White lines across computer screen

codo

Hi

I switched on our computer last night to find lots of white lines across the screen. I can see windows loading in the background but then the lines change to lots of coloured squares and nothing else.

I have tried another screen and the same thing happens. I can load windows in safe mode but it still has the white lines on the screen. The computer is over 5 years old, running windows vista. Is this a graphics card issue?

Any suggestions very welcome.

NiftyDigits

Brand name and model number? You may be able to test it by removing a dedicated graphics card and defaulting to the onboard.
Do you have another connection cable?

OGR

Sounds very much like an issue with the GPU I am afraid.

You said you tried a different monitor so I assume that means the VGA/DVI cable was also swapped. Due to it's age I doubt it has an HDMI out but if it does you could try it with a TV just to be sure.

codo

NiftyDigits, the PC is a Medion PC MT7.

OGR, I have swapped the vga cables aswell as the moniter. Unfortunately it doesnt have HDMI outlet.

karvala

If the monitor and cable have been changed, then it's definitely a graphics card issue (which it was most likely to be anyway). You can check that definitively by replacing the graphics card, which I suspect will solve the problem entirely.

codo

Thanks Karvala, I have opened it up but cant seem to get the card out. its a partially sealed unit and its almost like the card is glued to the side, I cant budge it at all. We had been thinking of replacing the pc recently as it had become very slow even after a clear out. Looks like we will need to do that now

NiftyDigits

codo wrote: »

NiftyDigits, the PC is a Medion PC MT7.

OGR, I have swapped the vga cables aswell as the moniter. Unfortunately it doesnt have HDMI outlet.

Mine is an MT7 and wasn't supplied with a graphics card and is certainly not sealed in any way.

The Art. Nr. or the MSN number at the back will be more informative.

codo

I was assuming the card plugged into the motherboard was the graphics card but it obviously isnt. The tower is what was sealed I could only take one side off.

I will get the Art. Nr. or the MSN number at the back if I need more assistance.

When I put the unit back together, I loaded windows in safe mode and did a system restore to an earlier date and it is now loading fine, no white lines!! Any ideas what would have caused this?

Moneymaker

Rebooting?
Disturbing the connections?
Cooling down?

If the graphics card has a heatsink and/or fan, do ensure that they are free from dust.

NiftyDigits

codo wrote: »

I was assuming the card plugged into the motherboard was the graphics card but it obviously isnt. The tower is what was sealed I could only take one side off.

I will get the Art. Nr. or the MSN number at the back if I need more assistance.

When I put the unit back together, I loaded windows in safe mode and did a system restore to an earlier date and it is now loading fine, no white lines!! Any ideas what would have caused this?

That is normal.

What OS are you running?

codo

Thanks NiftyDigits, its running Windows Vista.