UPDATE: Time for a New Video Card?

[XP Home SP 2]

The story so far (briefly): When I restart my computer, the Welcome Screen is noticeably pixilated and the colors are off. In addition, thin, vertical purple lines appear. Eventually my monitor goes black, and I need to power off my computer. This only happens on a restart -- when my computer starts from 'cold' the problem does not happen and I can use my computer normally.

I received lots of good ideas from this group. One suggestion was to power off my monitor when this happens. THIS WORKED! As soon as I see the psychedelic Welcome Screen I power off the monitor, count to 5, power on the monitor and...voila! The image is perfect - the way it should be.

Does this 'clue' suggest to anyone what the root cause of the problem is?

Thanks again for your help.

M and D

"Lester Stiefel" <les7954@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:%235i6adBoHHA.4132@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lil' Dave wrote:
Never did I indicate you had onboard video, or reference that in a possible
solution...
Later. No, forget it.
Dave

"M and D" <m.and.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uoednVIJD-9aU8vbnZ2dnUVZ_sapnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Dave:

Thanks for your help.

Unfortunately, my motherboard doesn't have on-board video.

The image of the Welcome Screen does look like 640 X 480. Here's possibly
another clue: I'm starting to see thin, purple, vertical lines as well.

I think the easiest way to go is to 1) try a different cable and 2) try a
different video card. Video cards - the kind I need - are cheap these days.
That will at least eliminate the cable and the card as the source of the
problem.

I replaced the power supply about 2 years ago, but it's the same stock PSU
that Dell puts into a computer. These are not high quality devices. So my
next step - after the cable and card - will be to have the power supply
tested.

I'm fairly confident it's not the monitor, since I had this with my previous
monitor as well.

What a pain! Thanks to the newsgroup for all the help.

M and D

"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eI3$c%23rnHHA.4188@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"M and D" <m.and.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:IsydneJ8LdaJpsvbnZ2dnUVZ_uKknZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[XP Home SP 2]

When I restart my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like it's on a 'bad
trip' and within a few seconds my monitor goes black. This happens much of
the time, but not always, when I restart my computer. No way to predict
when
it's going to happen.

However, when I shut down my computer, let it rest for a few seconds, and
then start it up, all is well.

The rest of my computer operates without any trouble.

The card is an old Radeon 9600 - not exactly a hot rod. It's got the
latest
driver

I'm thinking I need to replace the video card. Could there be any other
likely cause for what I'm experiencing?

M and D

----------------------------------------------------------

From other replies, I've determined you're using a DVI stimulated monitor.
You've had same problem with video card for a couple of years now, but has
increased in frequency.

My opinion is leaning toward one of 2 things. The 1.5 volt supply on the
motherboard is weak. Or, the 3.3V and/or 5V line from the power supply is
marginal. This, assuming, that the video card is okay.

Usually, the "bad trip" is the monitor running in 640X480 resolution.
When
actually entering windows where the resolution may change again, the
monitor
may not be able to reproduce that resolution with video. Have you
attempted
to remove all ATI software and driver, switch to the default PCI video
card,
then reboot, then reinstall the current ATI driver? Directions
specifically
on how to do this at ATI website.
Dave




I had the same problem with an older PC and a radeon 7000,
just before ditching the PC. When the new PC started having
video screen boot (push) problems, I ran the computer
without protection for another month. When the APC unit I
had the PC plugged in to started to drop cycle rapidly, I
shut down the PC, and disconnected the items plugged in ,
One-by-one, and found the culprit was the monitor (an old
Gateway EV70).
Hope this will help you some, as often the Video Card is NOT
the culprit.

--
Lester Stiefel
In Romans 1 there are qualities of Unregenerate man listed
which describe him in the last days.
Is your quality found on this list??
.

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