Green screen...

Hi

Now this is not Windows 10 issues, it is actually my old faithful Dell desktop running Vista... quite old now but it was OK for a machine used for basic internet use in my bedroom. but I know the experts on here may be able to help me :)

It seems to have developed an issue which I suspect is graphics card related.. for a number of years I would say it has always had a line of green dots that go from top to bottom but only a single line, and this moves to different positions but mostly about a third of the way from the right hand side...

Now, recently the desktop may boot OK and work ok for a few minutes, but then the whole screen changes to a mass of green dots and dashes so you cannot see the screen very well, although you can see the correct screen below... a reboot does nothing, as does safe mode... I have also reinstalled the drivers..

The monitor is a dual screen, TV and monitor in one and that works perfect.. Does this sound like the graphics card is or has failed and needs replacing? I have just removed an reconnected the VGA cable and that made no difference.. It may be OK for about 5 mins then start..

As this is a PC not used regular it is not worth spending a lot :)

Any ideas?

Stuart

First thing I would do, and some people are uncomfortable doing so, open the device up.

Ensure it is reasonably clean. If you have compressed air do a cleaning. Watch fans, you don't want to over spin them. just hold with finger. This could create a cloud of dust. If you can do it outside.

I would also removed the card from the machine and re-seat.

This may give you a little relief. You say it works for about five minutes, I'm thinking heat issue. If the device is that old then yes the card or motherboard could be on last days.

I did update/reinstall the drivers but seems to make no difference I will say the last two days it has been OK lol

I did actually think maybe a heat issue so I will take the top off and give it a clean out and reseat the card, it is about 10 years old so it may well be full of dust...