Video display problems

[CLT]

OK, please don't laugh at my old PC.

I've had instances of flashing colors, BIOS screen, several times when I booted. That hasn't happened for awhile, but just recently my splash screen color has darkened, and my DOS screen lettering is pale and almost unreadable. In Windows, my background has darkened, and some graphic images appearances are very dark.

I've learned that the Windows Splash screen and the DOS Screen, are controlled by the BIOS and BIOS Setup setting. I checked the settings some time back, but the setting looked correct... to me.

My system is an OLD HP Vectra model, 1996. I know, it's an antique. MY OS is 95B OEM. Should I assume, that my graphics card is going out? I realize my whole system could die anytime. I haven't taken the time to bother with updating drivers, because I had no need to. My display was good, until recent months.

I don't understand hardware issues much, and I've tried locating newer drivers, but I just don't know how to locate the newest ones for my card. I realize it may not make any difference, but....I did download and install different drivers, but it didn't change anything. I ran S3's chip identifier utilities.

WinS3ID.EXE Results:

S3 Inc. Trio64 and Trio64 PnP PCI [Display adapter]
Chip ID: 8811

Chip Name: Trio64/64V+ (764/765)

MS DOS S3 Chip ID Utility Ver.1.00.07

S3 Video Chip: Trio 64 (764)
Display Memory Size: 2M
Display Memory Type: Fast Page Mode DRAM

If there's any hope, I'd sure appreciate any help you could give me. I just need to keep this beast going awhile longer.

[mib]

Your problem seems to be related to old age, for the computer, that is.

Most monitors will start displaying all sorts of problems with the picture tube, with the Brightness and Contrast dials, etc. after sometime.

To determine if the problem is with your monitor or the video card, try to connect the monitor to another PC. If the display there is fine, then your problem is with the video card. If it is also dark with the other PC, then you may need to service or replace the monitor.

Also, try to fiddle around with the brightness and contract dials to see if they are still functioning properly.

[NooNoo]

and welcome to windrivers CLT

The monitor is likely to be older than the computer - by up to 3 or 4 years!! On the back of the monitor - many have a label with the manufacture year on it.

[CLT]

and welcome to windrivers CLT

The monitor is likely to be older than the computer - by up to 3 or 4 years!! On the back of the monitor - many have a label with the manufacture year on it.

Thank you both for you input. I truly appreciate it. My monitor is a Samtron, dated '96 and is Energy Star compliant.

It isn't convenient for me to plug in another montior, since I don't have one on hand. I've heard that's the best way to find out, and it makes sense. I'll just have to take it as it comes. I was hoping there were some newer video drivers I could try. i realize S3 went off the scene for several years, but I assume there were driver updates put out prior to that.

I was hoping there would be some later display dirvers I could try. Other than the DOS screen, the problem is only with colors and graphics. Example is the XP Bliss wallpaper, the grass is so dark, it's black. Blues are just a darker shade of blue.

Thanks again for your help.

[NooNoo]

as you can see not much in the way of updates.

You could try a new video card....

[mib]

Thank you both for you input. I truly appreciate it. My monitor is a Samtron, dated '96 and is Energy Star compliant.

It isn't convenient for me to plug in another montior, since I don't have one on hand. I've heard that's the best way to find out, and it makes sense. I'll just have to take it as it comes. I was hoping there were some newer video drivers I could try. i realize S3 went off the scene for several years, but I assume there were driver updates put out prior to that.

I was hoping there would be some later display dirvers I could try. Other than the DOS screen, the problem is only with colors and graphics. Example is the XP Bliss wallpaper, the grass is so dark, it's black. Blues are just a darker shade of blue.

Thanks again for your help.

Drivers will not help much if the problem is with your monitor. From your description, looks like one or two of the color hues of your monitor is malfunctioning, most probably, the green one, or the blue.

One thing you can check. Most newer display drivers come with software that lets you tweak monitor settings. I have an NVidia GeForce2, and in the Display Properties-Settings-Advanced, I have a tab for Color Correction.

See if you have the same for your video card. If you have, check if your display will improve if you change the blue or green hue settings.