Serious Graphics Problem

Hi, first post. I tried searching google, I tried searching the forum but no-one had any info that could help me.
Here is the problem.

My pc screen randomly turns pink (distorting the colors) and it crashes so bad that I have to reset. BUT everytime I reset when the pc boots up I get a split screen display. That only goes away when I reset even further.
The good news is, I have been using my computer on safe mode and so far it hasn't died on me.

But if I boot up normal windows vista then I get the pink screen (it's driving me mad) and ALWAYS after the pink screen I get the split screen (at this point I feel like throwing the whole thing out the window)

I'm really sorry I can't describe it any better.
I couldn't get pictures of the pink screen, but I can show you what the split screen looks like.



NOTE: the split screen starts straight from the boot screen. so not only windows
NOTE2: the split screen loads windows on safe mode. Regular windows crashes if the screen is like that.

Thanks for your help. Bye

Laptop Info:
Dell Vostro 1510
Graphics Card: nVidia 8400M GS
HDD: 250gb 5400 rpm
RAM: 3gb
OS: Windows Vista Home Basic

It happens even while the PC is booting, so it sounds more like hardware than drivers. I see it's a Dell laptop; what does Dell have to say about it?

No news from dell. I kept using Safe mode but had to give it another try. I rebooted to normal windows vista and the computer worked fine for about 8 hs. Then When I started watching The big bang theory on GOM player. I got pink screen crash again. BUT this time, the lcd went dead and the audio kept on playing until the end of the episode... (I left it because I was courious if the computer had crashed or if the monitor died but the computer was still on) However I couldn't pause the episode or anything so I asume the computer crashed (No idea about the sound still working). I don't remember watching videos the other times it crashed. But I uninstalled my codecs and re-downloaded them. To test if it was a codec problem.

I'll keep you posted.

Suggestions needed
Thanks

Try to dump the drivers altogether and start windows using the standard vga driver that windows will give it.
It will look just like safe mode but will load the full compliment of the rest of the drivers.
Also try to disable any additional codecs.
this will help determine if it is video drivers.
If it still happens use msconfig and turn off all start up programs and see what happens.
If it still happens press F8 and disable half of the system drivers and then the other half to try to isolate what is causing this.

Thank you SO much. The problem is still here but at least now I can work while listening to music. No need to play any games so as a temporary workaround, it worked. I guess I have to think possitive right? otherwise I would be posting a youtube video of my Laptop flying of a 2nd floor window.

Thanks again and I will keep updating. (the whole point of this post is to leave precise info about the problem and the solution, if we find one, for anyone else that might need it.)

Ok I have stress-tested the safe mode and the computer works PERFECT while on safe-mode ... no crashes or anything... no audio either. Could the problem be audio-related?

Dell replaced my Mother board and ... it works like a charm. No more crashes, no graphic problems and since they cleaned it when they opened it . ventilation is better and it runs cooler. Hate not knowing what the problem was, but now it's gone.

When the guy changed my motherboard he found dust blocking the air flow so the GPU wasn't properly cooled. He told me that it that may have been the whole problem but still changed my mobo just in case. I try to keep it clean but I was to much of a coward to open it up and REALLY cleaning it.
So my suggestion is to open it up and make sure everything is clean and nice so the airflow and cooling work perfectly.

In fact the other day I felt my left hand a bit too warm (the keyboard was hotter than usual) I opened it, and there was a small patch of dust blocking the vent. seriously small. But removing it made the WORLD of difference. Hope this helps since it could be a overheating issue

Dell warranty rocks! After weeks of split-screen issues at bootup (with nothing but vertical lines showing after Windows XP loads) very similar to that shared in the picture here, and failed attempts at BIOS reset and such, I called Dell and the diagnostics showed a problem with the LCD inverter. Fortunately my D630 is still under warranty. Tech replaced screen with no luck then Dell shipped new motherboard and D630 runs and looks like new!