WinXP - Strange problem

[kiz]

I'm trying to help a friend who can't get online.
She has an e-machine running WindowsXP.
I've never seen anything like this before:
When she boots up she gets a black screen with a blue box with this stuff in the box:
"Fh KHZ Fu [2 squares with dots in center] HZ and oval then the clock figure but with large numbers I didn't write then the world globe another ssquare with arrows pointing in both directions....then arrows going downward then alone the OSD in bottom corner.....a circle with world map"


She can't boot in safe mode and her restore cd will not work.

Any ideas?

 

[sunsider]

If it's under warranty from eMachines, call their support and get them to walk you through a fix. If they don't,post up more info as to what you see on that screen and hopefully someone can figure out what you're seeing and try to find a solution other than reformatting that drive.

 

[macdude425]

That sounds like a video card problem to me. It will probably need to be replaced.

 

[kiz]

It's not under warranty from e-machines.
"square with arrows pointing in both directions." I think she said there are color bars in this.

Fh=Full Height Khz=Kilo Hertz
I'm thinking maybe it could be something with monitor?!
Hm-m-m

Thanks for ya'lls help. I would appreciate any other ideas to try. She is an elderly lady and pretty computer illiterate.
It's late here. I'm going to her house in morning to see what I can figure. I'll check back here before I leave.

Thanks again!
kiz

 

[dexta182]

Try a different video card or sound card in the PC.