I'm looking for some help with a computer

My girlfriend did something with her computer and now it's my problem. Usually I can figure stuff out when she gets things messed up but not this time. Anyway, It's an old (13 years) Dell desktop and the images are almost like a reverse (color) negative. Along with that, the resolution of the graphics are terrible but fit the screen like normal. She has virus software and I don't think it's anything that she's downloaded but I'm no expert. I tried resetting the date and it didn't help. The resolution is as bad on the net as it is on her pictures. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Probably she has messed the monitor settings. Dont touch the computer until you see if the monitor is set correctly. It may have an auto tune function...try that. The monitor buttons are either on the lower edge of the housing, on the back or on the side. You can adjust the color, image size, etc using these.

mike

Thanks Mike but I tried that already.

is it windows 98? windows xp?

here is a link to the Dell troubleshooting guide
Desktop Monitor Issues with Lines, Color, Fuzziness, or Distortion. | Dell

It's XP thanks

probably the video card took a dump.....take a pic of the card....I may have one or something similar....if you know what format it is, tell me. You can probably look at the service tag and go to the dell site and it will spit out the config of that box.

Kinda what I was thinking, possible video card issue, or maybe running in safe mode?

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Originally Posted by robot

probably the video card took a dump.....take a pic of the card....I may have one or something similar....if you know what format it is, tell me. You can probably look at the service tag and go to the dell site and it will spit out the config of that box.

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Another idea......when we have a box go flaky, about 80% of them can be revived by taking the cover off and blowing the dust out of the thing....especially on the circuit cards. It is amazing how much dust collects inside a computer especially if it sits on the floor. Just remember to not over rev the fan with your air gun.

I just tossed a dozen or so Dell computers that were of the 2000 era....and a similar number of old 20" tube monitors. Took them to the church rummage sale and none sold for $20. The county recycle place refused to take them because "if you have more than one computer, you are a commercial enterprise"....dumb ass recycler.

mike in tucson

If your colors are inverted into a negative. check the back of the monitor for a magnent. It's an old prank, but on CRT's, a magnet will cause a negative 'gauss' image.. Otherwise, that's probably a bad video card

I'm going to try cleaning it out today with the vacuum but now she has the thing so screwed up that she can't get on line with it anymore. The problems she has with her PC happens on a pretty regular basis and I'm always the one that has to spend my time fixing her mistakes. She opens and downloads everything. I heard that an Apple is less likely to have issues. Any thoughts?

Put a fresh install of PC Linux OS on the computer. It is free/ simmilar to the workings of Apple, tho not a commercial product as it is open source. PCLOS with KDE looks very simmilar in design and function to windows. As long as she does not need any windows based software, it would be perfect. Even if she needed a windows based program, WINE runs a lot of them, and for those that don't run, there is usually a linux alternitive

The end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had her take it to a computer guy. In 15 minutes he had the problem solved and sold her more memory. I don't know what he did and I don't care. When she brought it home, I hooked it back up and 10 minutes she was pestering me to help her get on line. I had her call the guy that fixed it and they had it going in a couple of minutes. Between the two of we have about 8 hours of screwing around with this thing and getting nowhere. For $32.00 the problem is solved...bottom line? If you don't know what you're doing, take it to an expert!

Sometimes .... ya just gotta bite the bullet.

NOW, take a look here and maybe do an upgrade to something newer/better DELL AUCTION > Used Dell Laptops`Refurbished Dell Laptops`Used Notebooks`Dell`Monitors`PCs`Desktops`DELL Deals. My laptop which, so far has been great, came from here. Several folks I've recommended the site to have also had good luck (just don't buy one without an O/S or a VISTA O/S)

No O/S is actually a great way to save money.. No O/S computers can generally save $2-300 off of a computer. OEM versions of Windows are $80-150, so with some patience, you can get a computer $150-200 cheaper and have it without the bloat ware, or many versions of linux are available for free, I use PCLOS, and it's nice.. Dell windows recovery discs are also dirt cheap on Ebay. Just make sure the computer remains to have a Dell COA.. As far as Dell, I don't care for them, but there not bad. As far as Dell auction. They are probably warranty replacement/ repairs ( how Dell works )They will function correctly, and can make a great deal, just keep in mind, there is little warranty.

OTOH, Dell parts are dirt cheap, and there not that hard to work on. have to have a steady hand with any laptop, but if somthing simple goes wrong ( keyboards are common ) the fix is probably 1/2hr for unexperienced, a few screws and a ribbon connector usually.. Screens and motherboards are where it can get complex, but still doable

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Originally Posted by Matt167

No O/S is actually a great way to save money.

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Matt - 100% correct, but many if not most folks just don't have nor want that ability to play around trying to get something to work. They want to plug it in, turn it on and start connecting on the internet. You and I - well we play with other bits and pieces

That's true.. I personally hate the bloatware that comes preinstalled. My laptop ( Acer ) came with Vista which was bad enough, but it had some grid software for alligning the windows, and took just about 20 mins to load. I split the partitions, and dual booted an OEM version of XP and Ubuntu linux, which later was replaced by PCLOS. still have the original recovery partition for Vista tho.. Every once in a while I buy a laptop that needs work, to fix and flip it on Ebay. only make $20-30, but it pays for some parts

The nice part with the auction Dell's - no bloatware, just an operating system. My laptop had XP Pro+ installed - nothing else. And for me, that's what I need to do for what little I need.