Garbled Boot up screen

[Tomyem]

Card name: RADEON 9800 PRO
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Monitor: Dell D1025HE
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
XP Pro SP2
768Mb Ram
IE6

Just done a fresh install, updated all drivers.
Everything was ok last night, now when I when I boot up I get 'kinda' Ascii characters in background of boot up sequence.
Windows splash screen has little black boxes dotted about and more ascii.
Desktop icons look like they have some kind of bar code overlayed on them.
Have attached a pic of current IE toolbar to demonstrate the 'bar code effect'.

Have had 2 ok bootups, no probs then shortly after being logged in the 'bar code effect' kicks in.

I've checked G/Card, Chip etc and they're not hot which was my first idea.

Any help V.V.Appreciated

Cheers
-Tom

 

[Blueman]

Have you tried rolling back the VGA driver?

What happens if you do anything in 3D video?

 

[Illnab1024]

try run...chkdsk

 

[killians45]

check in safe mode. Also, you said you had ascii on BOOT UP, as in the POST?? If thats the case, you probably have a dying vid card. Suggest you check temps, reseat vid card, mem and CPU. Try another vid card.

 

[Nitestick]

like killian said, if it is showing problems during post it is hardware and not related to windows or a hdd for that matter. once again: reseat the video card, make sure nothing is obstructing airflow and check temps.

 

[Tomyem]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies,

I tried rolling back drivers but that just resulted in my monitor not coming on no more, at which point I bit the bullet and reinstalled.

Which turned out to be helpful in that I immediately got a repeat of the problem on re-install.

Tried with a differant G/Card and got a similar effect / problem.

Checked temps on everything and everything seems to be ok.

Tried both G/Cards in another computer with no problems at all.

So seems the idea that some hardware is on its way out somewhere is sadly correct.

Thanks for all your help / responses

Cheers
-Tom

 

[Tomyem]

Possible Solve

Hi again,

just wanted to add that I may have found a possible 'temp fix'.

Don't wanna jinx myself by saying it but, "things seem ok now"

I unhooked power, took CMOS battery out, left machine alone for approx '2/3rds a can of beer drank at a slow to medium speed",

went back booted up, defaulted bios settings, reinstalled windows and presto for the moment things are looking good.

Prob' not the best of 'psuedo fixes' but well worth a try before going out spending money on hardware.

Once more, thanks to all the people that took the time out to reply to me, appreciate it

Cheers
-Tom