Intermittant Video Aberration

[M and D]

This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable. After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded my video driver several times, and always according to the manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the cleanest possible install of the most recent driver - XP was running on VGA by the time I installed the driver - but still the behavior persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so, what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with ATi support?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with
no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color
depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable.
After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to
recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by
pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart
everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event
Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is
fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been
going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded
my video driver several times, and always according to the
manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the cleanest
possible install of the most recent driver - XP was running on VGA
by the time I installed the driver - but still the behavior
persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible
but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been
going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs
rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so,
what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with
ATi support?

Thanks for your advice.

Could it just be the monitor?
Have you ever tried hooking a different one up?

 

[M and D]

Wow, thanks for answering so fast!

That's also a good thought, but this (LCD) monitor is less than 3 months old, and the problem happened on the previous (LCD) monitor as well.

If I had to guess I would say either my video card card (ATi Radeon 9600) is defective in some way, or something is interfering with my video driver during the boot process. I don't know how likely either of two possibilities are.

Like I say, a reboot cures eveything and this behavior may not happen again for a few months.

M and D

This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with
no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color
depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable.
After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to
recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by
pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart
everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event
Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is
fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been
going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded
my video driver several times, and always according to the
manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the cleanest
possible install of the most recent driver - XP was running on VGA
by the time I installed the driver - but still the behavior
persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible
but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been
going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs
rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so,
what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with
ATi support?

Thanks for your advice.

Could it just be the monitor?
Have you ever tried hooking a different one up?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with
no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color
depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable.
After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to
recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by
pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart
everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event
Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is
fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been
going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded
my video driver several times, and always according to the
manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the
cleanest possible install of the most recent driver - XP was
running on VGA by the time I installed the driver - but still the
behavior persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible
but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been
going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs
rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so,
what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with
ATi support?

Could it just be the monitor?
Have you ever tried hooking a different one up?

Wow, thanks for answering so fast!

That's also a good thought, but this (LCD) monitor is less than 3
months old, and the problem happened on the previous (LCD) monitor
as well.

If I had to guess I would say either my video card card (ATi Radeon
9600) is defective in some way, or something is interfering with my
video driver during the boot process. I don't know how likely
either of two possibilities are.

Like I say, a reboot cures eveything and this behavior may not
happen again for a few months.

New monitor blows away my thought pretty dang well - if you are using all
the new components (VGA/DVI cable, power, etc.) of the new monitor and none
of the components of the old.

Other possibilities are 'poor power', 'defective motherboard' and 'defective
video card'. Beyond that - the fact you have changed drivers and changed
monitors leaves little...

If it happened more often - I would suggest putting in a temporary video
card to see if it repeats the issue. However - once a month - you may never
know. The 'interference with the video driver' seems like a LONG shot -
considering the driver has been updated likely a few times - by your own
admission. I'd hate to think the motherboard/card slot it is in is
defective... The only real test is to get a new video card and try it for a
few months - or longer. That would be the only certain way of telling. If
you have another machine with similar hardware - you could swap the two
video cards... Dual-test. If it happens on the machine the suspect video
card was put in and stops happening on the one the suspect card was replaced
in - you have your defect cornered. heh

 

[Chuck]

"Like I say, a reboot cures everything and this behavior may not happen
again for a few months."

This is one of those pain in the ---- problems!
Evidently, the video card is not getting initialized properly on occasion.
After shutting down and disconnecting the power cord--etc.
Best suggestion I have is to get some grain alcohol, and clean the connector
on the video card and the motherboard.
The best swabs for this were sold to clean VCR heads. Don't know if they are
still sold. A lint free towel or in a real pinch, a cotton swab
will work. Since the motherboard connector is difficult to clean, you can
either use spray on electronic cleaner that has no lubricant in it, or
insert the video card in the socket with the video card connector wet with
the alcohol once or twice. Then, just let everything dry, reinsert the video
card, etc.

Otherwise, the problem may be that the motherboard reset/initialization
isn't effective for the video card.
It may be that a CLS command from a .bat file during the startup process
will help.

The problem is that it's difficult to trace the cause due to the
intermittent nature.
The leading suspects are
Poor connection, usually at Video card socket.
Video Card (Likely cold solder joint, or flaky IC)
Motherboard
Power Supply

Wow, thanks for answering so fast!

That's also a good thought, but this (LCD) monitor is less than 3 months
old, and the problem happened on the previous (LCD) monitor as well.

If I had to guess I would say either my video card card (ATi Radeon 9600) is
defective in some way, or something is interfering with my video driver
during the boot process. I don't know how likely either of two possibilities
are.

Like I say, a reboot cures eveything and this behavior may not happen again
for a few months.

M and D

This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with
no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color
depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable.
After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to
recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by
pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart
everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event
Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is
fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been
going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded
my video driver several times, and always according to the
manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the cleanest
possible install of the most recent driver - XP was running on VGA
by the time I installed the driver - but still the behavior
persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible
but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been
going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs
rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so,
what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with
ATi support?

Thanks for your advice.

Could it just be the monitor?
Have you ever tried hooking a different one up?

 

[M and D]

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll try cleaning the contacts and, if that doesn't do it, I'll try putting the card in a different slot. I hope this is the worst problem I ever have with a computer. ;-)

M and D

"Like I say, a reboot cures everything and this behavior may not happen
again for a few months."

This is one of those pain in the ---- problems!
Evidently, the video card is not getting initialized properly on occasion.
After shutting down and disconnecting the power cord--etc.
Best suggestion I have is to get some grain alcohol, and clean the connector
on the video card and the motherboard.
The best swabs for this were sold to clean VCR heads. Don't know if they are
still sold. A lint free towel or in a real pinch, a cotton swab
will work. Since the motherboard connector is difficult to clean, you can
either use spray on electronic cleaner that has no lubricant in it, or
insert the video card in the socket with the video card connector wet with
the alcohol once or twice. Then, just let everything dry, reinsert the video
card, etc.

Otherwise, the problem may be that the motherboard reset/initialization
isn't effective for the video card.
It may be that a CLS command from a .bat file during the startup process
will help.

The problem is that it's difficult to trace the cause due to the
intermittent nature.
The leading suspects are
Poor connection, usually at Video card socket.
Video Card (Likely cold solder joint, or flaky IC)
Motherboard
Power Supply

Wow, thanks for answering so fast!

That's also a good thought, but this (LCD) monitor is less than 3 months
old, and the problem happened on the previous (LCD) monitor as well.

If I had to guess I would say either my video card card (ATi Radeon 9600) is
defective in some way, or something is interfering with my video driver
during the boot process. I don't know how likely either of two possibilities
are.

Like I say, a reboot cures eveything and this behavior may not happen again
for a few months.

M and D

This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with
no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color
depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable.
After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to
recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by
pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart
everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event
Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is
fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been
going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded
my video driver several times, and always according to the
manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the cleanest
possible install of the most recent driver - XP was running on VGA
by the time I installed the driver - but still the behavior
persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible
but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been
going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs
rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so,
what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with
ATi support?

Thanks for your advice.

Could it just be the monitor?
Have you ever tried hooking a different one up?

 

[Luigi M Bianchi]

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll try cleaning the contacts and, if
that doesn't do it, I'll try putting the card in a different slot. I
hope this is the worst problem I ever have with a computer. ;-)

M and D

"Like I say, a reboot cures everything and this behavior may not happen
again for a few months."

This is one of those pain in the ---- problems!
Evidently, the video card is not getting initialized properly on occasion.
After shutting down and disconnecting the power cord--etc.
Best suggestion I have is to get some grain alcohol, and clean the connector
on the video card and the motherboard.
The best swabs for this were sold to clean VCR heads. Don't know if they are
still sold. A lint free towel or in a real pinch, a cotton swab
will work. Since the motherboard connector is difficult to clean, you can
either use spray on electronic cleaner that has no lubricant in it,
or insert the video card in the socket with the video card connector
wet with
the alcohol once or twice. Then, just let everything dry, reinsert
the video
card, etc.

Otherwise, the problem may be that the motherboard reset/initialization
isn't effective for the video card.
It may be that a CLS command from a .bat file during the startup process
will help.

The problem is that it's difficult to trace the cause due to the
intermittent nature.
The leading suspects are
Poor connection, usually at Video card socket.
Video Card (Likely cold solder joint, or flaky IC)
Motherboard
Power Supply

Wow, thanks for answering so fast!

That's also a good thought, but this (LCD) monitor is less than 3 months
old, and the problem happened on the previous (LCD) monitor as well.

If I had to guess I would say either my video card card (ATi Radeon 9600) is
defective in some way, or something is interfering with my video driver
during the boot process. I don't know how likely either of two possibilities
are.

Like I say, a reboot cures eveything and this behavior may not happen again
for a few months.

M and D

M and D wrote:
This issue occurs rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year, and with
no apparent rhyme nor reason. [Win XP Home SP 2]

When I start my computer, the Welcome Screen looks like the color
depth has been severely reduced and the image itself is unstable.
After a few seconds my monitor goes black. There's no way to
recover, so I have to shut off my computer. (I can do this by
pressing the power button for 4 seconds.) At the next restart
everything is back to normal. No error messages of any kind. Event
Viewer provides no clues. According to Event Viewer, everything is
fine.

At first I thought 'video driver'. However, this behavior has been
going on for a couple of years and during that time I've upgraded
my video driver several times, and always according to the
manufacturer's instructions (ATi). Most recently I did the cleanest
possible install of the most recent driver - XP was running on VGA
by the time I installed the driver - but still the behavior
persists.

Then I thought 'my video card is dying'. I suppose that's possible
but if so it's dying a very slow death. Like I say, this has been
going on for a couple of years and even then the behavior occurs
rarely - perhaps a dozen times a year.

I even ran dxdiag. Once again, everything checked out just fine.

Now I'm out of ideas. Could this be a problem with XP? And if so,
what is the problem? Or is this something I need to take up with
ATi support?

Thanks for your advice.

It is possible that some equipment in the area (even outside your home)
produces rf intererence. Have you tried to move your computer to a
different room?

/luigi