Objects & Text leave artifact bleed...dark bars

tommyc · 05-27-2003, 08:02 AM

Wondering if someone has experienced and remedied a PC problem I'm having with: "after image bleed" on text and objects-in all enviroments. Operating system is: Windows 98 SE. I'm getting "grey-ish translucent hoizontal lines" across & over text & objects from one end of screen to other. Most noticeable on white or light backgrounds and negligable on black backgrounds. After incident changed monitor & eliminated its contribution. Then updated: graphic drivers, did scans of all types...no viruses, conflicts or anomalies, thoroughly checked & tweeked Display properties, refresh rate is set at-optimal as has been. It seemed to occur after some web page editing, where I had IE 5.5 & Netscape 4.7 running simaltaniously and did not reboot or shut down first. Just left computer for a few hours, came back to find problem. Nothing else seems to be effected and cursor has no outlines. Thinking it might be Explorer glitch, went to Microsoft but they deferred to Sony, my mfgr., offering no solutions. Last time loaded IE 6.0, nitemare. Very adverse to loading again unless absoluely nec'y. Any help or suggestions to trouble-shoot, much appreciated. Tom

*Wassercrats* · 05-27-2003, 03:42 PM

Is the problem in browsers only? Do you see the lines when you're not connected to the internet?

The nightmare you experienced when you loaded IE 6 could be because you can't have two versions of IE on the same partition.

All I could think of is to clean the connectors , buy new cables, or bring it in for service. Not that I really know about that stuff.

*Syneryder* · 05-28-2003, 12:21 AM

Hmm, if IE is the only program this is happening in, I guess I can only suggest reinstalling it... the other possibility is that the video card is dying. I've used some computers with dying cards and you can get strange lines across the screen with that. Unfortunately it's *much* harder to troubleshoot because you really need to rip out the card and put in another to test.... you could try booting into Safe Mode and seeing if that makes any difference.

tommyc · 05-28-2003, 08:30 AM

Thanks for both of your replies. Good thoughts on all fronts. Being the problem exists on everything (net or not) the video card replacement was mentioned by another guru. Appreciate the prioritizing. But the only one I have to spare is in an old IBM P-II 233Mhz: ATI 3D Rage II +(Direct-X). The present Sony P-III 733 Mhz graphics card is : Nvidia Riva tnt pro-2 . Will I blow anything up by the switch?? Checked the monitor cable & pins-AOK. Wasn't any trauma prior and I made the monitor switch with other monitor's cable...and lines still existed. Thanks for tip on newer IE partitioning. Probably ez removal too! I even did a reg restore at opt time, went back a day, and still prob existed. Pretty sure I did it right too. I'll try the Safe-Mode routine, not too optimistic tho. At this point, looking at poss. video card replacement, should upgrade to windows ME or XP and why not throw a little more memory in there. Begining to look a lot like X-mas - with a new machine. Maybe God-send. Dtr's been cranky abt her 233. Thanks again all. Will post results. Tom

*Syneryder* · 05-28-2003, 10:35 AM

If you have to choose between Windows ME and XP, I'd probably opt for XP - I've heard some real horror stories about ME, hardware not working, general slowdowns, incompatibilities etc. I gather that ME is really just Windows 98 with a couple of bug fixes and some bonus software, in fact internally it calls itself Win 98 v4.90.

tommyc · 05-29-2003, 10:43 AM

Thanks Kohan, will certaianly go with upgrdae to XP. Unless a full version is reco.What I have found might be causing these lines ..bleeds..image over-runs what have you, are a few items to consider.But mostly, I was told it appears to be a hardware issue. First off: the graphics card has been check, no problem there. Also told could be memory if upgrade I made about a year ago wasn't same pin metalergy. Has to be both gold or tin. They are both Gold. The bios was mentioned and I set it to factory defaults. Lastly, maybe the CPU module is crapping out and if so problems I'm experiencing could occur. At pricewatch.com, I can pick one up for $69.00. At this point, seems to be small price to pay to correct issue....then again. Any suggestions more than welcome and thanks for help so far. Tom

tommyc · 05-31-2003, 10:04 AM

Want to say thanks for coming to aide with all your suggestions re: anomalies with...Yes, The Graphics Card. Had put a replacement card to test and still had problem. As you have read, went thru litany of other checks only to find that that card was also bad. Go figure on the odds of that happening. Another card (we knew was good) was inserted and returned my system back problem free. On my travels to this junture I found a great site. After all most of my problem was trying to describe what was wrong. Particularly to the likes of Google. Three simple words evolved: Video card upgrade. Slap a .com on the end and voila! Step-by-step instructions on the process and helpful hints all along the way. http://www.videocardupgrade.com Thanks again everyone. Tom