i'm not tech minded but....

cc74

i'm not tech minded but....
My computer is a put together off folk. It's fab and does the job for me. My one problem is.... that I can't get pictures or text that aren't distorted.....as in on the left of the screen where it is yellow and says Martin Lewis website. It is all dotted and a blurr, but then in word screen it is all crystal clear. On this colour it doesn't matter but on other websites it's almost impossible to read. I've tried changing the Settings;;;; Control Panel, Display. I can't get it passed 16 colours. It just won't work. Any ideas as some pages are unreadable, (poor son would like to see the cbeebies website).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

vultura

16 Colours only would indicate either missing drivers for video card or corrupted drivers for video card (assuming it worked before).

Is video built into the mainboard or a plug-in card (PCI/AGP/ISA)? Do you know what make/model it is or might be?

cc74

The screen is packard bell and the base is dell optiPlex GXa. If the windows info wasn't so clear then i wouldn't mind. but it's crystal. the internet info is a basic format. ANy info would help me.

vultura

Ok, for downloads for Optiplex GXa models go to - http://support.euro.dell.com/uk/en/filelib/index.aspx?sid=PLX_PNT_PII_GXa

You'll need to select the download category, in this case Video Drivers and your Operating System (Windows version) to list the drivers available.

cc74

I've gone to the site, but not having much luck! I can't seem to figure out how to upgrade the computer

timread

Let us know what version of Windows you're using, then we can narrow down the link you need for your OptiPlex GXa drivers. It certainly sounds from your description that your PC is not using the correct display drivers.

According to the Dell documentation for your OptiPlex GXa, the integrated graphics chip on the motherboard is an ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP controller. It's possible that you may also have a different (separate) AGP graphics card though.

urbanite

Download Belarc Advisor and run it.
This should detect what hardware you have and save the results as a HTML document.
Copy n paste the results up here, along with what version of Windows you have and we should be able to find you a VGA driver.

cc74

Hi, is this the info you mean from that site.....

Operating Systems: Runs on Windows 95/98/Me, NT 4, Windows 2000, XP and Windows Server 2003.
Browsers: Requires IE 3 or Netscape 3, and higher versions. Also runs on Opera, Mozilla, and Firebird.
File size: 605 KB.
License: The license associated with this product allows for free personal use only. Use on multiple PCs in a corporate, educational, military or government installation is prohibited. See the license agreement for details. Wish to run the Belarc Advisor on your corporate network,

cc74

Hi, just downloaded this to my computer. Does it make any sense?
Thanks so much for your time in trying to help me. x


Computer Profile Summary
Computer Name: Home (in HOME-)
Profile Date: 19 March 2005 08:32:23
Advisor Version: 6.1f
Windows Logon: Home


Click here for Belarc's PC Management products, for large and small companies.

Operating System System Model
Windows 98 SE (build 4.10.2222) Dell Computer Corporation OptiPlex GXa 233L EM+
System Service Tag: MTZTF (support for this PC)
Chassis Serial Number: MTZTF
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
233 megahertz Intel Pentium II
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache Bus Clock: 66 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A08 07/27/98
Drives Memory Modules c,d
20.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
18.97 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Lite-On LTN483S 48x Max [CD-ROM drive]
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")

Generic IDE hard disk drive (20.01 GB) -- drive 0, No SMART Driver 96 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM_A' has 32 MB
Slot 'DIMM_B' has 64 MB
Slot 'DIMM_C' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 20.01 GB 18.97 GB free

Network Drives
None detected
Users Printers
No details available None detected
Controllers Display
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo) ATI 3D Rage Pro (atir3) [Display adapter]
ATI VGA Wonder [Display adapter]
Default Monitor
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller Crystal PnP Audio System CODEC
Crystal PnP Audio System Control Registers
Crystal PnP Audio System MPU-401 Compatible
Disabled Device
Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected)
MS Windows Sound System Compatible
Wave Device for Voice Modem
Communications Other Devices
Intel(R) 536EP Modem
Microsoft Virtual Private Networking Adapter Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
USB Root

urbanite

This may be the driver you need ...click here like

cc74

hi, what do I do once it says DOWNLOAD USING....
Do i have to buy the floopy disk somewhere or can i run it through the computer.

I bet people like me drive you crazy....sorry