Vibrating Screen

[Pivco]

I have a new monitor and a new computer with XP Pro. When I play games,
sometimes the image on the screen will vibrate. This only happens with
games, but it happens with lots of games. Some examples: The windows games
Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire and also a backgammon game that I
bought separately.

Some history: The same thing happened with my previous computer - which I
why I bought a new one. The previous computer had XP Home. When installing
the new computer, I backed up all of my data and scanned it for viruses
before putting it on the new computer. The main progams I use on my new (and
also my old) computer are AOL 9.1, Daytimer (a Windows 95 program),
Quickbooks and Word Perfect (version 10?).

I don't know if this has anything to do with my problem, but I've been
having trouble with my printer/fax. Often people cannot fax me. I can see
that the printer sometimes says the line is in use when nobody is using the
line. I tried switching this printer with an identical model on another
computer in my house, but this didn't help. (When I switched the printer, I
also switched the power cord and the USB cable.)

Any ideas?

Pivco

 

[Andrew E.]

How was youre data backed before you installed it to new pc.Also,backup
in xp OS,really isnt used for what you did,backup usually remains on the pc
it was created on,not transfered to other pcs...The utility you should have
used was the File Transfer Wizard,run from the xp cd,or found in tools.This
utility is designed to save all user files,settings,music,etc then move
data to
cd or dvd,etc.Once data is recorded,run the wizard from any pc with xp,backup
does not allow for this & is why youre settings are same as they were on
old pc.

 

[Chuck]

"Same thing happened with previous computer"

This makes it very likely that there is some sort of A/C input power
problem.

(Low or varying line voltage, a grounding problem, bad wall plug, bad
powerstrip, etc.)
(Even a loose connection (quite possible if aluminum wire is involved))

Remember that you may have more than one ground reference source--
A/C Power (May or may not carry ground reference from the pole to the
house.)
Many American homes have "split phase" which is two wires and a neutral
wire. The ground reference when present, adds a fourth wire) In any event, a
"single point" ground ties neutral and ground from the ground rods together
at the entrance (power meter, etc) or in the breaker panel.. If ground fault
protectors are in use, they sense current flow on the "safety ground"
connections at (typically) a wall plug.
Phone Line Ground (Usually the same as Earth Ground, and is connected to the
ground rod(s))
Cable TV/Internet Cable. (May or may not be properly grounded to the ground
rods)
Earth ground rod(s) (Check for ground wires and connections to the rods)
(This is the REAL ground reference.)

If things are not bonded properly, and connected to the earth ground rod
system, all sorts of strange things can happen.
IF you don't know and understand the issues and hazards, get an electrician
to look at things.

Many years ago, our television would have a momentary slight "shrink" of the
picture, then all would be normal.
I happened to have an old audio frequency oscilloscope, and noticed that
it's display also "winked" at the same time.
Some further investigation showed that a whack on the utility meter case
would produce the same symptoms.
The end result was that the power company had to come out and open up the
meter case, and clean and tighten the connections to eliminate the problem.

These days, connections from the utility meter to the breaker panel are
usually aluminum, and may be aluminum from the meter to the pole. Any
aluminum connection of any age is suspect, and should be checked. If an
antioxidation coating is not present at the aluminum connections in the
utility meter box, and at the main breaker panel, it should be added by
someone that knows what they are doing.