Not a virus but very strange problem

bhutz · #1 10-11-2004, 11:01 AM

I am running windowsXP pro and I the weirdest thing is happening on my screen.
Basically these random blocks of symbols/lines keep appearing, don't think it is text.
They appear one at a time and are all in line and continue to fill up the screen until I change the window I am working on. Then as before continue to fill the screen.

I have attached a screenshot so you understand the problem better...can anyone advise me what is going on here?

bhutz · #2 10-11-2004, 06:13 PM

I guess if I try and start computer in safe mode I can identify whether it's a problem with graphics card or monitor plugs etc...i'll let you know the result

Thanks for ya help so far

bhutz · #3 10-19-2004, 06:18 AM

I tried restarting my computer in safe mode but it always hangs and doesn't actually come out of the dos style boot up screen.
I installed SP2 and now the lines on the screen are yellow...I am baffled as to what this could be.

bhutz · #4 10-19-2004, 09:48 AM

Cheers bro, I will try this when I get back...bloody hope it works because windows keeps freezing and unfreezing every few minutes.
I use McAffee virus scanner, should that not be able to find worms andf stuff?
Thanks for ya help so far, let's hope it works.

bhutz · #5 10-21-2004, 03:49 AM

The software links you gave me didn't manage to find anything on my system after I ran them.
Do you think a problem like this would occur if there was something wrong with my graphics card perhaps?

TiSwAs · #6 10-21-2004, 03:53 AM

Just an observation, why i your McAfee's On-Acess disabled???
This option scans file before they are used/executed, vould be something there?!?!?!

bhutz · #7 10-21-2004, 04:00 AM

I have ran a full system scan already with McAfee but I will bear in mind hat you said, may as well turn it on to protect myself.

I think it was disabled cos I was playin some game

TiSwAs · #8 10-21-2004, 04:16 AM

It does look like video corruption, just an idea of un-installing all ya graphic card drivers/programs (ATi) and then shutting system down and re-seat graphics card (obviously if it's onboard u can't do that!)
Download latest drvier/utilities from ATi for your card and install - reboot.

See if that clears it.

TiSwAs · #9 10-21-2004, 07:01 AM

Also try taking the old graphics card out and trying a PCI or other AGP one.

jherrico · #10 10-21-2004, 12:21 PM

i can tell you it is most definantly not a windows problem if you look at the bottom of the screen the lines are on top of the taskbar, windows will not put anything like that on top of the taskbar, ive been a pc tech for many years and im going to say its either your monitor or your vid card, do you have a crt or an lcd?

bhutz · #11 10-21-2004, 02:16 PM

Will try looking inside, just waiting on a bloody key to my PC, kinda lost the other one

bhutz · #12 11-04-2004, 02:52 PM

PROBLEM SOLVED
OK managed to get the key to my PC and give things a quick clean (was pretty dusty in there). Removed my Radeon graphics card and replugged it back into motherboard but still got the same problem.

Went back to old graphics card and the lines on the screen no longer appear

Not using PC much this year for gaming so old graphics card should be fine!