Windows Scrambled?

Question

I recently bought a new Dell system with XP installed. Recently, as I'm working, everything starts to go scrambled. The taskbar moves to the top of the screen, things get blanked out, everything's very slow, however, when I push the power button on the case, everything goes back to normal, but by then it's too late as everything starts to shut down. All of this is during very low-stress work like simple web browsing, e-mail, and the like. Any ideas? I'm thinking of just reinstalling Windows.

Answer 1

Before you go that far, try booting into safe mode, with networking. Search the dell site for video card updates. It sounds like either a bad driver, or a bad video card.

Answer 2

Since that is a new installation, start from scratch for best results. But if you are stuck onto your files and don't want to restart, try running ad ware scanning programs and an anti-virus program (Suggestions: Lavasoft Ad-Aware, and Norton AntiVirus). Try defragmenting and also disc cleanup in your system tools menu. Also try going to the root drive of your computer (Usually C:) and right clicking on it. Choose properties >> tools >> Check now >> choose all the checkboxes >> start. If you get an error saying that windows needs to lock critical files and requires restart, just choose yes and restart when ready. The scan will take about 20 min at most (Depending on the size of you hard drive).

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Have you contacted tech support yet? By the sounds of it, reinstalling windows may not do the trick. There is a way to reset your system to factory defaults, but it depends if that image is on your system and whether it is a notebook or desktop. There might be some compatibility issues with your hardware. In this situation, your best bet is to contact tech support, even if all you want to do is reinstall windows because if that image is on your system, you can do it in 15-20min rather than spending 3-4 hours reinstalling from scratch. This is something that will be covered under your warranty.

Answer 4

I can't say I've had this problem so not sure what is causing it but you can try to do a system restore, click start, all programs, accessories, system restore and go back to a day you can remember it wasn't doing this. Failing that you will have to either update or reinstall windows. I'm also wondering if you have some sort of virus. AVG has a free anti virus download that may find a problem I also suggest Ad Aware personal and CCleaner, all freeware however if you already have an anti virus program do not download AVG as this will screw up you computer but there is no worries having the other two programs on you computer with anything else. http://www.ccleaner.com/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/AdAware-SE-Personal.shtml http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free

Answer 5

Mostly, you have a virus.
Try your computer without internet connection. If things are getting better, means you have some Trojans and someone is missing with your files.

OR

Sometimes the Windows or the Anti Virus is updating it self. Big updates could do the same effect specially when you have a small amount of ram.

Answer 6

try this first as it will fix the registry

Clean up pc and IE
==============
To clean up run this Microsoft’s windows live program. It does registry, spyware , virus , disk clean up and defrag

it takes 2 hours or more so once it starts to scan (go to bed etc)

XP Users http://onecare.live.com/site/en-ca/defau...

Vista Users http://onecare.live.com/site/en-ca/cente...

Run the full scanner, then at the end of the scan it asks you to set it running full time.

Think twice about setting it to run in the background as it could be another thing to slow you down. However, it may be worth while if you have no other security programs running


also set up IE7
In IE7
Open the: –advance tab –
Click - restore defaults
- tick the instruction to empty the temporary files when the browser closes.
- disable phishing filter

Answer 7

A new Dell shouldn't have these problems, but re-installing sounds like the best solution to me. Be sure to update Windows as far as you can to prevent yourself from being targeted by old malware/spyware.

Answer 8

microsoft has determined it to be the spam guard or PC doctor software something like that....call or get technical support and they will tell you what you have to do to correct it.
I had the same problem, but I just deleted PC doctor and it all went away...good luck.