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Author Topic: Screen scrambles after short use  (Read 2287 times)

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hokie2011

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    Screen scrambles after short use
    « on: August 23, 2009, 05:31:08 PM »
    I just purchased a refurbished HP computer and it seems to be working great except that after about
    30-45 minutes of use the screen begins to scramble and needs to be restarted. The monitor I'm using with it is brand new, its a Synaps 24" LCD monitor. The computer is a Compaq and is set up as follows:

    Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, Service Pack 3
    Pentium 4, 3.00GHz
    0.99 GB of RAM

    Intel 82865G Graphics Controller

    What's wrong with it?
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    Quantos



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    Re: Screen scrambles after short use
    « Reply #1 on: August 23, 2009, 05:34:19 PM »
    It sounds like the onboard graphics is having issues.

    I know it's refurbished, but they generally have a limited warranty, is it still covered?
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    smeezekitty

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    Re: Screen scrambles after short use
    « Reply #2 on: August 23, 2009, 05:35:17 PM »
    i assume you mean 1gb RAM
    are you doing anything processor intesnive when it goes crazy
    download speedfan and post the temps
    make sure the moniter is pluged in tight
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    Quantos



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    Re: Screen scrambles after short use
    « Reply #3 on: August 23, 2009, 05:38:13 PM »
    Quote from: Quantos on August 23, 2009, 05:34:19 PM
    It sounds like the onboard graphics is having issues.

    I know it's refurbished, but they generally have a limited warranty, is it still covered?
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    hokie2011

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      Re: Screen scrambles after short use
      « Reply #4 on: August 23, 2009, 05:46:00 PM »
      Well when I pull up the system info it says its 0.99 RAM, so I don't know what that means, maybe I got jipped .01 of RAM?

      I'm not doing anything too strenuous when it begins to scramble, it will even do it if its been sitting by itself.

      I ran speedfan and the readings were:
      CPU: 33C
      Local: 33C
      Remote 2: 49C
      HD0: 42C

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      Quantos



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      Re: Screen scrambles after short use
      « Reply #5 on: August 23, 2009, 05:48:03 PM »
      Quote from: hokie2011 on August 23, 2009, 05:46:00 PM
      Well when I pull up the system info it says its 0.99 RAM, so I don't know what that means, maybe I got jipped .01 of RAM?


      That's just a difference between how hardware reads it and how software reads it.  You also probably have some of that allocated to your on board graphics card. 

      See my previous post.
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      smeezekitty

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      Re: Screen scrambles after short use
      « Reply #6 on: August 23, 2009, 05:48:14 PM »
      temps seem fine
      a screenshot would help
      is the moniter cable tight?
      if that doesnt work i would go for warranty
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      hokie2011

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        Re: Screen scrambles after short use
        « Reply #7 on: August 25, 2009, 08:48:04 PM »
        So just a follow up...just because it seems weird. The problem has suddenly stopped.....
        I placed a mini personal fan blowing into the slot where the internal fan seems to be just in case it was overheating but I'm not sure if that has any effect...
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        Kurtiskain



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        Re: Screen scrambles after short use
        « Reply #8 on: August 26, 2009, 04:57:16 PM »
        Sounds like it is overheating even at that temperature, or you have faulty RAM in that machine.

        Try downloading and running MemTest on it for 2 or more passes and see what happens.
        http://www.memtest.org/download/2.11/memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip

        You will have to burn the ISO to a CD, and then boot from it.

        If you don't know how please post back for more elaborate instructions.
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