Blurred frozen screen

stephenawhite · Oct 25, 2010

Hi

I am running Vista home premium. This week I have been getting a frozen screen, slightly blurred, the mouse also won't work. Switch off and load in safety mode to shut down.
Keeps happening.

I have used system restore but it won't complete the restore.

Any ideas welcome

Steve

richc46 · Oct 25, 2010

Blurry screen
Go to search type device manager and look for any yellow warning markers
Download and run malwarebytes, a full scan after you update
Run antivirus scan
Check memory with memtest86
Make sure that you are not over heating.
Try in safe mode; report back if it works properly.
Try a clean boot
Make sure PSU is working properly
If overclocking, restore to original
Test hard drive at company website.

Check back and I will get you some links that you can use for the above
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/246994-guide-to-using-memtest86/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
http://malwarebytes.org/
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Me Bad!
Almost forgot. Type event viewer, in search (by start button) and look for errors that may show the cause of the problem.
Go into event viewer and look for critical errors relating to the problem

You want to look for critical errors (they have red in the left column ).
When you find them you want to look for critical errors that say app hang, app crash, or anything that relates to the problem.

This seems like a lot, but go slow, ask questiions and you will be up and running.

Lorien · Oct 25, 2010

Hi stephenawhite,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

This may look like a lot, but it really isn't as bad as it seems. Some just take a bit of explaining but go quickly. Some will run in the background while you do other things. And you may not need to do all of them - some of the earlier steps may resolve the issue. Please don't be scared off by all this. I've tried to give it to you all at once so we don't have to go back and forth step-by-step over many posts and you can move at your own pace. If you have ANY questions as you proceed, don't hesitate to post and we'll help you. Just take it one step at a time and we'll eventually identify and resolve this problem together.

Boot into safe mode and turn off any security software you are using and try System Restore again. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates. If it still doesn't work but produces an error message, please post it EXACTLY word-for-word in your next reply.

If the System Restore still doesn't work, do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk with recovery options included on it. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html. To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer or perhaps in safe mode with networking if that is working).

If that doesn't work, try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or do so from the command prompt on the disk). Then let's check some of your system files:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator.

Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. Try to attach the report (you may need to copy it to your desktop before it will permit you to attach it) here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk (unless there are too many) or perhaps identify the cause of the problem.

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart. Answer yes and then reboot to run the program. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.

If that doesn't work, then please post any error messages from the Event Viewer concerning startup (Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer). Here's how to use Event Viewer: http://www.petri.co.il/vista-event-viewer.htm. Look in the System section.

You may be infected with malware. Try to run anti-malware programs (in safe mode with networking if necessary). To fix this problem (if it is a problem) download, install, and run the following two programs: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. You may also want to try the new, free Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Download-131683.html (with the caveat that only ONE AV program can be installed and running on your system at any one time). Use removal tools when appropriate http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/05/05/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/. You may also want to try the free Avira at: http://www.free-av.com/ and Avast at: http://www.avast.com/index. Reboot after completing all the scans. You may also want to try the free OneCare at http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm and let it run all the options (except the registry cleaner) because that’s good maintenance (it will take some time to complete but can be done in the background).

If that doesn't work, try a clean boot http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135. If the problem goes away then it's just a matter of tracking down the culprit causing the problem. Follow the procedures in the article. Once found, delete, remove, deactivate, or uninstall it. Once done be sure to reset Vista back to normal status as explained in the procedures. If the problem occurs in clean mode then just restore the system to normal status and reboot - this solution is not going to work.

You may be having troubles with your device drivers, firmware, and/or software. Go to Device Manager by going to start / search box and type device manager and enter and then double-click on the program icon that appears. Check each device for a red x, yellow ! or white ?. These identify devices with problems (probably drivers, but also conflicts or something else). Click on each for further details and troubleshooting tips. If you need to get drivers (and you should get any you have time to do - they may help in ways beyond just resolving this problem), do so from the computer vendor or device manufacturer (NOT from Microsoft Updates). Proceed as follows to get the drivers: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm. Once you have the drivers, you can install them through Device Manager as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/193584-device-manager-install-driver.html. You may also want to try the Driver Verifier Manager to see if you can identify the driver or device responsible (assuming that is the cause): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244617.

Let's test your hard drive and RAM for hardware problems:

To test your hard drive, check the manufacturer and then get the diagnostic utility from: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/302602-hard-drive-diagnostic-utilities.html (and/or get one from your hard drive or computer manufacturer if they have one available – it wouldn’t hurt to try both). If it fails the test, replace it. If it passes the test, then there's probably nothing wrong with it.

You can also test your RAM at http://www.memtest.org/. If it fails, test each chip individually to find those that are bad and replace them. If it passes, RAM is probably OK.

After this (or once the problem is resolved if you didn't need to do it all), please post back with results, the requested attachments, and anything else you noticed along the way that you think might help us. Then we'll see where to go from there.

I hope this helps or at least identifies the problem.

Good luck!

richc46 · Oct 25, 2010

Me Bad!
Almost forgot. Type event viewer, in search (by start button) and look for errors that may show the cause of the problem.
Go into event viewer and look for critical errors relating to the problem

You want to look for critical errors (they have red in the left column ).
When you find them you want to look for critical errors that say app hang, app crash, or anything that relates to the problem.

stephenawhite · Oct 25, 2010

Thank you all.

I took the advice and cleaned the fans etc. The ammount of build up was staggering but I am up and running (quietly)

Steve

richc46 · Oct 25, 2010

If it was actually due to overheating its good that we caught it early, permanent damage could be done to the computer. If the problem continues, I am sure it will be solved if you follow the rest of the advice that has been given.

richc46 · Oct 26, 2010

Steve,
Ty for the rep and kind words. We are all volunteers, here, and our reward is knowing that we have truly helped.

Blurred frozen screen

stephenawhite

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richc46

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Lorien

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richc46

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stephenawhite

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richc46

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richc46

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