Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: BoardwalkNJ on February 17, 2012, 07:50:03 PM

Title: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: BoardwalkNJ on February 17, 2012, 07:50:03 PM

Does anyone know what is wrong with my backup computer?
It is a Dell Inspiron 8400 with XP SP2.  I upgraded it to 1 gig of Kingston RAM, it has the stock 80 gig HD, and everything else is stock.  It does this when I start it up, and system restore does nothing.  Do you think it is the HD, the video card, or something else?  BTW, it is not the monitor.  I have tested it with 2 different ones.

(http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t416/BoardwalkNJ/Broken%20Computer/103_2383.jpg)

(http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t416/BoardwalkNJ/Broken%20Computer/103_2381.jpg)

(http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t416/BoardwalkNJ/Broken%20Computer/103_2384.jpg)

Title: Re: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: Allan on February 18, 2012, 05:52:44 AM

Did this start immediately after you upgraded the ram?

Title: Re: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: BoardwalkNJ on February 18, 2012, 07:36:38 AM

It was about 3 months after.  I tried putting the original RAM in, and it still had the lines.

Title: Re: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: patio on February 18, 2012, 08:13:08 AM

Remove all power and remove and re-seat the vid card...

Title: Re: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: BoardwalkNJ on February 18, 2012, 03:04:37 PM

Quote from: patio on February 18, 2012, 08:13:08 AM

Remove all power and remove and re-seat the vid card...

I tried, yet they are still there.

Title: Re: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: Allan on February 18, 2012, 03:11:06 PM

Okay. It's almost certainly a failing display adapter. I suggest you purchase a new one (from a retailer who accepts returns) and let's see where we are.

Title: Re: Help Fix My Spare Computer? Strange lines
Post by: truenorth on February 18, 2012, 03:14:01 PM

Sure sounds like a failing video card to me. I note that it is a PCI-E card (if original). You could try a look see on the Dell site for a more recent driver if any exists. Here is a link to the manual for that model in case you don't have it.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/dim8400/SM/index.htm
If you have another video card that you could try i would go that route. truenorth