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Blue lines across screen

Tags:
  • Laptops
  • Computers
  • Laptop Screen
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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March 14, 2014 1:44:18 PM

So earlier today I was playing Pirates! and all of a sudden the screen froze and blue lines appeared going up and down the screen. I thought it was a problem with the game, but when I restarted the computer the blue lines stayed there. I restarted again and a bunch of "รก" symbols came up covering the screen. I went through System Repair and it booted up. Imagine my surprise when it defaulted to 800x600 and any higher brings back the blue lines.

Help?

More about : blue lines screen

a b D Laptop
March 14, 2014 1:59:11 PM

Reseat your RAM
Uninstall the GPU driver, clean it again in safe mode by driver sweeper or driver fusion, restart, install the latest driver.
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a b D Laptop
March 14, 2014 2:07:53 PM

Could easily be a defective graphics card.

You should also run MEMTEST for an hour just to verify your System RAM (DDR3 likely) on the motherboard. www.memtest.org

The video card might not fail during this but if you do see artifacts even in Memtest it's likely damaged.

If you have a spare graphics card that would be helpful, though another option is to boot to UBUNTU (burn an Ubuntu DVD for free. May need to change the boot order in the BIOS so DVD is first).

If Ubuntu shows no visual artifacts then it is likely a software issue (as said perhaps drivers but I doubt it). If it does then again, likely a defective graphics card.

The last thing I'd try is another PCIe x16 slot if you have one on the motherboard in case the connector is damaged.
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March 14, 2014 2:50:10 PM

photonboy said:
Could easily be a defective graphics card.
...


If it is a defective graphics card as you say, would I have to buy a completely new card?
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a b D Laptop
March 14, 2014 2:51:43 PM

If we are talking about a laptop's GPU, then it would more than likely be a new system. If it's a desktop, then a new card will solve the issue, if the reason lies upon the current GPU.

However, troubleshooting is recommended as you don't have to spend the wrong money.
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March 14, 2014 2:55:27 PM

IDontUnderstand said:
Reseat your RAM
Uninstall the GPU driver, clean it again in safe mode by driver sweeper or driver fusion, restart, install the latest driver.


I'm loath to open up my laptop, as I've only ever poked about inside my old 1997-level tower. Is it relatively similar (stupid question, I know, but still)?
And since I've never built my own computer or had to mess about with drivers, I don't know how to do these things. Is there some kind of idiot's guide for it somewhere?
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a b D Laptop
March 14, 2014 3:23:25 PM

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080921145...

Run Memtest86+ like photonboy has suggested http://www.memtest.org/

Uninstall the GPU driver by either using Device Manager or from your GPU's manufacturer's website > Get into Safe mode and use driver sweeper or driver fusion (download them before you go into safe mode) to clean the drive up again > restart > Install the latest driver by going to your GPU's manufacturer's website and use their auto-detect utility.

If you can't do the driver steps then just tell me the laptop's model number and the GPU.
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a b D Laptop
March 14, 2014 6:53:15 PM

Some confusion:
The GPU DRIVER is software, not hardware. You want to do THIS:

1) Go to the manufacturer site for your EXACT model, find the Video driver under Support/Downloads (or similar) and download it.

Some laptops have MULTIPLE graphics options. You can find out which GPU you have with CPU-Z, GPU-Z, or possibly a sticker on the laptop.

2) Go to add/remove in Windows and remove the current video drivers if you can find them (Intel, AMD/ATI, or NVidia)

3) Install the ones you just downloaded.

*Unless you installed Windows from scratch (not specific to the laptop) you likely can ONLY use the video drivers from the laptop support site.

(Again, I think it's likely a hardware problem.)
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