Sounds like a graphics card problem to me.
I had the same issue with a Toshiba laptop from the 2003 generation. It turned out to be the cooling was poor as the processor and graphics card were right next to each other, and the heat damage created solid lines on the screen.
If you try a google search to see if anyone else had similar issues, with my Toshiba I found hundreds of hits with same issues. Another thing, my screen started off as one line, but then a new line has come along about every month. Good thing it's only my backup laptop.
Unfortunately the graphics card is not as easy to change as a screen, so would have to be a return to factory if that was the fault. As said above, Dell should be able to properly diagnose the issue even over the phone. Good luck.
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Jason Moller
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