Strange pattern on entire screen...

[Adela]

Dell computer; WinXP home ed.; IE6

Hello, since a couple of weeks my computer screen is covered with a
multicolor pattern of sparkling little things and NOT accessible at all.
The techi I was recommended is not available now.

It either starts suddenly, or by starting to show a partial "Safe Mode"
screen with large print, etc. I reboot and sometimes it works...but not for
long. This is one of the brief moments it works after rebooting but it will
soon start to fail.

I'm looking for another computer, but I hope to have an idea of the cause of
this behavior. If anyone ever came across such thing I'll appreciate it a
lot to know.

How can I tell whether it's the fault of the monitor or of the videocard?
This will determine whether I'll buy a complete computer, or just the tower.

Thanks ever so much for your help here. Adela

 

[Paul]

Dell computer; WinXP home ed.; IE6

Hello, since a couple of weeks my computer screen is covered with a
multicolor pattern of sparkling little things and NOT accessible at all.
The techi I was recommended is not available now.

It either starts suddenly, or by starting to show a partial "Safe Mode"
screen with large print, etc. I reboot and sometimes it works...but not for
long. This is one of the brief moments it works after rebooting but it will
soon start to fail.

I'm looking for another computer, but I hope to have an idea of the cause of
this behavior. If anyone ever came across such thing I'll appreciate it a
lot to know.

How can I tell whether it's the fault of the monitor or of the videocard?
This will determine whether I'll buy a complete computer, or just the tower.

Thanks ever so much for your help here. Adela

I could be a problem with the video card (the thing that helps
draw the screen). To understand hardware problems, or search for
similar problems, you need to know the make and model number.
Like Dell Latitude 1234 or Dell Inspiron 4321 or whatever.
So post more info about your computer.

If the monitor is connected to the video connector with a DVI
cable, "sparklies" can also be caused by a bad quality DVI
cable. But based on your description, it doesn't sound like a
cabling problem. A bad DVI cable would not prevent access to the
computer. Just the normal picture, with sparklies added to it.

Paul

 

[Adela]

Thank you so much Paul. I write quickly before my comp. again fails on me,
as it has ben doing it in and out...more out than in.... Please tell me
how I can contact you from an internet cafe tomorrow without having to
register all over again? My comp. info is below and I hope it's the info
you need:

Dell Dimension XPS
Motherboard: Intel SE440BX-3

T448Mhz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache

40.05 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
27.61 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Dell computer; WinXP home ed.; IE6

Hello, since a couple of weeks my computer screen is covered with a
multicolor pattern of sparkling little things and NOT accessible at all.
The techi I was recommended is not available now.

It either starts suddenly, or by starting to show a partial "Safe Mode"
screen with large print, etc. I reboot and sometimes it works...but not
for long. This is one of the brief moments it works after rebooting but
it will soon start to fail.

I'm looking for another computer, but I hope to have an idea of the cause
of this behavior. If anyone ever came across such thing I'll appreciate
it a lot to know.

How can I tell whether it's the fault of the monitor or of the videocard?
This will determine whether I'll buy a complete computer, or just the
tower.

Thanks ever so much for your help here. Adela

I tend to agree with Paul: This sounds like a flakey video adapter. If the
PC is under warranty then you can get it fixed by Dell. If it is out of
warranty then you can install your own video adapter (or have it installed).
Take the machine to a computer store, explain the problem and get them to
recommend a suitable adapter. Some adapters, e.g. those for playing high
speed high resolution games, can be quite expensive but most don't cost
much.

 

[Paul]

Thank you so much Paul. I write quickly before my comp. again fails on me,
as it has ben doing it in and out...more out than in.... Please tell me
how I can contact you from an internet cafe tomorrow without having to
register all over again? My comp. info is below and I hope it's the info
you need:

Dell Dimension XPS
Motherboard: Intel SE440BX-3

T448Mhz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache

40.05 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
27.61 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

I think that is a relatively old machine. I have a motherboard with
a 440BX chipset, and it might be about 9 years old.

It probably uses a separate video card. I don't think
the 440BX has integrated graphics. If you want to
try a replacement video card, you could try something
like a FX5200 AGP. I've used an FX5200 AGP in my Asus
P2B-S 440BX board, and it worked OK. My 9800Pro on the
other hand, wouldn't pass BIOS POST.

According to this, the "Dell Dimension XPS T series" uses
an Nvidia video chip on a video card built by Celestica.
(Celestica used to be a builder for IBM.) The chip code
is "NV10".

http://support.dell.com/support/top...rt/dsn/en/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&dn=1048594

According to this, that would make the video card
roughly equivalent to "GeForce 256 SDR" or
"GeForce 256 DDR". This site has some info on
old video cards.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050305...ykuly/zestawienie_GPU_2/skala_wydajnosci.html

This is an example of a "GeForce 256 DDR". It has a
universal AGP connector, with both 1.5V and 3.3V slots
cut.

http://www.hwupgrade.it/articoli/448/geforce_256_ddr.jpg

When selecting replacement cards, we use this site for
the older AGP cards (brown colored slot on your motherboard).

http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agp.html

440BX chipset = "AGP 3.3V Motherboard"

FX5200 = Universal AGP 3.0 Card (will run at 3.3V)

Playtool warns about 440BX motherboards that cannot supply
enough power in the slot. I don't know if there are
enough references left on that subject, to judge your
motherboard.

I tried to find the motherboard manual on the Intel site,
but it is gone. Web.archive.org has no archived copy.
The document was 72698401.pdf .

So I'd try a FX5200 as a replacement.

To review some of the possible failure modes

1) Video card GPU chip failure. That could cause
sparklies, odd shaped squares or the like.

2) Motherboard problem powering video card slot. Some
cheap motherboards used weak linear regulators, when
the cards can draw up to about 6 amps. For some reason,
even though the power supply had 3.3V on it, they used
to use a separate regulator to supply the AGP slot.

3) Power supply itself could be the problem. Since the computer
is still running, maybe other parts of the computer are
still happy. I'd check this theory with a multimeter.
If the power supply is a 250W Bestec, then I'd be really
worried. Other supplies might not kill the guts of the
computer if they completely fail. I don't know if Dell
used Bestecs or not.

So at this point, we don't know for sure what is broken.
A few measurements might help. A visual inspection might
spot a problem (like leaking caps, but not likely from that
era). My 440BX motherboard is still in good shape.

This is an example of a FX5200 AGP card. It has both VGA and
DVI connectors. One reviewer commented that the DVI goes to
1600x1200 resolution, so it won't drive resolutions higher than
that on DVI. But the VGA still works. There are also cards which
just have VGA on the faceplate, and they're maybe $5 cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500066

So you can try a card like that as a replacement. If you have
a local computer recycler, you may be able to get a card like
that for a few dollars less. But I cannot guarantee that is
the only problem. It could equally well be a problem with the
ATX power supply. The old supply could be going out of spec.
If you take the computer to a shop, they may be able to verify
all the voltages. Or, if you know how to use a multimeter, you
can check it yourself while the computer is running. (Clip the
black lead to an I/O screw on the back of the computer, then
prod the pins on the 20 pin power connector to take voltage
readings. Maybe the 3.3V is going out of spec, or perhaps
the 5V. If the 12V was out of spec, the disk drive would
fail to start, as they're a bit sensitive.)

So at this point, if you have a shop you know does good work,
you might involve them in checking a few possibilities.
That way, if they have a 3.3V AGP card still available for
testing purposes, they might be able to tell you whether the
sparklies went away or not.

Paul

 

[Adela]

thanks very much Pegasus! It's a very old one. I'll just try to backup as
much as I know how (don't know enough...) and will let it go. ) Adela

 

[Adela]

Oh how very kind of you to go so much out of your way to explain to me what
seems to be the problem. It's too complicated for my tiny little knowledge
of a computer technicalities. It's also an old one so it won't pay to buy a
video card. But what I shall do right away (if this old machine doesn't,
again, become inaccessible) is to quickly find the steps for me to backup as
mucch as I can and let it go with that while I look for a new computer.

Thanks ever so much for your very great help. I'll keep this info for the
future since with a new ccomputer it will be worth buying any needed part.

Adela

P.S. As to taking it to a "...shop I know it does good work..." ) My
desktop is too heavy for me to carry... lol! I must find someone to come
over with a laptop to test the monitor, then I'll only have to buy the
tower.

 

[Paul]

Oh how very kind of you to go so much out of your way to explain to me what
seems to be the problem. It's too complicated for my tiny little knowledge
of a computer technicalities. It's also an old one so it won't pay to buy a
video card. But what I shall do right away (if this old machine doesn't,
again, become inaccessible) is to quickly find the steps for me to backup as
mucch as I can and let it go with that while I look for a new computer.

Thanks ever so much for your very great help. I'll keep this info for the
future since with a new ccomputer it will be worth buying any needed part.

Adela

P.S. As to taking it to a "...shop I know it does good work..." ) My
desktop is too heavy for me to carry... lol! I must find someone to come
over with a laptop to test the monitor, then I'll only have to buy the
tower.

Actually, your reply tweaked my memory about another possible problem.

I had a Sony Trinitron monitor, which is a heavy CRT one (all I can lift).

One day, I started seeing colored pixels on the screen, random,
appearing here and there. I tried a few things, and couldn't
figure out where the problem was coming from.

The Trinitron has a very nice cabinet. I removed a few screws, and
removed the plastic shell. Under that, was a stainless steel cover,
over the electronics. I removed that (being careful not to touch
anything! High voltages are present!). Inside, I could see a
ribbon cable had come loose on its own, on one of the low voltage
control assemblies. Cables can do that, due to thermal expansion
and contraction. A connector will work its way right out of a socket.
Again, being careful not to touch any high voltages, I reseated the
cable. The monitor worked fine after that.

A word about high voltages. I've been thrown across a room
by high voltage, and it is all the education you'll ever
need. All it took was one lesson, on what not to touch!

I'm not recommending you do that (open a CRT monitor). I wanted
to mention that for completeness. It is possible for a CRT monitor
to have sparklies on it. So a video card failure is not the only
reason. You'd test with a second monitor, if you suspected such
a problem. One difference between the two scenarios, is the CRT issue,
looks like "ignition noise" on a TV set. So you see it here
and there, and not over the entire screen at the same time.

Maybe if you have a computer literate friend, they could
drop over and try another video card in the computer ?

Paul

 

[Adela]

Hi Paul, Jim and Pegasus, you are all so right and thanks so much! My
techie found it was the video card and got me a used one for $8 plus
directed me to buy a new a new adaptor for about $9 and my computer is now
working beautifully. However, I'm slowly but surely searching for a good
new tower because mine is over 9 yeazrs old... lol! Adela

 

[Richard]

Hi Paul, Jim and Pegasus, you are all so right and thanks so much! My
techie found it was the video card and got me a used one for $8 plus
directed me to buy a new a new adaptor for about $9 and my computer is now
working beautifully. However, I'm slowly but surely searching for a good
new tower because mine is over 9 yeazrs old... lol! Adela

Hi Adela,

It sounds like you might be able to coax another 9 years out of it now.
(Grin. Looking at your various replies giving information about your
hardware and software, I noticed a couple of things. There was no mention of
antivirus software, and your computer is still at the Service Pack 2 level.
You need the additional security of Service Pack 3 and be sure your computer
is fully patched at Windows Update.

Main Windows Update site:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx

Avast! antivirus, free home edition:
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

(Triple-click here, to be of good cheer.
--Richard