but it's not.  My screen still locks up when using Window XP, and it seems to be quite random--Firefox browser, using Office, even has frozen on login, before desktop icons appeared.
It does not seem to freeze if I log on using Linux in recovery mode, but in regular mode hangs up seemingly randomly, as in Windows.
I am running a Dell Inspiron E1705 with an ATI Radeon Mobility X1400 video card.  ATI no longer supports this card, and Dell has not upgraded the driver for it since 2006.
Does this even sound like a video card/driver issue, or maybe something else? 

[patio]

If it's a Dell you should only be using the Dell driver for it...they are finicky like that.

[waltzcar]

Well, I took my computer to a Microsoft repair specialist, and he charged me $80, and I got home and had the same issues!  So I called him, and he said the best thing to do would be to reformat the hard drive and start fresh.  So I did, and I also deleted the Lubuntu OS, since I found that the programs are not totally compatible with Windows OS (specifically PowerPoint).  Anyway, after hours getting back to where I started, the video still freezes in full screen mode.  I have ordered (2) 2 Gig RAM cards, to replace the (2) 512 MB RAM cards that are currently in my laptop.  Maybe that will help?  By the way, I do have the latest Dell upgrade to my video card.