Realy weird computer issue... (in Off-topic)

Okay, I've brought up this issue to a few people. After I restart my laptop everything is fine. And it stays fine. Until near the end of all the startup programs loading and such. At that point, everything suddenly looks bleached (Sort of like the gamma it turning up really high)

And I can't fix it. It's not a screen issue itself, because it's -starting- fine. And maximized programs (Anything run from a CD, or things like WoW) are their normal color/brightness and everything.

Now, this doesn't make my computer unuseable or anything. So I'd just been ignoring it (It's not an issue except on sites that overuse pale colors and pale backgrounds. But even then, I can still typically see everything).

But now.... Now I have no idea what's going on. I recently bought a game called Majesty 2. Another CD game. But.... Lol.

Certain missions/maps in the game have the SAME problem as the rest of my laptop does. Only some. It gets all bleached out. But it'll flicker in and out depending on where the screen is placed on the map. And only the game portion, not the buttons/menus and such. But what makes this ALL so darn strange is...

Once I open Majesty 2 and load a map that gets pale, my desktop fixes itself! I can close Majesty 2 out and my screen is back to good ole coloring until the next time I restart. (Note, I can put the computer into sleep mode or a screensaver and it'll stay fixed. ONly restarting undoes this "temp fix".)

But the downside is I can't play some of Majesty 2 when the screen does this (The bleaching is extreme on some of the maps, to the point where it's nearly solid white).

I've talked to people, I've google'd (As far as google seems to be concerned, I'm the only one ever to have this issue. -_-)

I could really use some help here. Something. I've tried taking screenshots to show the problem better, but it doesn't appear very well. Certainly not well enough to see the issue. I don't know. I'm happy I have a sort of fix for my computer, but I also want to play Majesty quite badly (I waited for this game for -years-)

Any help would just be truly fantastic. Indeed, if you can actually and truly FIX this for me, I can see tossing someone a mil or two CB your way from pure gratitude.

Also, a quick note which I'm nearly positive has something to do with it. Majesty 2 can barely run. It becomes unresponsive constantly, fails to load, the graphics fail, the program stops responding totally. I feel like if I could find the solution to any of these problems, it'd be the solution to them all.

(Sorry for triple post, but darn it, I want an edit button. Failing to spell the TITLE properly sucks, but I should at least be able to fix it -_-)

what graphics controller is on the laptop and have you udpated the drivers?

Probably not? I'm NOT computer literate, so you'll have to tell me how to find out that info <.<

But this little sticker on my laptop says it's ATI Radeon Graphics. Is that what you meant?

run DxDiag and check out your display driver stats.

Name: ATI Radeon X1200

The Diagnostic tool Slayer told me to use says no Problems Found on all tabs.

http://www.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDHomePage.aspx

in the upper right corner on that web site you have the download drivers, choose graphics and your operating system, etc.

It doesn't seem to have the X1200 series for Vista....

check your manufacturers website

First of all which OS? Vista 64bit or 32bit?

Secondly read this: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Legacy/Pages/radeonaiw_vista32.aspx?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.7&lang=English

if you're on 32bits Vista.

Thirdly: Do you have another GPU you can use, because I am afraid that GPU of yours is dying.

I've got to agree with the masses. Either you've got a bad driver or the GPU is failing. And if you haven't done anything to affect the driver, then the graphics chip is in question.

If its only bleached color it is most likely a driver issue. Random color issues/screen flickering is usually a graphics card failing. I've fried quite a few of them and they have done some strange things like screen tearing..random lines shooting out across the color spectrum in all directions on and off. Also make sure you don't live close to any heavy power lines, large transformers, nuclear power plants, or any other type of fun energy waves.

This bleaching effect happens to me also when I run the Unreal Tournament Map Editor.

It's a graphics card / driver thing and does it with all brands, it's the switch between one screen and another.



You should check if you installed anything lately which could be related to your graphics card which starts automatically after windows starts up.

There is some option turning your monitor to do this, find the source and you will find the solution ;)

Okay. Well, I think I'm on 32 bit.

I'm currently looking for updates to the driver via the Device Manager. Let's hope that does something.


(Also, if it IS a GC issue, how would I go about fixing that? I thought you couldn't replace a laptop's graphics card?)

Oh, and is there any way to check which programs are starting up when after a start up? Because that'd make it real easy to see what was causing the bleaching?

start, run, msconfig (startup tab)

You're not going to find a driver update there.

What model and brand of laptop do you have?

"I'm currently looking for updates to the driver via the Device Manager. Let's hope that does something. "

That never works, click the link I gave you.

"(Also, if it IS a GC issue, how would I go about fixing that? I thought you couldn't replace a laptop's graphics card?)"

If it's not an Intel Video chip it is replaceable, however GPU's for a laptop aren't cheap and then you're better of buying a new laptop. Just update the drivers through the link and run the game again. If it still happens then you're GPU is indeed dying.

When you absolutely need to see everything and anything that starts when your computer starts, download and run Autoruns.
Repost from this thread, lets see if it gets ignored here too.

Aw, Verifex, I like your tips! Really, I do!

Did the whole Henk Bres link thing. Didn't help :'(

who made your computer? what model number is it?

"Did the whole Henk Bres link thing. Didn't help :'"

A bit more info would do wonders, did you install the drivers from that link and tried the game? If so did the same things happen?

If so, your GPU is busted.

Verifex, autoruns is a great program, but since GW's computer skills are next to nothing, that program won't do him any good since he doesn't know what not and what he wants at startup. My advice don't use it.

Im most cases any graphical glitches can be traced back to three things: Bad drivers, busted GPU or the game that is programmed correctly (unpatched).

I never had a program that caused my GPU to malfunction, had an update from windows that did it, but never a program

Bres: True, it's a pretty technical tool, but it gives them the ability to fix it if someone else (like me or maybe you) can talk them through it, otherwise it's a bit rough trying to find and disable all the elements listed in autoruns.

Did you mean to download Option 1 or Option 2?

Option 1 Its a program that installs the driver and ATI catalyst center.