What do you make of this?

rageofanath · 04-10-2008, 04:16 AM

My roommate brought up a friends computer, because she had a problem and knew I was "good with computers". However, I didn't even know where to begin on this. The screen looked like this:

The lines would contort and change color, phasing in and out and in multiple directions.

Her computer is a Dell running Windows XP I believe (though maybe Vista, I'm not positive as she was here for about 2 minutes). She says she left the room for a few minutes and came back to this.

So far our theories have been:
1. Someone ran a magnet across the screen while she was gone.
2. Virus
3. Someone dropped it and didn't tell her.
4. Hacked

Maybe someone here could shed some light on this strange issue or confirm one of our speculations?

Ambushed · 04-10-2008, 04:21 AM

Is that a CRT or LCD screen?

rageofanath · 04-10-2008, 04:22 AM

Not positive, as she was here for 2 minutes but I believe (99.99999999% certainty) it was LCD.

Oh, its a laptop, by the way, in case the pictures don't show it well.

cohen · 04-10-2008, 04:31 AM

Reload the driver for the video / graphics card.

Then come back and let us know what happens

GSAV55 · 04-10-2008, 04:46 AM

lol, how can he do that if he cant see anything?

StrangleHold · 04-10-2008, 04:58 AM

When you start it up is it that way through the bios screen or just when it boots into windows?

Vizy93 · 04-10-2008, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangleHold

When you start it up is it that way through the bios screen or just when it boots into windows?

this part is extremely important to know. If its fine in the BIOS and screws up in windows, that could mean there is a problem.

I just noticed how retarded my last statement was.

djcon · 04-10-2008, 05:10 AM

Call Dell support...

You'll be in for a 5 hour long talk with someone who dosn't know English, lol, but they might be able to help ya out more so.

Vizy93 · 04-10-2008, 05:10 AM

nvm, it happens when hes in Windows, im pretty sure. I say this because the first and second, more prnounced in the second, picture it looks like a windows dialog box in the bottom left corner.

nvm, right corner, my bad

rageofanath · 04-10-2008, 05:16 AM

Honestly there is little I can actually do and investigate about the problem as I don't know the girl who owns this computer beyond the two minutes she was in here, and she more or less just showed it to me and left. I was very interested in the speculations here more to see if there was some "common" problem this was a symptom of that I was just missing.

As far as in or out of windows; she said she had the computer on and running, left the room, and came back to it, so it presumably was still IN windows when she came back as well. I asked her to restart to see if it came up then and she said OK and just... left... I don't know if I'll get to follow up on this unfortunately.

04-10-2008, 04:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
rageofanath New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4	What do you make of this? My roommate brought up a friends computer, because she had a problem and knew I was "good with computers". However, I didn't even know where to begin on this. The screen looked like this: The lines would contort and change color, phasing in and out and in multiple directions. Her computer is a Dell running Windows XP I believe (though maybe Vista, I'm not positive as she was here for about 2 minutes). She says she left the room for a few minutes and came back to this. So far our theories have been: 1. Someone ran a magnet across the screen while she was gone. 2. Virus 3. Someone dropped it and didn't tell her. 4. Hacked Maybe someone here could shed some light on this strange issue or confirm one of our speculations? Last edited by rageofanath; 04-10-2008 at 04:20 AM. Reason: Resized images.

04-10-2008, 04:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ambushed Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,046	Is that a CRT or LCD screen? __________________ Core 2 Duo E6550 2.3GHz @ 3.4GHz FOXCONN MARS 2GB DDR2 800 500GB western digital SATA II XP Professional SP3 Nivida GeForce 9600GT 512MB 19" LCD widescreen 5ms www.easycomputers.co.nz McCain/Palin 08'

04-10-2008, 04:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
cohen Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 14 Posts: 8,166	Reload the driver for the video / graphics card. Then come back and let us know what happens __________________ My Website Forum Site JOIN NOW! Desktop / Laptop Motherboard: Asus M2N X SE / Unknown CPU: AMD 4000+ 2.1GHZ x 2 / Intel Pentium M 1.60GHZ Ram: 2GB Transcend / 512MB Hard Drive: 320GB / 60GB Video Card: Both Intergrated Monitor: 19" Benq / 15.4" OS: Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 / Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3

04-10-2008, 04:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
GSAV55 Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Age: 18 Posts: 634	lol, how can he do that if he cant see anything? __________________ Acer 24" wide screen 2ms 1920x1200 Asus M2N-E nForce 500 SLI 2x XFX GeForce 7900GTX SLI 2gb OCZ DDR2 RAM AMD 64 x2 5600+ 3.02Ghz 550watt X2 Ultra modular PSU 250gb Seagate Barracuda G15 Gaming Keyboard

04-10-2008, 04:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 7,528	When you start it up is it that way through the bios screen or just when it boots into windows? __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600-3.3ghz. Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 1066-944mhz. 4gbs. PNY 8800GT/VD964 Cooler W/D Sata 3.0 500gb RE2 Humans are curious creatures and by nature insane. Lock us all in a room together and within hours we're dividing into groups, creating Gods and plotting on how to kill one another.

04-10-2008, 04:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
rageofanath New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4	Not positive, as she was here for 2 minutes but I believe (99.99999999% certainty) it was LCD. Oh, its a laptop, by the way, in case the pictures don't show it well.

04-10-2008, 05:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Vizy93 Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The Angels Age: 15 Posts: 2,666	nvm, it happens when hes in Windows, im pretty sure. I say this because the first and second, more prnounced in the second, picture it looks like a windows dialog box in the bottom left corner. nvm, right corner, my bad __________________ http://www.computerforum.com/6663-funniest-joke-world.html "75% of all statistics are made up, including this one. 62.481% of people who read that believe it is true. And if you're one of the 37.519% who don't, copy and paste this into your signature." - tlarkin, Cromewell, and Rambo.

04-10-2008, 05:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
rageofanath New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4	Honestly there is little I can actually do and investigate about the problem as I don't know the girl who owns this computer beyond the two minutes she was in here, and she more or less just showed it to me and left. I was very interested in the speculations here more to see if there was some "common" problem this was a symptom of that I was just missing. As far as in or out of windows; she said she had the computer on and running, left the room, and came back to it, so it presumably was still IN windows when she came back as well. I asked her to restart to see if it came up then and she said OK and just... left... I don't know if I'll get to follow up on this unfortunately.

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