HOTQ*: Why does my computer get the hiccups?
Asked by
janbb (
63200
)
April 17th, 2010
(*Husband Out of Town Question) Recently, my monitor occasionally goes through a period where the screen gets flashing dark lines across it for a time and seems to jump around. It seems to be mouse or keyboard related potentially. Rebooting usually sorts it out for a while. Anyone know what causes this or what I can do to fix it?
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17 Answers
It is doing this because you are OOC (out-of-control) tonight and the monitor knows it.
It could be that the monitor cable is loose; usually on the computer side. You may want to make sure the two screw things are tight.
If it’s an LCD monitor then there’s a chance it may be going out. I had that happen to my last monitor.
1. Replug your monitor cable (might want to switch the cable out as well)
2. Update your graphics driver
3. switch out hardware and try isolate the problem
- Heat can also cause problems with graphics distortions. Troubleshooting that is another question however.
Sounds like the driver to me. Go to Device Manager, and update the requisite driver. If there is no update try uninstalling and reinstalling.
Windows XP – device manager is where?
Well, I pushed everything in tighter on the back of the monitor and took a look at Control Panel and it has stopped hiccuping for now, so I will wait until the next time to do more serious tinkering.
Thanks all, except for you @gailcalled !
Nope – it’s back. I will look into it more tomorrow.
@janbb: Give up the PC. Remember; the doesn’t fall far from the tree.
If Device Manager is not in the Control Pane, use the Help function to search for it – it will give you a link to open it. The monitor driver will be clearly labeled, and it will give you the options for installing, uninstalling and updating.
Denks – will work on it at some point tomorrow probably. At the moment, rebooting has solved it temporarily.
You can also find the Device Mangler by right-clicking on Computer (or My Computer) and select Manage.
@mrentropy: Are you sure she wants the Device Mangler? That sounds counterproductive.
Is this on a laptop or desktop? Part of me is thinking the video card is overheating.
@gailcalled Oh. That’s my pet name for the Device Manager.
desktop, Dell, Sylvania monitor if that matters
EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) is what I am thinking. As for the cause… hard to say. I used to get it when my wife used her Kitchenaid mixer.
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