Need Help Troubleshooting Multi-coloured Single Pixel Lines along borders on Windows UI.

thebadmachine on 05/06/2019 - 21:18
Last edited 05/06/2019 - 21:19

Hi again, thought I should make a separate post for a new problem to find someone who can help diagnose this odd issue.

This recently happened for the first time ever on an old tower desktop PC.
I was transferring some files to backup to an external HDD, when suddenly these multi-coloured single pixel width lines started appearing along the borders (lots of them all along the bordered areas) of the UI.
They were very neat and tidy and at the same time each pixel in each line was flashing multiple colours (almost matrix like).
They definitely are within the system (graphics-card, motherboard or HDD) as the faulty pixels would be random if it was the monitor.
It went away soon after, then I disconnected the external and carried on using the PC and the problem never returned.

Later on I used to PC again and the problem appears to have disappeared.
Tried connecting the external again to see if I could replicate it, same result (everything was fine).

After a quick search the most likely diagnosis was “beginning of graphics-card RAM failure”.

What’s going on here?

Thanks for reading.

Computing Microsoft Operating System

Comments

  • brendanm on 06/06/2019 - 11:20

    Plug your monitor into onboard graphics and remove the dedicated card. See if it happens again.

    • thebadmachine on 06/06/2019 - 14:02

      Hi thanks for your reply, the computer is an old tower PC and only has the output on the back for monitor on GeForce graphics card, same deal in device manager only display adapter is GeForce.

      • brendanm on 06/06/2019 - 14:18

        You should have another on the motherboard for onboard graphics. Device manager won't show anything else as onboard is generally disabled when a dedicated card is plugged in

        • thebadmachine on 06/06/2019 - 17:44

          Hi since the problem has disappeared it may be awhile till I can update you.
          If it happens again I will try what you suggested. Although it may be awhile again before I can confirm it has solved the issue.
          It looks like there is an extra display plug on the back covered with plastic & 2 screws, whether there actually is one behind the plastic I will have to find out.

          My suspicion is a bad connection with the external HDD as that is the only time I can say the issue was present. Have done so many times (backing up to external) so it is odd though.

        • thebadmachine on 26/07/2019 - 16:36

          Hi I have an update, the monitor through a fit today and the whole display suddenly became inverted / polarised.
          I found the onboard graphics port behind the plastic blocking it.
          But while I was back there I just thought maybe it’s just the cable or plug issue (cable was sandwiched between the desk & the wall).
          So I just re-plugged both ends into the same ports as before, and it’s fixed (display is back to normal).

          I am actually relieved as I now know it is a display issue (cable or monitor), and the rest of the old computer seems to be fine. Thanks for your advice anyway.

  • wasdw246 on 27/07/2019 - 11:19

    Are you able to observe this with a screenshot or remote control software?. If yes then it's the graphics chip.
    If not, it may be the display or cable

    • thebadmachine on 27/07/2019 - 12:21

      Ok thanks. I am pretty confident I have found the issue. I will keep your test in mind though.
      We never leave the computer switched on all-the-time, so I am guessing that’s how it & it’s components has lasted this long (6-7 years). It may be the computer is in better nick than I imagined.
      Feel better about purchasing that SSD to upgrade it now.

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