Part of screen goes black, intermittently

[Hoov]

Did anything happen with the black square on the display?

[Poet8]

No, not after the last test/restarting computer.

[Hoov]

Well if you do have anything going bad, it is very intermittent at this time. The only thing to do (unfortunately) is to give it some more time and see if it breaks further.

[Poet8]

OK, I guess I'll just see how it goes and report back if it gets worse or something.  Thanks.

[Hoov]

You are welcome.

[Poet8]

The problem reoccurred tonight -- about 1/3 of the screen, upper left corner, showing part of another window, surrounded by black, covered the screen.  Switching from window to window negated it, but it seems like an ongoing problem.  Any further thoughts?  It seems like it happens after the computer's been on for a long time.  Thanks

[Hoov]

Well now you need to figure out if it is the monitor or the card. Let your computer run for a long time with the monitor on. When the black box shows up, turn the monitor only off. Let it set for an hour or so to cool, and then turn the monitor back on. Don't touch the keyboard or the mouse after the black box shows up, until after the monitor is turned back on, and you can see if the black box is still there. Let me know.

[Poet8]

I proceeded as planned.  After about 7 hours of the computer and monitor being on, the black box (actually showing part of the display from another tab in Firefox) reoccurred.  I turned off the monitor and let it sit, not touching the computer, keyboard, or mouse at all.  After about 1.25 hours, the monitor being cold, I turned the monitor back on, and indeed the black area was still on the screen.

[Hoov]

Is the video card a separate card, or is it built in to the motherboard?

[Poet8]

It seems to be built into the motherboard -- looks like glued or soldered or something.

[Hoov]

Does the connector where you connect the monitor vertical or horizontal? If its horizontal, is it on a silver plate or is it clustered with the rest of the connectors on the back of the computer.

[Poet8]

It is clustered with the rest of the outlets on the back of the computer, typical Dell set-up where they are all together and color-coded.  The area is vertical, i.e facing off the back of the computer, but the plug itself then goes in vertical like this: ↔ (hope that makes sense).  Thanks.

[Hoov]

If you mean the plug goes left and right, that is horizontal, but if it is clustered with all the other connectors, then it is part of the motherboard.

Do you have any open expansion slots?

Has the black box ever appeared when the computer was cold? Do you have a digital camera that you could take a picture of the screen with?

[Poet8]

I can do all of that, but I have to step out, so I'll post back shortly....

[Poet8]

It is clustered with the other connectors, so it must be part of the motherboard, which is definitely what it looks like anyway when I open it up to see.  I honestly don't know if I have any open expansion ports (how can I tell?).  I know I have a USB port or two open, but can't see anywhere the monitor cord would plug in.  The black patch has only seemed to occur after the computer has been on for a long time (not cold).  I will take a picture of it next time it happens.  Thanks.