Machine Specs
- Toshiba Satellite M115-3154
- 360GB WD HD (brand new)
- 2GB RAM
- Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz processor
- Intel 945 graphics
Current working OS: Windows XP SP3
Recently I’ve had a lot of issues with this machine. Main thing that happens is that all of a sudden it will freeze and I get horizontal line artefacts across the screen. I have replaced many parts and have taken apart the laptop and cleaned all dust and debris out. I would like to think that the issues are solely with the video card but as I type this I am on the problem laptop.
My Linux woes:
Since the install of Ubuntu went so smoothly on the two desktops I have, I decided to try it on this laptop. Well it gets to various parts of the install each time and then freezes and what ever is on the screen becomes blurred/distorted. (It did this when I tried to reinstall windows too but I fought it until it installed.)
I have tried with the different options of acpi off and the others that are listed in the F6 menu. I have also tried Linux Mint 13 and 2 versions of Puppy Linux from a Live CD and it did the same before loading the desktop.
(I have read that it may be because my power supply is providing incorrect voltage to the devices and that may be the source of my errors as the video/screen works fine in the BIOS and up to a certain point during the install. The first time I noticed any issue with this otherwise fine laptop was when it would go to a black screen after logging into windows XP if the mfg specific video drivers were installed but would load all the way with the generic windows drivers.)
I also noted when I tried to install Ubuntu from a USB stick it would not see the stick even though it was set to see the USB first in the BIOS and is a known good boot stick.
I have also run memtest86 and my memory is fine and I didn’t have the screen artefact issue during that whole process. The funny thing is in windows the USB ports work fine.
I am at my wits end here. Please help.
Here is an example of the issue in the link:
