Screen colour flashing

Itshim · 01-05-2008, 11:30

Sorry if this has been answered before. Not sure what to enter in search.

using Vista home ( it was preloaded so stuck with it)

Anyway I have flashing blocks of colour coming up on the screen, simple ??? question.How do I stop them ?

Thanks

**Rob** · 01-05-2008, 11:51

Check the monitor leads are securely plugged in on computer and monitor.

Check that you have the latest drivers for the graphics card and motherboard.

Itshim · 01-05-2008, 11:59

Will try this tonight, but I have to say it happen overnight. colours flashing woke me up.Switched off the monitor.

Also message came up later about an unexpected error which windows fixed.

trevortt · 01-05-2008, 12:16

This could be a sign over a component overheating ie the graphics card.

Download this app and see what the temperatures are and post back.

Alternatively, reboot the pc and then it will ask to press for instance F2 to enter setup, do this and then goto the temperature options using the arrow keys and post them here.

Also, post your full system specs.

If the temperatures are high you will need to open up the case and clean the fans/heatsinks with some compressed air to rid any dust or if there is none of this, then the hardware will be more than likely faulty.

Something else to test if you have done the above is to try some different drivers for your hardware.

**Rob** · 01-05-2008, 12:49

Is this happenning instead of when you are using the computer, but instead when it is supposedly in sleep or standby mode? I have one PC in the office that does this. Not quite sure if it's a monitor or PC issue. I'm not that concerned and just tell the user to physically press the off switch on the LCD.

Itshim · 01-05-2008, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Is this happenning instead of when you are using the computer, but instead when it is supposedly in sleep or standby mode? I have one PC in the office that does this. Not quite sure if it's a monitor or PC issue. I'm not that concerned and just tell the user to physically press the off switch on the LCD.

yes it happens when not in use. Do switch off - but it comes back on - really it comes back on!! But it does that even when no flashing happens.

Wouldn`t worry too much but the flashing lights(colours ) are so bright they wake me up!!

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 12:54 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevortt

This could be a sign over a component overheating ie the graphics card.

Download this app and see what the temperatures are and post back.

Alternatively, reboot the pc and then it will ask to press for instance F2 to enter setup, do this and then goto the temperature options using the arrow keys and post them here.

Also, post your full system specs.

If the temperatures are high you will need to open up the case and clean the fans/heatsinks with some compressed air to rid any dust or if there is none of this, then the hardware will be more than likely faulty.

Something else to test if you have done the above is to try some different drivers for your hardware.

Would do this if I had a clue how to ! Will download tonight just in case & hope in the mean time you can tell me how

**Rob** · 01-05-2008, 12:59

Ok, this is probably nothing to do with Vista, as the office PC that does it uses XP.

The office PC that does this is now three or so years old, A Dell Optiplex with a 17" Dell LCD monitor.

I'll have to delve around some time and swap monitors on PCs. That will determine if it's PC or monitor based. I suspect though it's something to do with the energy saving thing operating incorrectly.

trevortt · 01-05-2008, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

yes it happens when not in use. Do switch off - but it comes back on - really it comes back on!! But it does that even when no flashing happens.

Wouldn`t worry too much but the flashing lights(colours ) are so bright they wake me up!!

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 12:54 ----------

Would do this if I had a clue how to ! Will download tonight just in case & hope in the mean time you can tell me how

Which bit

To boot into the BIOS, Follow This Guide

To clean your fans & heat sinks...http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11319_7-6240575-5.html

As for the drivers, i need to know your make & model of your pc so i can refer you to the correct place.

Itshim · 01-05-2008, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevortt

Which bit

To boot into the BIOS, Follow This Guide

To clean your fans & heat sinks...http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11319_7-6240575-5.html

As for the drivers, i need to know your make & model of your pc so i can refer you to the correct place.

Compac CPQ3200. Thinking about it ( I am slow on these things) I think HP sent an upgrade just before all this started , but not at home to look at upgrades

zc1 · 01-05-2008, 15:00

sorry

ish

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevortt

Download this app and see what the temperatures are and post back.

I downloaded this to check temperatures and it say my Graphic card (GPU) is 225c to 235c

, but Everest Home has it at 53c

DaiNasty · 01-05-2008, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by zc1

sorry

ish

I downloaded this to check temperatures and it say my Graphic card (GPU) is 225c to 235c

, but Everest Home has it at 53c

I suspect if that was correct it would have let the magic smoke out by now.
Still, it would be worth checking the graphics card with an old-fashioned finger test. If your finger can't be held on the hottest bit of the card for more than a couple of seconds then something is wrong.

Itshim · 01-05-2008, 15:57

Ok thinking about this. Vista is set to check for upgrades in the middle of the night. This happens in the middle of the night . As I use firefox could it just be getting upset? Saying it has an error - and trying to take over my world!!!!

trevortt · 01-05-2008, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

Ok thinking about this. Vista is set to check for upgrades in the middle of the night. This happens in the middle of the night . As I use firefox could it just be getting upset? Saying it has an error - and trying to take over my world!!!!

Do you know what it installed?

I think it is still best to do the above.

---------- Post added at 16:12 ---------- Previous post was at 16:11 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

I suspect if that was correct it would have let the magic smoke out by now.
Still, it would be worth checking the graphics card with an old-fashioned finger test. If your finger can't be held on the hottest bit of the card for more than a couple of seconds then something is wrong.

Sometimes speedfan detects incorrect information dependent on your machine. ie your sensors on the mobo maybe off or faulty or speedfan just cannot detect your's.

Either way, do what DaiNasty stated or go into the BIOS and look at the temperatures in there. They will tell you exactly how hot your hardware is.

Itshim · 02-05-2008, 09:00

Had a knock on the door last night, a girl from a few houses away. Ask if I was still having problems with my P/c. My grandaughter seems to have told every one! Anyway she said could she look at my P/c - she can`t be more than 10!!!! What the heck she seems to have cured it.

From what I could make out this was the cause,
Windows downloads fixes etc at 3pm BUT my settings do NOT give it permission to do so. It gets fed up trying.Calls it an unexpected error shuts PC down & reboots. Then posts report of said error on the screen . Screen won`t turn off because of this .The colour change is a type of screen saver - hit any key and the reboot error is behind it. Chick Ok & all is well again.
The answer is manually download fixes.
Any way no problem last night & no error messages.

trevortt · 02-05-2008, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

Had a knock on the door last night, a girl from a few houses away. Ask if I was still having problems with my P/c. My grandaughter seems to have told every one! Anyway she said could she look at my P/c - she can`t be more than 10!!!! What the heck she seems to have cured it.

From what I could make out this was the cause,
Windows downloads fixes etc at 3pm BUT my settings do NOT give it permission to do so. It gets fed up trying.Calls it an unexpected error shuts PC down & reboots. Then posts report of said error on the screen . Screen won`t turn off because of this .The colour change is a type of screen saver - hit any key and the reboot error is behind it. Chick Ok & all is well again.
The answer is manually download fixes.
Any way no problem last night & no error messages.

Glad you have had it fixed.