Question/Problem:
For the past few weeks my desktop screen has been showing oddly coloured blocks of pixels. The pixels would start small, gathering in corners or around programs or toolbars, but the longer I left them the more there would be until my entire screen was covered in flashing, coloured pixels and my PC would freeze. It originally would only do it when I alt-tabbed between windows, but now it's started doing it when I play one game specifically (FFXI).

Link: In the background is how it starts - pixels around certain programs, such as the sticky note in the upper right hand corner. In the foreground is what it begins to turns into if I leave it; it eventually turns the entire screen white and freezes.

I can usually make the pixels go away by clicking on the window that shows them (for example, right clicking on the desktop and opening the 'personalize' window makes all coloured pixels on the desktop disappear), but once it reaches the point where they start flashing white I have to restart.

I assume it's a video card problem, but if there are any suggestions other than buying a new one...I just bought a new laptop and cannot afford to replace anything atm.

Operating System, Version and Service Pack:
Windows 7 64-bit, service pack one. I'm using two ATI Radeon HD 5970s with Crossfire, driver 11.5 (I tried 11.6 and it seemed to make things worse, so I uninstalled it). I didn't build my PC myself, it's an Alienware Aurora.

Your level of experience (we simplify or explain instructions based on how you answer):
I know parts and programs by name, but I'm lost when it comes to actually taking things apart...so I'd say intermediate.

When did the problem start? Has it been going on constantly since then?
Months ago. I contacted Dell tech support with the picture above, they said they'd e-mail/phone me when they figured out what the problem was...and I haven't heard from them since.

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot?
Tried a variety of different drivers, changed the settings on my fans, updated the BIOS, and attempted to run my games on lower settings in case they were the cause. None of this has helped, as the problem has only become worse.

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly apprecated!

Hello, I've recently been dealing with computer trouble, and now that I'm past the worst of it, I've come to ask about something that's making me nutty: my display settings.


Problem in a nutshell: My programs (e.g. Internet Explorer, iTunes, Microsoft Word) don't seem to want to follow my designated screen resolution of 1024 by 768.

OS: Windows XP SP3

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This problem isn't dire, but it's MADDENING. If anyone has good ideas how to solve this, I would be extremely grateful. Thanks!

x-posting to computer_help

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EDIT: Fixed, thanks to heavenlyevil.

Question/Problem: I'm constantly having a problem with my display driver. My screen will go completely blank for a few seconds, then come back with this error:

Sound, programmes, etc run fine in the background- but I can't see them! (luckily I'm not a gamer lol)
I've managed to find lots of posts online of others having this issue, but no fixes.
If all else fails, I'll tkae the computer to the shop again (still under warranty) but without a car, and living down a steep path, this is a mission I'd rather avoid!

Operating System, Version and Service Pack: Vista

Web Browser and Version: Firefox 3....something

Your level of experience: Seasoned-ish, though I'm more a software guru than hardware

When did the problem start? Has it been going on constantly since then? A few months back. It seems to have gotten more frequent lately but that might just be me getting frustrated with it

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot? I wouldn't know where to start, honestly




Also, while I'm at it... have any of your programmer-type people ever have AVG suddenly decide that Eclipse is a virus and eat it? Me: O.O WTF!?! *kick* I don't think it likes the word gamymede.

Problem: My laptop won't allow me to add a second display. Instead, this message pops up:

"The display control panel is unable to change the display settings. You may not have appropriate administrative rights to change these settings."

I close that:

"The display settings being saved are invalid. Please try a different combination of display settings."

When it started: The night previous, I had been using a second display (a tv) to watch DVD's via my laptop. I have been doing this for almost a year now. This morning, when I try to do the same thing, on the same tv, using the same methods, those messages pop up. Also, my primary, aka, my laptop monitor, is now listed as monitor number 2 (though it is still working, thank goodness). I think this is in conjunction with the problems.
I have not installed or uninstalled anything between when it worked and stopped working.

What I've done to fix it:I am the administer. I have checked, and double checked. I have logged out, logged back in, shut down, restart (with the tv plugged in and not) run anti-virals and spyware and used System Mechanic to find problems. It's all clean. I have checked my video driver to make sure it's working (NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600) and checked for updates.


OS: Windows XP

Experience: intermediate