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Multi Colored Horizontal and Vertical Lines On Monitor Upon Boot

C

ColTom2

Flightless Bird
Hi:

I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal and
vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and she
still gets the same with different monitor.

I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU was
making a funny noise.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

ColTom2
 
C

Charles W Davis

Flightless Bird
Did you add additional RAM following SP3 install? If so, insure that it/they
is/are seated properly.
"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:ePhr7uikKHA.5604@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi:
>
> I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
> she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal
> and
> vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and
> she
> still gets the same with different monitor.
>
> I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
> had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU
> was
> making a funny noise.
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2
>
>
>
>
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Flightless Bird
ColTom2 wrote:
> I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now
> when she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored
> horizontal and vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had
> her swap monitors and she still gets the same with different
> monitor.
>
> I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same
> results. Next had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the
> same, but said CPU was making a funny noise.
>
> Any help will be appreciated.


No 'before' and 'after'?

In other words - when was the last time remembered that it was functioning
properly, what changed between that time and the first time it was no longer
working properly?

If nothing - hardware failure is entirely plausible.

Since it is doing it with:
- A Different Monitor
- Safe Mode (supposing that is what you meant by "hitting F8 key")
- System BIOS (supposing that is what you mean by "boot with F2 key")

Then it is likely hardware. Video card, motherboard, memory or even power
supply.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
P

Paul

Flightless Bird
ColTom2 wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
> she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal and
> vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and she
> still gets the same with different monitor.
>
> I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
> had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU was
> making a funny noise.
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2
>


Swap out video card and retest.

*******

(You can get "lines" on an LCD monitor, from a failed driver chip on the LCD panel.
But you've eliminated the monitor from the picture, by swapping it out, and
that leaves the video card.)

It would be fun to pretend it was system RAM, but if it was system RAM,
the computer would have crashed by now. Since the computer is still
running, it probably isn't RAM.

When you have reports of a funny noise, check all fans for smooth
operation. View the fans with the side off the computer, to see
if they're all spinning.

It could be, the noise is actually coming from the video card fan,
it has seized or is near to being seized, the GPU overheated, and
there is your graphics corruption.

The CPU is better protected. On modern systems, if the CPU fan
seized, the CPU has overheat protection and the computer would shut
off. But the GPU on the video card, has no access to the hardware
signal used to turn off the computer, so it doesn't have that
option. The GPU may have the ability to crank back the internal clock
rate, but that still might not be enough to protect it.

Paul
 
G

Greg Russell

Flightless Bird
In news:ePhr7uikKHA.5604@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl,
ColTom2 <noemailaddress@nomail.com> typed:

> I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now
> when she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored
> horizontal and vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her
> swap monitors and she still gets the same with different monitor.


I've seen the same problem from dust accumulated on the video card.

Power down, open the case and vacuum out the loose dust, then use a blower
to blow out the finer dust .. it should be done regularly, in an clean house
about once per year, more often in dusty environments.

This fixed the problem for friend who has a very clean house, but the
daughter's room was a dust collector, normal for a teenager.
 
G

Greg Russell

Flightless Bird
In news:7qv02dFp1iU1@mid.individual.net, I typed:

> I've seen the same problem from dust accumulated on the video card.
>
> Power down, open the case and vacuum out the loose dust, then use a
> blower to blow out the finer dust .. it should be done regularly, in
> an clean house about once per year, more often in dusty environments.
>
> This fixed the problem for friend who has a very clean house, but the
> daughter's room was a dust collector, normal for a teenager.


Also, the monitor itself can have accumulated dust on the interior, so it
should blown out with air.
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Jan 10, 2:33 pm, "ColTom2" <noemailaddr...@nomail.com> wrote:
> Hi:
>
>   I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
> she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal and
> vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and she
> still gets the same with different monitor.
>
>   I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
> had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU was
> making a funny noise.
>
>   Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2


Does the system produce any beeps when powered up? The beep codes can
tell you a lot of things. One short beep is generally good. Anything
else is probably a problem.

If one short beep is not the case, then describe the beeps as best you
can:

1 short, two long
3 short
1 short, 1 long
etc...

Does the video look okay during the POST (power on self test) and then
go haywire when Windows tries to load?

Since it is a desktop, I would locate a #2 Phillips screwdriver and:

Power off the system
Unplug the system from the power cord
Remove the cover
Touch a metal part of the system case to discharge any static
electricity
Reseat (remove/reinstall) components like RAM, cables, especially the
video card (if applicable).
Reassemble in reverse order
Test
 
C

ColTom2

Flightless Bird
Hi:

Thanks for all the replies! The computer was working yesterday and then
today is when everything started.

I have advised her to do the following, as she has a somewhat reliable
repair facility near her.

1. Have the computer thoroughly cleaned. As someone mentioned dust and
static electricity sorta go hand and hand.

2. Remove and reseat both the video card and memory card.

3. Hopefully the above will fix her problem, but if not check for
replacement of video card. Just hope that it is not the motherboard or power
supply.

Thanks again!

ColTom2




"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:ePhr7uikKHA.5604@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Hi:

I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal and
vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and she
still gets the same with different monitor.

I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU was
making a funny noise.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

ColTom2
 
D

Donchano

Flightless Bird
On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:00:31 -0500, "ColTom2"
<noemailaddress@nomail.com> shouted from the highest rooftop:

>Hi:
>
> Thanks for all the replies! The computer was working yesterday and then
>today is when everything started.
>
> I have advised her to do the following, as she has a somewhat reliable
>repair facility near her.
>
>1. Have the computer thoroughly cleaned. As someone mentioned dust and
>static electricity sorta go hand and hand.
>
>2. Remove and reseat both the video card and memory card.
>
>3. Hopefully the above will fix her problem, but if not check for
>replacement of video card. Just hope that it is not the motherboard or power
>supply.
>
>Thanks again!
>
>ColTom2


Another suggestion - especially if the computer is currently sitting
on a rug or carpet.

Once the computer is cleaned, make sure you put some non-conductive
insulation between the floor and the bottom of the computer so that
the computer sits at least 75mm (approx. 3") off the floor. I've used
clean bricks to insulate my PC from the wall-to-wall carpet in my
studio and the static electricity and dust that a carpet is prone to.

The bricks also tend to keep the PC much cooler than it was when it
sat directly on the carpet.
 
C

ColTom2

Flightless Bird
Sounds like a great idea!

Thanks,

ColTom2


"Donchano" <donchano@notachance.invalid> wrote in message
news:7qv9juFsc0U6@mid.individual.net...

On Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:00:31 -0500, "ColTom2"
<noemailaddress@nomail.com> shouted from the highest rooftop:

>Hi:
>
> Thanks for all the replies! The computer was working yesterday and then
>today is when everything started.
>
> I have advised her to do the following, as she has a somewhat reliable
>repair facility near her.
>
>1. Have the computer thoroughly cleaned. As someone mentioned dust and
>static electricity sorta go hand and hand.
>
>2. Remove and reseat both the video card and memory card.
>
>3. Hopefully the above will fix her problem, but if not check for
>replacement of video card. Just hope that it is not the motherboard or
>power
>supply.
>
>Thanks again!
>
>ColTom2


Another suggestion - especially if the computer is currently sitting
on a rug or carpet.

Once the computer is cleaned, make sure you put some non-conductive
insulation between the floor and the bottom of the computer so that
the computer sits at least 75mm (approx. 3") off the floor. I've used
clean bricks to insulate my PC from the wall-to-wall carpet in my
studio and the static electricity and dust that a carpet is prone to.

The bricks also tend to keep the PC much cooler than it was when it
sat directly on the carpet.
 
C

ColTom2

Flightless Bird
It was the video card plus a good cleaning and all is well.

Thanks,

ColTom2


"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:ePhr7uikKHA.5604@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Hi:

I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal and
vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and she
still gets the same with different monitor.

I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU was
making a funny noise.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

ColTom2
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Jan 12, 9:57 am, "ColTom2" <noemailaddr...@nomail.com> wrote:
> It was the video card plus a good cleaning and all is well.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2
>
> "ColTom2" <noemailaddr...@nomail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ePhr7uikKHA.5604@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi:
>
>   I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
> she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal and
> vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and she
> still gets the same with different monitor.
>
>   I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
> had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU was
> making a funny noise.
>
>   Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2


Did you replace the video card, reseat it, move it to another slot,
etc.?

Did the funny noise get resolved?
 
C

ColTom2

Flightless Bird
Had to replace it.


"Jose" <jose_ease@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6b4759b1-7e8c-49c2-97bb-e0fa2ec02ab7@m25g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 12, 9:57 am, "ColTom2" <noemailaddr...@nomail.com> wrote:
> It was the video card plus a good cleaning and all is well.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2
>
> "ColTom2" <noemailaddr...@nomail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ePhr7uikKHA.5604@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi:
>
> I have a daughter who has a HP desktop running XP Home SP3 and now when
> she tries to boot the computer all she gets is multi colored horizontal
> and
> vertical lines on monitor screen upon boot up. Had her swap monitors and
> she
> still gets the same with different monitor.
>
> I had her try to boot hitting F8 key and she gets the same results. Next
> had her try to boot with F2 key and she also got the same, but said CPU
> was
> making a funny noise.
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ColTom2


Did you replace the video card, reseat it, move it to another slot,
etc.?

Did the funny noise get resolved?
 
B

brandontech34

Flightless Bird
So in this issue, were the lines the only thing you could see? like you
could see nothing except for the lines *no text or word?*

I'm having a problem that sounds very similar to yours.

PC starts-up with weird colored horizontal and vertical lines
*check attachment for example*

If i could add the more serious pics i would, but the file is too big.

But in general this is my issue.

Is this the issue that occured and when you meant that pressing F8 and
F2 wasn't working, did you mean like no reaction or the screen didn't
change and it still had horizontal and vertical lines that couldn't let
you see anything


+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: P1201100002.jpg |
|Download: http://www.pcbanter.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3133 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+



--
brandontech34
 
U

Uphill41

Flightless Bird
Had a similar problem with an Acer Aspire 7520G laptop and found a
solution. For reading the solution only, just skip the comprehensive
text explaining the symptoms observed and the consideration and
troubleshooting done, and go directly to the end of this text. You may
find some clues in the text here, though.

Symptom: Multicoloured vertical lines started appearing and made the
computer stall, and the fan-area was extremely hot. Probably
over-heating I thought ! After cooling down 10min the laptop could boot
again, but stalled again after some time - again with multicoloured
vertical lines and a very hot fan area. After a few days the computer
could not boot at all - only vertical lines appeared, which actually
developed over a few minutes to a totally white/grey screen. Very
strange !:confused:

Troubleshooting 1: After de-mounting the fan I found a thick dust mat
partially blocking the hot air flow out of the fan. This was what caused
the overheating problem, so I hoped this could solve the whole issue.:)
But wrong ... still when booting, the monitor was only multicoloured
vertical lines.

Fear: New LCD or new graphics card or new laptop ?:eek:

Hope: However - with an external monitor the laptop could boot though,
but only in "safe mode". I found out that the primary graphics card is
not used in safe mode - instead an on-board "vga-safe" card is used. For
some reason this "vga-safe" card cannot be used on the build-in LCD in
the laptop, so the external monitor was needed here. :rolleyes:

Troubleshooting 2: Graphic Card problem or LCD problem ?
In safe mode I deactivated the graphics card in "device manager"
- Doing this, the laptop could boot normally in Vista with the
external monitor. Here the "vga-safe" card was used again
(automatically).
- Without the external monitor the laptop could boot "normally" also,
but still only with multicoloured vertical lines on the internal LCD
screen. The "normal" boot was observed by hearing the Vista startup
tune.

Problem Identification: So - this was most likely a graphics card
problem.:eek:

Solution: I had heard somewhere that a similar problem was solved by
"heating the chip". Unfortunately without any procedure details (hair
dryer, lamp, oven, or .. ? :cool:). But since I was almost sure that I
had a graphics card problem, I would like to give this approach a shot,
before buying a new card. So... how to heat: I figured that booting
withoutout cooling the graphics card would definitely heat it up. So
this is what I did and it worked:
- I demounted the cooling devide from the graphics card
- then tried to boot ... but the computer shut down after a few
seconds (probably a chip overheating sucurity ?) The graphics chip
really got hot !
- I did this boot 2-3 times, always with the shut-down as result.
- on 4th attempt something different happened ... it did shut down
again, but this time the "Acer" sign appeared on the screen !.;)
Connection made !
- Then I re-installed the cooling devide on the graphics chip and
booted ... voila ... laptop booted normally, and has done since.:D

Comments:
- don't use this procedure if you are not willing to risk destroying
your graphics card completely, since I guess this could happen when
demounting the cooling device. But if you have identified the graphics
card as the bad component, there is not much to waste.
- Since the dust mat in the fan outlet caused the problem, I have now
a routine to clean this ever 3 months or so. Doing this, I hope a
similar problem will never occur again.
 
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