Hi everyone,

Let me describe my problem:
In order to turn my NEC ND-1100A CD/DVD-RW into its successor ND-1300A, I updated its firmware. I did this using a flashing tool and firmware that was successfully used by many other people specifically for this purpose (so this shouldn't be the problem here). Everything went smoothly, or so it seemed. However, this is what I had to see when I booted:

[img width=450 height=337]http://www.imagexoom.com/uploads/1_copy18.jpg[/img]

[img width=450 height=337]http://www.imagexoom.com/uploads/2_copy12.jpg[/img]

[img width=450 height=337]http://www.imagexoom.com/uploads/3_copy11.jpg[/img]

Surprisingly, it?s apparently not a problem concerning the ND-1100A. The drive was successfully turned into a ND-1300A and it seemed to work. Flashing it back to a ND-1100A didn?t solve the problem, nor could I notice a difference after disconnecting the drive. The power device is okay, all voltages stable and within the limits. Motherboard and CPU temperature normal.

Interestingly, when I unplug the power device for a short time and then reboot, at least the boot screens seem to be okay. However, the vertical stripes reappear soon after. First I usually see yellow stripes. They disappear after a while: when I notice that new objects like icons or windows suddenly overwrite the stripes, I just have to force a redraw of the whole screen (e.g. by maximizing a window) and everything is back to normal. Hours later, however, the stripes return as pink stripes that don?t go away. Usually these ?pink stripes? persist on reboot, unless I unplug the power device as described above.

Unfortunately this is probably a problem that can only be solved by replacing hardware, but I wonder what hardware -- the motherboard, the graphics card? The motherboard?s BIOS should be okay (flashed it with newest version).

Configuration:
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4, 2.8 GHz
- Motherboard: ASUS P4P800 Deluxe
- Grahphics card: ATI Radeon 9500 Pro
- OS: Win XP/SP 2

Thanks in advance for your help/advice!

Welcome to the forums.

Personally, I think the flashing of the drive and the graphics issue are a coincidence. This type of artefacting is ususally caused by over-heating or a heat related issue. Make sure that the fan on your graphics card is still spinning and that the card isn't overly hot. Also, take the card out and clean the contacts (the gold strip) with a soft lint-free cloth, then re-seat the card.

Hi Hengis,
I will try what you suggested. If that doesn't help my next option is to replace the graphics card.

Thank you for your reply!

Ok, but see if you can test the card on another PC before getting your wallet out

Ya Hengis is correct!!! Just so you don't go outsedning 100's of bucks on a new card make sure it is the card first!! The the mobo, you can download this program and can you send a screenshot back of what it says


http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Hi folks,

thanks for your help. The problem is solved: It's the graphics card. I replaced the Radeon 9500 by an old Radeon 8500 (taken from one of my previous computers), and the artifacts are gone.

Thanks for the link...interesting tool!