Help! Corrupted desktop graphics...

[mart242]

Hey everyone,

I'm having a $%@# problem with my computer. Since a week or two, the desktop in windows is corrupted. It happens either on boot when Windows XP switches to graphic mode (1280x1024) OR it happens at random when I'm in Windows. Once it happens, it stays like this and I have to reboot. It sometimes requires 4-5 reboots before it clears up. A power off / power on does the same. I reinstalled XP and it seemed a bit better the first 2-3 reboots but it's now happening again. It also happens whether the 2nd monitor is enabled or not. I moved the card around in the AGP slot and no luck. Same thing. The fan on the video card is spinning so it's not overheating.

Here's what it looks like:
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/4069/cimg3705kc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/9742/cimg3706or8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


My computer: Asus P4P800 w/ P4-3GHz and an ATI X850Pro AGP (or not pro, can't remember), 1 gig ram in an Antec Sonata case (with the power supply it comes with). The mobo + cpu + ram were bought something like 3 years ago but the video card is about 2 years old.

Any ideas about what causing this? Is the video card shot? My wife things that my PC is becoming jealous of my new PS3 and the time I spend on my xbox 360 / wii.. :lol:

Thanks!

[mingyang]

your PC is becoming jealous of your new PS3 and the time you spend on your xbox 360 / wii..

[terrybear]

Looks to me like dying or almost dead videocard, time for that upgrade to a pci-e videocard :P

[mart242]

Looks to me like dying or almost dead videocard, time for that upgrade to a pci-e videocard :P

That's what pisses me off.. to go pci-e, I need a new mobo, a new cpu, new memory.. :cry:

[terrybear]

ya kidding !!!!! ... a new cpu, motherboard & ram shouldn't cost ya more then around $300 now !! you can do like my cpu, a amd690g motherboard like mine & my kit of ram for around $300.