Troubleshooting the Video Card / Memory / Driver / BIOS 1
Read This First
Many problems with video (graphics, display, etc.) cards, and general Windows stability, can be due to incorrect software drivers. Before looking anywhere else, ensure that you have the correct drivers for your video card. This will save you many hours of needless frustration. If your card is onboard and part of the motherboard chipset you can visit the motherboard manufacturer’s Web site to download the latest updates for the video drivers, or get it from the motherboard CD. If you have an add-on card, get the latest updates from the card manufacturer’s Web site or the CD that came with the card.
The screen flickers, causing eye strain and fatigue
Cause: The computer ‘paints’ the screen with the image several
times a second—this is known as the refresh rate. If the refresh rate
is set too low, it can cause visible flicker, which can be a strain onthe eyes.
Solution: Right-click on the Desktop, select Properties, go toSettings > Advanced, and look
for the Refresh Rate option in the Properties window for the display adapter that launches.
Increase the refresh rate to the maximum supported level. Note that setting the refresh
rate too high can cause blank screens—you’ll then have to revert to the old setting.
The image is scrambledor jumping, or there arediagonal lines
Cause: The display controls could have ‘pushed’ the image off-screen. It may also be a problem with the refresh rate or the resolution being set too high.
Solution: Adjust the display controls and see if you are able to get back a stable picture. Reduce the refresh rate and/or the resolution. If you are not able to see the screen, reboot and press [F8]. Select Safe Mode from the list of options; Windows will start with a simple driver at a low resolution and low refresh rate. Disable any video drivers (through Device Manager) so that Windows is forced to use its own driver to handle the display when you reboot normally. After rebooting in normal mode, enable the driver and run the Add New Hardware Wizard to redetect your video driver at the basic resolution. Readjust your refresh rates and resolution to below the values that caused the scrambling.
The display is too large or small, or the screen isspilling out
Cause: It could be either that the horizontal, vertical, and other image controls are not adjusted properly, or it could be a problem with the video driver.
Solution: Adjust the image controls of the monitor. Check the screen resolution and try lowering it. Ensure that you have the correct video driver for your video card. Check the options in the video driver software to adjust the screen size.
You think the problem is with the video card, butyou’re not sure exactly what!
There are several possible problems that can’t be directly pinpointed. The most likely causes are resource conflicts or wrong configuration settings. If you recently upgraded or added a component to your system, check that first. Verify everything is installed correctly; that jumpers, if any, are configured properly, and then read on.
Cause 1: If the video card was recently added, it could be a problem with the fixing.
Solution 1: Ensure that the card is seated tightly, firmly and completely in its slot. Power off, remove the card, reseat it properly, and then reboot.
Cause 2: If you have an older card, the chips on the card itself may have come loose.
Solution 2: Carefully press the chips back in. Take care not to touch any exposed circuitry. Moreover, don’t pile on the pressure! A firm but gentle push should push the chips back in.
Cause 3: There maybe a resource conflict with another device using the same IRQ. PCI video cards generally use IRQs 9, 10, 11 or 12.
Solution 3: Remove the video card and reboot. Open Device Manager and verify that at least one of these IRQs are available. Check the video card manual for any jumper settings you need to set to match the IRQ settings of your system.
Cause 4: If the motherboard has an onboard graphics adapter, the
video card may be conflicting with the adapter, and neither will
work.
Solution 4: Disable the onboard video adapter in the BIOS or
through a jumper setting on the motherboard.
Cause 5: The video card is bad.
Solution 5: If you have a similar video card, test the second one on your system. If the second video card works, then you can conclude that your original card is bad. Test your video card on another system. If your card works on the other system then the video card is good and the problem is most likely a resource conflict. In rare cases, it could mean that your video card is not compatible with your PC.
Cause 6: If you just added memory to your video card, this could point to memory incompatibility or faulty insertion.
Solution 6: Remove the memory module and reinsert it properly. Verify you have the correct memory for the card. The memory should be identical to what already exists.
Cause 7: Video BIOS Shadowing may be conflicting with the graphics card.
Solution 7: Disable Video BIOS Shadowing from the BIOS.
Many problems with video (graphics, display, etc.) cards, and general Windows stability, can be due to incorrect software drivers. Before looking anywhere else, ensure that you have the correct drivers for your video card. This will save you many hours of needless frustration. If your card is onboard and part of the motherboard chipset you can visit the motherboard manufacturer’s Web site to download the latest updates for the video drivers, or get it from the motherboard CD. If you have an add-on card, get the latest updates from the card manufacturer’s Web site or the CD that came with the card.
The screen flickers, causing eye strain and fatigue
Cause: The computer ‘paints’ the screen with the image several
times a second—this is known as the refresh rate. If the refresh rate
is set too low, it can cause visible flicker, which can be a strain onthe eyes.
Solution: Right-click on the Desktop, select Properties, go toSettings > Advanced, and look
for the Refresh Rate option in the Properties window for the display adapter that launches.
Increase the refresh rate to the maximum supported level. Note that setting the refresh
rate too high can cause blank screens—you’ll then have to revert to the old setting.
The image is scrambledor jumping, or there arediagonal lines
Cause: The display controls could have ‘pushed’ the image off-screen. It may also be a problem with the refresh rate or the resolution being set too high.
Solution: Adjust the display controls and see if you are able to get back a stable picture. Reduce the refresh rate and/or the resolution. If you are not able to see the screen, reboot and press [F8]. Select Safe Mode from the list of options; Windows will start with a simple driver at a low resolution and low refresh rate. Disable any video drivers (through Device Manager) so that Windows is forced to use its own driver to handle the display when you reboot normally. After rebooting in normal mode, enable the driver and run the Add New Hardware Wizard to redetect your video driver at the basic resolution. Readjust your refresh rates and resolution to below the values that caused the scrambling.
The display is too large or small, or the screen isspilling out
Cause: It could be either that the horizontal, vertical, and other image controls are not adjusted properly, or it could be a problem with the video driver.
Solution: Adjust the image controls of the monitor. Check the screen resolution and try lowering it. Ensure that you have the correct video driver for your video card. Check the options in the video driver software to adjust the screen size.
You think the problem is with the video card, butyou’re not sure exactly what!
There are several possible problems that can’t be directly pinpointed. The most likely causes are resource conflicts or wrong configuration settings. If you recently upgraded or added a component to your system, check that first. Verify everything is installed correctly; that jumpers, if any, are configured properly, and then read on.
Cause 1: If the video card was recently added, it could be a problem with the fixing.
Solution 1: Ensure that the card is seated tightly, firmly and completely in its slot. Power off, remove the card, reseat it properly, and then reboot.
Cause 2: If you have an older card, the chips on the card itself may have come loose.
Solution 2: Carefully press the chips back in. Take care not to touch any exposed circuitry. Moreover, don’t pile on the pressure! A firm but gentle push should push the chips back in.
Cause 3: There maybe a resource conflict with another device using the same IRQ. PCI video cards generally use IRQs 9, 10, 11 or 12.
Solution 3: Remove the video card and reboot. Open Device Manager and verify that at least one of these IRQs are available. Check the video card manual for any jumper settings you need to set to match the IRQ settings of your system.
Cause 4: If the motherboard has an onboard graphics adapter, the
video card may be conflicting with the adapter, and neither will
work.
Solution 4: Disable the onboard video adapter in the BIOS or
through a jumper setting on the motherboard.
Cause 5: The video card is bad.
Solution 5: If you have a similar video card, test the second one on your system. If the second video card works, then you can conclude that your original card is bad. Test your video card on another system. If your card works on the other system then the video card is good and the problem is most likely a resource conflict. In rare cases, it could mean that your video card is not compatible with your PC.
Cause 6: If you just added memory to your video card, this could point to memory incompatibility or faulty insertion.
Solution 6: Remove the memory module and reinsert it properly. Verify you have the correct memory for the card. The memory should be identical to what already exists.
Cause 7: Video BIOS Shadowing may be conflicting with the graphics card.
Solution 7: Disable Video BIOS Shadowing from the BIOS.
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