Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 66436 2006-02-22 22:49:00 Odd display kakapo (5362) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
433037 2006-02-22 22:49:00 Greetings
A strange problem has occurred and I cannot find any info on this even after much searching. Really hope someone here can help as this is my "mainframe" or workhorse and runs XP home.

On any program or webpage my display suddenly develops black and white horizontal lines. They're close together and move up and down. Sometimes there's only a few and at other times they occupy one third of the monitor. Suddenly they disappear and all's well again. My taskbar warps out of shape at the same time. Re-booting doesn't fix the prob.

They look a little like I'd expect electrical interference to look but I haven't moved the computer or done anything unusual. We did get a Sky satellite installed at around the same time this prob started though and it's just above the computer (but outside, on the roof of course!)

Monitor is 5 years old but this computer is not exactly over-used. I guess it's possible the monitor's sick or maybe the video card which seems to be installed correctly.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on this

Happy Days to all
kakapo (5362)
433038 2006-02-22 22:57:00 Try moving the monitor/computer to a difference place in the room as see if this helps the display. Do you have another monitor you can try as well? Jen (38)
433039 2006-02-22 23:04:00 No, sadly, I don't have another monitor but wish I did!

So you think it may be interference Jen?

I COULD move it, but it's quite a job and nothing (except the Sky satellite) has changed. Dear thing is in the same place it's always been.

Appreciate your help Jen, thank you.
kakapo (5362)
433040 2006-02-22 23:11:00 Well it could be interference, and moving a computer is the easiest thing to start with. Even if you put the computer on the floor in another room and just have the case, monitor, keyboard & mouse attached and boot it up long enough to see if the display still looks wonky.

Rule out the easy things first, before delving into drivers, video cards etc. :)
Jen (38)
433041 2006-02-22 23:26:00 Thank you Jen. I have to go to work now but will try this when I get home tonight and will post results.

Of course for the last hour the display's been absolutely perfect but this has happened before too and then the problem starts again.

Have a great day
kakapo (5362)
433042 2006-02-23 00:30:00 I was going to suggest something was writing garbage to your video RAM, but since taskbar warps and a reboot doesn't fix, I'd suspect the monitor's failing.

Five years life out of a monitor's not bad. Still can't hurt to move the PC and see if it affects the problem.
kingdragonfly (309)
433043 2006-02-23 01:28:00 5 years is like brand new, i have 3 15" compaq moniters which were made in late 1995 (nov95,dec95,jan96) which work flawlessly, ok sure one makes odd noises at 1024x768 but at 10years what woudl you expect? Mirddes (10)
433044 2006-02-23 04:50:00 Unplug the signal cable and plug it in again. :D Graham L (2)
433045 2006-02-24 11:39:00 The work involved more than expected and tonight after work was the first time I was able to use the computer. I got ready to move it, then on a whim, logged in and read Graham's response. Ah. That's easier to try. (I'm tired)

It seems to have done the trick! No more odd display - well not yet anyway.

Graham will you please explain to me why this occurred and why your fix was effective? (If it's not a trade secret or something and you don't mind - I'm a curious critter)

Thank you all very much. I appreciate it.
This is a pretty cool place..... :thumbs:
Happy weekend to you all
kakapo (5362)
433046 2006-02-24 20:16:00 Graham will you please explain to me why this occurred and why your fix was effective? (If it's not a trade secret or something and you don't mind - I'm a curious critter)
Loose, dirty, or slightly corroded contacts on either the plug or the socket. Removing and reinserting fixes the latter two, but if the socket contacts are loose there's not much you can do but replug as required. Make sure the plug is secured in place with screws at bothe sides though.

A squirt of electrical contact cleaner wouldn't go amiss either, and would help minimise future problems.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1 2