Red Line

Since I got my computer, about 4 years ago, I've had a periodic problem. As near as I can tell it always happens when I have OE and IE open and usually it's when I am doing several things at the same time (so I have three or four IE windows open at the same time), so I expect that it somehow has something to do with OE and IE. Suddenly and for no consistent reason, that I can tell, everything freezes and there is a line across the top of my screen about two inches from the top. For a couple of years the line was green but within the last year I had some work done on the computer and since then the line is red, but it acts the same. Frozen screen and I have to reboot. I sure would like to find a solution to this problem. It may not happen for a couple of weeks, but then it might happen two or three times in the same day! It's frustrating! Any help would be appreciated.

 

TacoBelle
Dont mean to sound harsh
Sounds like a hardware related problem.
The forum would need more to go on--to help.

make of pc ?
and video card ?
operating system ?

internet explorer version ?
have you been keeping it up to date > os, ie and vid card ?

have you been the msconfig route --stoping unnessesary
startups ?

Lon

 

ANSWERS:

make of pc ? <Home built
and video card ? <SIS 305
operating system ? <Win 98SE

internet explorer version ? <5.5

have you been keeping it up to date > os, ie and vid card?

< I do the updates on OS and IE, but haven't done vid. But this has been going on since the machine was built! Not a new thing.

have you been the msconfig route --stoping unnessesary
startups ?

<Don't know about that....I can follow instructions if it'll work.

 

Hi TacoBelle

" "everything freezes and there is a line across the top of my screen about two inches from the top. For a couple of years the line was green but within the last year I had some work done on the computer and since then the line is red, but it acts the same." "

I dont know about this --you could post in the hardware section of this forum.

And so to speak tune up you'r pc---By stoping unnessesary
startups Its rather detailed so for no pull up you'r resource metor
Its in start > programs > accessories > system tool's > resource metor--it appears in the system tray ,near the clock icon on task bar R/click on it and choose details.
the top one is what im concerned with . for instance mine
is at 59% with connection servise its browser and then I have
two three ie's open ---everything run's good.
so basicly If recources get below say 45% there there's bound to be problems.So whats you;r say ?
Memory playes a part to though but is completly differant then resources --how much do you have ?
You realy shoud get the latest drivers for you'r card

SIS 305 sounds like the mother board not video card .

Rightclick on the my computer icon choose properties and then
device manager -view devices by type expand all --click on all the plus signs --look for yellow or red xclamation points --
highlight your video card (and anything that has xcamation's)and then choose properties use the differnt tab's to get and problems (reports) conflicks..
So this is were also to get information on exactly what card and drivers it uses ---to put in you'r post in the hardware area..

Let us know ?

Lonny

 

I chose this forum because the computer freezes when IE and OE are open, virtually every time. Nearly always when I am actually online. I suppose that could just be because I’m pressing the computer too hard. I admit I do that. But it's a 900 MHz CPU and 256 MB of RAM. When I had the thing built, it was a pretty fast computer for it’s time (not a dinosaur before it was built) and it’s been doing this since the beginning, say 4 ½ - 5 years.

I don’t know much about the resource meter. I will try to do some reading and find out more about what it indicates. Mine’s only at 47% right now. I’ll have to watch it for a while and maybe make some changes.

The video card IS SIS 305. I checked it to be sure in the Device Manager (which I know about) before I wrote in the last time. There are no red or yellow exclamation marks showing. I’ll try updating the drivers for the vid. card.

Meanwhile, I guess I’ll go to the "hardware" section and see what they have to say. Thanks.

 

Hi TacoBelle



Useing msconfig to eliminate unessesary startups
Go to start run type msconfig hit ok
Use the startup tab --write down everything, cancel out then go to these sites --if not listed at one will be at another.

Here's some homework on system resources.
Check out the others in one or more of these places.

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm

http://ww2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Uncheck.htm

http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html

http://www.pcisys.net/~ravnos2/techinfo/MSConfig.htm

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
Here's some homework on system resources.

Regards
Lonny

 

TacoBelle

You definately have a video problem, here are some steps to try, but if you have a bad chip of video ram, you may need to replace the video card.

But do the steps below first.

1. Definetely cleanup the startups as reccomended above.

2. Definetely update the video driver.

3. I would also reccomend moving Video controller to to another slot if it is PCI. If AGP or on motherboard you can not move.

4. Don't stop at video drivers but find the make and model of the motherboard then go to their www site and update all motherboard drivers. This is not to be confused with BIOS flash update.

5. If all the above do not work the go to same site as above and find the latest BIOS and flash. This is a dangerous step if done incorrectly or with the incorrect BIOS. So get back to us if you decide to do it.

Mike

 

What I've done since earlier this morning is read up on System Resource Monitor and found out it only tells you when your resources are running low. So far the only thing I see to remedy this is closing some windows. That's too bad. I also ran the System Monitor and it seemed to be ok from what I observed.

Meanwhile I updated my video driver. Don't see any difference but then I wouldn't necessarily, would I? Till it crashes next time anyway! Maybe I'll get a BLUE line now.

I don't plan to flash the BIOS (as you said, that's dangerous) but I will look into updating the motherboard drivers. Personally, I've always thought this problem had to do with the MB, but don't know how to prove it besides getting a new MB. Maybe I'll do that soon and get a new vid. card at the same time. Unfortunately, I don't have the help I used to have for this sort of thing. Thanks for all your help (now I have some more reading to do.