Possible Driver Problem

[Jowolf359]

I have a question, I have the Intel 82810 Graphics Controller on my HP Pavilion 512n. I am getting lines that run up and down through the monitor every now and then. It is an intermittent problem, but when I install the proper driver/controller, it asks if i want to install an old version over a new version.

The graphics is integrated into the motherboard. Do I need to add a graphics card to solve this problem, or what? I cannot afford to buy or build a new system right now, no job to pay for it. I also do not like 64bit OS's that seems to be the only ones I can find already installed. I have tried to install some old graphics cards with no success. I have never seen anything like this before. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[jholland1964]

Sounds like the driver you are trying to install is not the correct one. Especially if it asks if you want to install an old version over a new one. This means the one that is all ready on there is newer than the one you are trying to install.

[TurcoLoco]

As an addition to what Jholland mentioned, is there a pattern to when these lines are appearing or correlation between running any programs and the lines appearing? If so it might be a conflict with the running program in question or at least an isolated issue in a similar fashion.

If you have not updated your drivers or made any changes to this system then I wonder why the lines appear now if it was indeed the driver? Main suspects would be a service pack or system update or another device driver you might have recently installed or updated.

To find the culprit on a system that appeared seemingly out-of-the-blue, I always follow Columbo's crime scene logic:

- What is there that wasn't there before? Newly installed programs, device, system update or service pack, etc.
- What isn't there that was there before? Uninstalled program, device drivers, deleted folder, file, registry key, etc.
- What has/was changed? Modified or moved registry, file or folder meaning system or application setting, BIOS configuration, system service, etc.

I guarantee you will find the culprit if you can answer each one of those questions.

[Jowolf359]

I am shocked, I went into Device Manager and there were three drivers listed for this one controller, I started at the top and went down, the bottom one came from Microsoft. That one has not shown those lines at all.

The lines would appear in any program, I have not uninstalled any program except for trillian. It showed up after I had defragged and optimized my desktop. I am betting that had something to do with it, but before then I would defrag and optimize my system every month on the first, then I would do a data back up and then a disk image. I am totally lost here.

[jholland1964]

Exactly HOW do you "optimize" your system? Hope it isn't some special program. They can do more damage than they are worth.

[Jowolf359]

I use Advanced SystemCare from IObit for cleaning, along with CCleaner. For Defragging and optimization I use Smart Defrag by IObit which allows three levels of defragmentation and two of optimization. I use Smart Defrag because it is a faster program than the one in Windows, and only needs to be run once to totally defrag my system, not like Windows Defragmentation.

[jholland1964]

I use Advanced SystemCare from IObit for cleaning, along with CCleaner. For Defragging and optimization I use Smart Defrag by IObit which allows three levels of defragmentation and two of optimization. I use Smart Defrag because it is a faster program than the one in Windows, and only needs to be run once to totally defrag my system, not like Windows Defragmentation.

Well this may be part of your problem. Advanced SystemCare is just not very highly recommended. This program generally gets terrible reviews, here is just one of them
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/s...ews/30034.aspx

Plus the parent company of both programs, IOBIT does not have the highest reputation either:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Malwa...d-126389.shtml

http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/i...howtopic=29681

Automated optimization programs cause more problems than they are worth and I have seen this time and time again, with these very programs you note here, while helping folks clean up and speed up their computers. There is no way one single program can possibly be configured to optimize every computer available. Each computer is different, each computer, while having many files and processes identical to most others, also has individual and different programs and processes on it depending on the programs installed and what each user does with his computer.

The use of a third party defragger is fine, but use a good one, with a good reputation and this Smart Defrag program by iObit does not have a good reputation. One that is very good and gets good reviews is Diskeeper. No, it is not free but very good. You can get a 30 day trial version for use to try it out if you wish. But I would most definitely UNINSTALL those iObit products.

[Jowolf359]

I am going to leave Advanced SystemCare as it has one program I like, SmartRAM, which cleans RAM and makes it available faster. I am replacing Smart Defrag with Defraggler 1.21.209. If someone knows a freeware program to freeup RAM please let me know, I would rather get rid of all IObit programs.

[jholland1964]

You DON'T need a special program to free up RAM. You can set it up yourself.
When your computer’s random-access memory, or RAM, is running low, Windows will increase available memory using a paging file. This is a form of virtual memory, which simulates physical RAM.
By default, the virtual memory paging file is 1.5 times the size of the physical RAM on your computer. You can manually change the size of the paging file to make it larger or smaller. In addition to this, you can optimize virtual memory by dividing the paging file space between multiple drives and removing allocated space from heavily-accessed drives. Here’s how:

1. Click the Start button located in the bottom-left corner of the desktop and select Run. Type in sysdm.cpl and click OK.
2. Click the Advanced tab in the dialog window that opens.
3. Click on Settings in the Performance section.
4. Click the Advanced tab. Under the Virtual Memory section, click on the Change button.
5. Under Drive, select the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.
6. Type in a new paging file size in megabytes. Click Set when you are done.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/w...#ixzz0xYASX68t

How much RAM is actually installed on the system? Give us the full specs of the computer.

[Jowolf359]

I am running an HP Pavilion 512n
OS; Windows XP Home 32bit SP2
CPU; Celeron 1.40Ghz
RAM; 384MB
Socket370 Motherboard

I boosted my PF like you suggested. I will see how it works for me.
I know I need a better system, but I cannot afford to build one right now.