Screen loads sideways

[BG]

Have had a prolonged problem (sorry for the lenght of this email). Would
appreciate some help. Four months ago, I bought an HP pavilion notebook
(dv5t-1000) with 64 bit vista ultimate (4GB DDR2 sys memory, 250 GB hard
drive), an HP docking station and HP 20" external monitor with wireless key
board and mouse. My video card is nVidia GeForce 9600M GT. Everything was
fine and I loved it but within one month, the screen on the laptop and
monitor would load sideways or upside down whenever it felt like it. Only
happened at startup, never while I was working. And it didn't happen all the
time. Kept happening for another month so I called HP. Spent hours and
hours with HP on the phone. Uninstalled and reinstalled latest nvidia
drivers a few times, updated bios etc. Tried using the crtl-alt hot keys
with arrows but it does nothing. Occasionally, I am able to rotate the
screen by opening the GeForce manager but that doesn't always work. Even if
it does work, the screen loads sidesway or upside down even after I do that
fix. On one or two occasions, disconnecting the monitor from the laptop
fixed it but sometimes it stays stuck.

HP now tells me they think Vista (all versions and particularly 64 bit) has
problems with the driver for the monitor. No updates available and not HPs
problem!!! I can't count their theory but am hoping they are wrong. Did
some research on the Windows website site in the compatability center and
can't find the 9600M GT listed on either the "yes compatible" or "not
compatible" lists for Vista 64 or 32 bit. nVidia website doesn't help
either. But there are enough non-compatible video cards for vista that I am
wondering if anyone out there has any information you can share? Or any
ideas for how I can fix this? It's making me crazy and takes a while to fix
whenever it happens. Brand new HP laptop and all the peripherals are now a
very expensive paperweight. HP is telling me that the only fix may be to
return the equipement and they'll refund my money!!!! I'm thinking that if I
can find out whether the 9600M GT is compatible or not, I can just ask them
to replace the video card with one that is compatible. Is that viable? Any
thoughts of any kind on how to fix the problem or on the compatability issue
would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you so much.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi BG,

Nvidia compatible GPU's:
http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_home.html

I suspect that the system has a keyboard issue. Some laptops have a function
(fn) for rotating the screen, and yours may be stuck or shorting out.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[BG]

Thanks for the info. I found the nVidia GeForce 9600 GT as compatible but
can't find the 9600M GT. Will contact nVidia to see if it makes a
difference. But I ran the nVidia diagnostics on their website. It analyzed
my system for compatibility and said I am compatible and exceed the
requirements. I don't think there's a keyboard problem. HP has had my
laptop for the last week for repairs and they didn't find any problems.
ARGH!!!!!

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi BG,

Generally, with display adapters a series either is or isn't compatible.
Meaning, for example, that the 9600 series is and the 9500 isn't (this is
just an example, I'm not saying that series isn't).

In any case, I'll lay money that this is a hardware issue. Sporadic system
changes unrelated to user activities usually are. There's a potential that
it is malware-related, but I would think there would be other signs if it
were.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[BG]

Thanks Rick. I completely agree. It's got to be the hardware. You can't
imagine what I've been through with HP. Most everyone has been very nice and
tried to help but I've spent more than 24 hours on the phone with them and
still, nothing. I even had a case manager and sent my laptop back for
testing. Though the notes in my file said they replaced the LDC, LCD wiring
and motherboard, it turns out that the notes were a mistake and nothing had
been done. They never hooked up my laptop to a monitor and therefore
couldn't repeat the problem. It's been a total nightmare. I think it's the
video card (nVidia GeForce 9600M GT) or the graphics driver and the way it's
interacting with Vista. Must be something wrong with the card but since they
couldn't repeat the problem, they didn't replace it. I have a new case
manager now so we'll see what happens. It's really a shame because I love
the equipment. But my customer service experience with HP will stop me from
buying anything from HP again.