Display blanking, corrupt & system freeze

fastz · 11-25-2005, 06:21 PM

Hello folks!

My display freezes, blanks, system locks up locks up, windows don't properly repaint, arrows and check boxes (like scroll bars or menu selections that check/uncheck) are black squares. I thought it was some spyware/adware or java/real/online game dll corruption. I run AVG 7, spyware, ad-aware6, reglceaner, CCleaner, spywareblaster, hijackthis and some others. So to be safe, I ran my collection of anti-spy&virus utilities which turned up nothing noteworthy.

Problem began after doing some desktop publishing in MS Publisher97, with a decent amount of jpg graphics (coupons).
The problem occurs when scrolling a webpage, opening the start menu, choosing a menu, switching between running applications...my guess is that it is memory or graphics (either video memory or hardware failure). For example, firefox searchbox where you choose what to search via dropdown is just a black square.

System:
Dell 400sc 2.2ghz
640mb ram
Xerox 19" LCD
XP SP2
Maddog nvidia MX4000 128mb AGP (driver 6.14) (approx 1yr old)
DirectX 9.0c

I'd appreciate it if someone could give me a few tips at what to look at next. The system has become nearly unusable and I'm close to reinstalling XP (what a pain) or buying another video card (256mb range maybe)

**UncleMacro** · 11-26-2005, 12:05 AM

If I were you, the first thing I'd do is some easy tests which have nothing to do with the video card:

Run MemTest86 to test your RAM.
Do a scandisk to make sure your harddisk is in good shape.

Assuming that it passes both of those then:

I'd uninstall your display drivers and then reinstall them in case they got corrupted (instructions here and here).
If you're running at AGP 8X then I'd slow it down to AGP 4X and disable fastwrites (instructions here) just to be sure that your AGP port isn't causing problems.

After those (relatively) easy steps, things start getting uglier like:

Swap in another video card to see if that solves the problem.
Reinstall Win XP. I wouldn't try this until you've exhausted the other options but from your symptoms I'm not 100% sure that you've really got a hardware problem. I've seen hosed Windows implementations do some pretty weird things. If you resort to reinstalling Windows and you've got the full install disk, then you can try to do an upgrade install of XP on top of your current installation which should leave your programs intact and just reinstall Windows.

**oldmn** · 11-26-2005, 12:13 AM

You can also try, With you OS CD in the drive go to start > run type in SFC/Scannow > ok, and see if it fixes any thing.

11-25-2005, 06:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
fastz Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1 OS: WinXP/Slackware/Mandrake	Display blanking, corrupt & system freeze Hello folks! My display freezes, blanks, system locks up locks up, windows don't properly repaint, arrows and check boxes (like scroll bars or menu selections that check/uncheck) are black squares. I thought it was some spyware/adware or java/real/online game dll corruption. I run AVG 7, spyware, ad-aware6, reglceaner, CCleaner, spywareblaster, hijackthis and some others. So to be safe, I ran my collection of anti-spy&virus utilities which turned up nothing noteworthy. Problem began after doing some desktop publishing in MS Publisher97, with a decent amount of jpg graphics (coupons). The problem occurs when scrolling a webpage, opening the start menu, choosing a menu, switching between running applications...my guess is that it is memory or graphics (either video memory or hardware failure). For example, firefox searchbox where you choose what to search via dropdown is just a black square. System: Dell 400sc 2.2ghz 640mb ram Xerox 19" LCD XP SP2 Maddog nvidia MX4000 128mb AGP (driver 6.14) (approx 1yr old) DirectX 9.0c I'd appreciate it if someone could give me a few tips at what to look at next. The system has become nearly unusable and I'm close to reinstalling XP (what a pain) or buying another video card (256mb range maybe)

11-26-2005, 12:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	If I were you, the first thing I'd do is some easy tests which have nothing to do with the video card: Run MemTest86 to test your RAM. Do a scandisk to make sure your harddisk is in good shape. Assuming that it passes both of those then: I'd uninstall your display drivers and then reinstall them in case they got corrupted (instructions here and here). If you're running at AGP 8X then I'd slow it down to AGP 4X and disable fastwrites (instructions here) just to be sure that your AGP port isn't causing problems. After those (relatively) easy steps, things start getting uglier like: Swap in another video card to see if that solves the problem. Reinstall Win XP. I wouldn't try this until you've exhausted the other options but from your symptoms I'm not 100% sure that you've really got a hardware problem. I've seen hosed Windows implementations do some pretty weird things. If you resort to reinstalling Windows and you've got the full install disk, then you can try to do an upgrade install of XP on top of your current installation which should leave your programs intact and just reinstall Windows.

11-26-2005, 12:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	You can also try, With you OS CD in the drive go to start > run type in SFC/Scannow > ok, and see if it fixes any thing. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]