Blotchy XP Open Screen, Dots Around Cursor & Sys Tray Icons

[snohomike]

I just installed XP Home SP3, but that may be just a coincidence. Since then,
the XP Open Screen has blue dashes or sometimes blue squares or rectangles
scattered throughout the black background. Cursor arrow lower half is dots or
other times has a rectangle of black dots horizontally on either side of its
lower half. In systems tray, PC-cillin icon bottom half has dots in it, the
Quicktime icon has a rectangle of dots through the bottom half and the
Creative Diagnostics Agent icon is just a rectangle of dots.

Otherwise, all screens are clear and no operating problems with Word, IE or
anything else.

I tried a system restore, so then I had to reload SP3. I did a Safe Mode
start and the cursor looked fine. I did a scandisk and disk cleanup. Still
the same problems. I didn't want to get into msconfig.exe for fears of
screwing something up, so I thought I'd ask for help.

Is it something I can fix without reloading Windows (I hope)?

 

[Ron Badour]

If all the problems disappear when running in safe mode, then try this
troubleshooting technique:

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316434

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

 

[snohomike]

Ron,

Thanks for the tip. I did a clean boot and the problem went away, but for
only one startup. I did another clean boot and no change. This morning two
startups and no problem, then the same thing only not as bad. The blotchiness
on the XP open screen varies from blue dashes to blue squares on the black
background.

I'm wondering if it's a hardware thing? I tried reconnecting my video
cables, but that didn't seem to do anything. It just seems odd it's
intermittant and variable.

I'm a little hesitent to dive in with the advanced clean boot
troubleshooting you recommend (316434), but will pursue it if you think it
still could solve the problem.
--
Thanks,

Mike

If all the problems disappear when running in safe mode, then try this
troubleshooting technique:

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316434

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

 

[Ron Badour]

Mike,

I guess it depends on how much the screen blotchiness bothers you. The
procedures in the troubleshooting article can be quite lengthy to carry out
and I cannot say with any certainty that they will help.

If you have or could borrow another video card and/or a monitor, you could
try swapping those items out and see if it is a possible hardware problem.
But, I don't think it is a hardware problem because of the selectivity of
what's affected.

The way this comes and goes and only affects certain things is really
baffling to me. Sorry I cannot provide more help--maybe somebody else will
jump in with some ideas.


--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

Ron,

Thanks for the tip. I did a clean boot and the problem went away, but for
only one startup. I did another clean boot and no change. This morning two
startups and no problem, then the same thing only not as bad. The
blotchiness
on the XP open screen varies from blue dashes to blue squares on the black
background.

I'm wondering if it's a hardware thing? I tried reconnecting my video
cables, but that didn't seem to do anything. It just seems odd it's
intermittant and variable.

I'm a little hesitent to dive in with the advanced clean boot
troubleshooting you recommend (316434), but will pursue it if you think it
still could solve the problem.

 

[Miske]

Could be a problem with graphic card. See if i is overheating. Seee if
fan on GA is blocked...

 

[snohomike]

Ron,

Thanks for this advice, too. It doesn't really bother me since it is very
minor and I'd rather not get in to deep to fix it at the risk of messing
something else up.

I really appreciate your prompt replies and sound advice.

 

[snohomike]

Thanks, I'll try that.