blue and red screen poo from Excel OpenGL DirectX

maninalift · 4th January 2006

Some time ago my computer developed a problem whereby when using Office (particularly with word), blue and red flecks would start to fill the screen. The problem is usually brought about by scrolling the window.

It is not only Office applications that set this off, most OpenGL or DirectX applications will.

Once the problem has been set off by one of these programs, the red and/or blue flecks are sensative to any sound or change is screen output. Music quickly causes the screen to fill with flecks. Moving windows around causes strange blue 'shadows images' to form which move about the screen as the windows are move but generally in the opposite direction.

See pictures of the errors here and here.

The problem is temporarily halted by restarting windows. Though icons cache is often corrupted.

The more the problem occurs, the worse it gets, until even using windows explorer or the screen saver for a couple of minutes will set it off. Then the computer becomes unusable and I reformat and reinstall windows.

I have reinstalled windows once. However I have reinstalled most of the applications that were there before so if it was one of them causing the error I don't know, I didn't think to install them one by one and test in-between.

The problem is back to how it was at the start (i.e. only set off by office and graphics-heavy applications). I am of course being careful and using such applications only in direst need. I should like to get a handle on the problem before it reaches critical point again.

I have ordered a new graphics card. Does it sound like a hardware or driver problem? I should like to cover all of my bases at once. Or at least have an idea as to where to start if I install the new graphics card and it still doesnt work.

Many thaks for reading to the end of this long post, and yet more thanks if you are now trying to work out how to help me,
maninalift

**Steve R Jones** · 4th January 2006

Hardware for sure.
Does the monitor have a "Degauss" button?
Do you have any electricial equiptment close to the moitor? (including speakers)

By any chance tried the monitor on another machine?

maninalift · 4th January 2006

My computer is set up in a different place now than it used to be. There is one small computer satallite speaker near it. But it is clearly (this is not a jibe at you, I mean that it is clear to myself as one who has experienced the problem over and over) not a problem with the monitor.

As I said the windows icon cache gets corrupted, it depends on the sort of softweare that is being run, and the errors are sensative in a perculiar way to what is being done with the programs. All of these things demonstate that it is some computer hardware or software thing. The fact that it affects DirectX and OpenGL implies that it is a low level problem.

On another forum someone said they had a similar problem that was fixed by replacing the graphics card so I am hoping that my new card will solve the problem. When it arrives.

Thanks

maninalift · 4th January 2006

Oh and those pictures of the errors were taken using "print screen" button so that is a pretty watertight case.

**PeteC** · 4th January 2006

Have you tried uninstalling the video card through Device Manager, unloading any associated software through Add/Remove Programs, physically removing the card and cleaning the contacts with a soft pencil eraser and reinstalling it along with the drivers? Have you checked for updated drivers?

As Steve posted are you in a position to try another monitor?

skeet6961 · 5th January 2006

what make/model card currently? it sounds like it's either not dirx compatible w/ the version of dirx u'r running, it's drivers are corrupt or not updated, or the RAM on the card is faulty.

dirx diags should tell ya if it's compatible and the maker probably has a diags util that can check the RAM etc. i'd run em or just wait and replace the card.

just looked at the pics and am curious if u've got another monitor to test w/? the off-color stuff can often be a pushed in VGA pin or improper cable/contacts. and the monitor could just be bad as well.

maninalift · 7th January 2006

The card I was using was a Radeon7000, the driver hadn't been updated for ages. I have installed a RAdeon 9200 with the latest driver (I wanted to change the graphics card anyway) and the problem has gone away.

As I say it could not have been the monitor as those pictures came from takling screen grabs.

Many thanks to all.