I have a Satellite 5100 with video problems. After being on for a while the 
video display starts to get choppy/ scrambled, a few seconds later I get an 
nvidia.dll error and the screen drops to the lowest settings. Eventually the 
computer reboots (or requires one to reset the video) and after it reloads I 
get the Windows has recovered from a fatal error box.

I am guessing its a video card problem (or the connector on the motherboard 
side). I have taken the computer apart and re-seated the video card to the 
board and checked every connection to the video card, but this has not 
worked.

The first thing I tried was reinstalling the NVIDIA drivers...

It appears to run better if booted into the VGA mode as the screen will 
often correct its self without the dll error.

I can swap the card for a reconditioned one at a Toshiba repair shop for 
about $250.00 CND, but if it turns out to be the motherboard connector its 
money wasted.

I am not really sure it its worth repairing this thing when I can get a new 
laptop for under $1000.00 these days?

Has anyone here ever had this problem and did you find the solution?