Computer question

[mutantseabass]

OK i dont know much about computers lets start off by stating that. I turn on my computer today and there are lines going across my screen and the color scheme is completly out of wack. Ill explain the color as best i can. The screen is really dark, but if i look at the emotions the helmets on the little dudes are almost flourescent. Also about every inch or so on my screen three is a dark gray line going horizontally from one side to the other. Could this be my graphics card? Anyone have any idea what could be the problem? Any help would be greatly apprecitated.

[PackerAttack84]

My guess would be the monitor, we had stuff sort of like that going on and then one day our monitor just went pitch black, we got a new monitor and it hasn't happened since then. I'm positive, but that'd be my best guess.

[mutantseabass]

Its not the monitor, i hooked up another monitor that i have and it did the same thing.

[Horizons]

Well, if it isn't the monitor, then the problem is either the graphics card or the os. I'm guessing the vidcard isn't rendering correctly.
Head to your local computer shop, get two BFG 6800 ultra's, sli them together and enjoy...

On a serious note, I've never experienced an API error that would cause the problem you 're describing. Good luck with that and let us know what the cause was when it's cured.

[deluxe_247]

my guess would also be the video card. if you arent into gaming or anything, they are pretty cheap to get a basic one.

[Lushcrush]

Sounds like a video card ...
To test even more -
1. Borrow a known good card from a friend and swap it out. That would be what I would do.
2. If it's integrated, download the correct chipset driver for video. See if that fixes anything. If it doesn't, disable/ignore the integrated video and pick up a nice AGP card if you have the AGP slot.
3. You sure you don't have a big subwoofer pushed up next to the monitor? I haven't seen a big magnet cause what you're talking about, but I guess it could happen.
Good luck ...

[mutantseabass]

No subwoofer near the computer. I guess i will have to purchase a new graphics card and see.

[Guttpuppy]

Try Control Panel / Display / Settings... there is a troubleshooting option in there somewhere. It may not help but worth a try.

[mutantseabass]

It was the video card. I swapped the card with another card from an old computer and it solved the problem. Now i just have to go buy another card to replace the old one that i have in here now. Thanks for all your help guys.

[mutantseabass]

Can anyone recommend a decent AGP card? I dont do any gaming at all, but would like to have some kind of decent graphics. Also what do you think i would have to spend on that?