[uscgdavis]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum. I did a search before posting, but I didn't see any solutions to my problem.
When I came home from work the other day, the display on my computer was screwwed up. The first thing I noticed was that the text for the icons on my desktop was off-color. Instead of being the usual icons and black text, everything looked strangely shaded with blue and pink... They all still function properly, but look strange. Also the start menu at the bottom and all the selections under the start menu are the same way.

Second; when I open Firefox and try to view videos, the video is covered in red lines and boxes, and is unviewable. The video is still playing, but so distorted that I can't make it out.

I ran windows troubleshooting, and have been searching the internet for hours now to find a solution, but have had no luck.

This is what I have attempted so far:
Uninstall/Reinstall video card drivers.
Changed screen size/color quality, refresh rate was at lowest already.
Virus scan with McAfee and Ad-Aware.
Used System Restore.

The only changes I have made to the computer that I can think of, was to delete some of the unnecessary folders in the My Documents folder. I didn't see anything that would have caused these issues.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Rollin' Rog]

The symptoms seem typical of a video card gone bad. I think you are going to have to replace it.

[uscgdavis]

Well I restarted in safe mode, and the issue was still there. Safe mode uses a built in video card, right? Also, I just bought a new video card a few months ago, so I hope that isn't the issue.

[Rollin' Rog]

Safe Mode does not use a built in Video Card -- in fact this is further indication that the card itself is bad.

You might try reseating it.

If no help there, it will certainly be under warranty.

If you do have a built-in (onboard) video chip -- you can try enabling that in the BIOS and disabling your current Display Card in the Device Manager.

[avisitor]

Yeah, definitely seems like hardware failure. See if the card has somehow come unseated. Try a new cable between your card and your monitor.

[uscgdavis]

Ok, I made sure the card was fully seated, and the cord between the monitor and the computer was seated.
I really can't think of anything that could have damaged the card. I haven't moved my PC from where it is recently. Everything was working fine before. We'd had bad thunder and lightning, but the PC is on a surge protector, so I don't think that's it.

[uscgdavis]

I just disabled my Nvidia card and turned on the integrated video chip through Bios. The problem is STILL here. So this means that it isn't my video card, right?

[avisitor]

I'd imagine that the cord connecting your monitor to your PC is bad (perhaps a bent pin?)

[uscgdavis]

Ok, I pulled the cord on both ends, checked the prongs, blew on them. The problem persists.
Another note, Itunes doesn't work either. I open it, and the window is all black with a few grey blocks. You would think that a faulty monitor wouldn't affect programs functioning.

[avisitor]

What happens if you boot from a CD such as BartPE, Knoppix, Ubuntu, etc.

[uscgdavis]

... Sorry, but I have no clue what those are

[avisitor]

Download Damn Small Linux (50MB, ftp://ftp.oss.cc.gatech.edu/pub/linu.../dsl-4.2.5.iso) and write the image to cd (http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm). Boot from that CD. How does it look?

[Rollin' Rog]

Can you post a screenshot of the problem?

If we CAN'T see it -- it's your monitor or the cable.

Any chance you can try a different cable?

[uscgdavis]

ok, screenshots:
Display1 is what all videos look like, Display2 is what my desktop icons look like.

[avisitor]

Originally Posted by Rollin' Rog

Can you post a screenshot of the problem?

If we CAN'T see it -- it's your monitor or the cable.

Any chance you can try a different cable?

Whoops, I feel dumb now... :embarasse:

Anyhow, yeah, we still see it.