Visual Problem!Need Help

[JJ72]

I apologise if this is in the wrong place, but I have a serious visual problem

I installed Windows XP home recently and installed all my drivers but the graphics card (which might be the problem, I dont know) I even tried NVidia which didnt find anything. Right now, Im typing practically blind because of this whacky thing, so bear with me.

I honestly don't know what this could be. It only happens when it feels like it, and I can't see anything.

I've made up a screenshot -

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/7057/weirdtextfh1.jpg

[DigitalJunkie]

Tell us about your sys. specs. Can your CPU do overclocking? If it does, try adjusting it.

[JJ72]

AMD. s3 virge dx/gx card. I don't know what else you would need. I thought it was something to do with the graphics card. Maybe the driver, so I looked around for it but they dont make for XP.

As for overclocking, I'm not that advanced with computers. I mean, I'm alright but I think that's for the enthusiasts.

It seems to happen very erratically. It'll just morph into this fuzzy text whenever it wants to. I've got a 17" LCD monitor but I don't think its the problem since I had XP installed before and they were quite compatible. Its been aproblem since I installed XP again, and now with several formats nothing has changed. Still fuzzy font.

Sometimes it won't change for 30 minutes or more.

I realise it's very vague, but it has me stumped.

Thanks.

[multi]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ViRGE

This is a very old crappy card ,it's what? 8-16 Mb
you need to find something a bit better that would suit your machine, probably an old TNT or similar age card
I speculate this is something like a 333Mhz computer
with a card like that. But you run it on a new monitor ?
get a decent computer for that monitor .. ;)

[DigitalJunkie]

Under Windows settings you can adjust your video settings, it does involve your graphic card but wrong CPU & BIOs settings could also cause video to display errectically as well by your graphic card! So, what I'm saying is there may be nothing wrong with your graphic card & driver, but you may need to play with the settings.

WARNING: Backup your data first! If you screwed-up, you may have to re-install Windows.

[Krell]

Get Aida32 - use it - get the XP drivers for what it finds

I've seen that crappy display before = dying video card

Spend a few bucks on newegg and get on with life.

.

[guitrman101]

Hi JJ,

Check the specs for your LCD, and find the refresh rates supported for the monitor.
In the display settings change the refresh rate to match the monitor,(Probably shows "adapter default" now) then change screen resolution to 1024 x 768. I've seen this before on older systems with LCD's, and these steps will almost always fix the problem.

Hope this helps...

[JJ72]

I speculate this is something like a 333Mhz computer

It's 1GHZ. It's just the graphics card that's crappy.

________

And yeah, I think you guys are right. It's been used as a back up PC for most of the time which is why its never really been paid any real attention. It's also custom build, might I add, hence the old card. Hah.

Never the less, thanks for your input. I will be putting your advice to the test, until I get a new card for it.

[silentscream]

Get Aida32 - use it - get the XP drivers for what it finds

I've seen that crappy display before = dying video card

Spend a few bucks on newegg and get on with life.

.
ive seen it too it turned out the card wasnt seated properly

but ive seen it on an onboard graphics chip too, the motherboard died a few weeks later

.

[JJ72]

For all those who wanted to know, it was the Cleartype settings.

However, I did get rid of that card!

[lion7718]

For all those who wanted to know, it was the Cleartype settings.

Thats why I don't use Window Washer anymore...the last new versions I used kept turning on the Cleartype settings & messed everything up....good job.