Why does my laptop display flash on and off and distort Windows?

Question

My laptop display has started to flash on and off repeatedly every couple of seconds. However when in safe mode this problem doesn't occur.

The boot screen of Windows XP is slightly distorted, with thin lines running down the XP logo itself. Originally when the log-in screen appeared the mouse would have a sort of box around it made up of lines that wouldn't let me click on anything. Now the box appears less often, although there is some lines going inwards on the mouse pointer when in different sections of the screen. Every time the screen turns itself off and then on, some sections of the screen are slightly distorted, with lines or blocks of color. Also, when on my account (there are 4 in total) in normal mode, after about 5 minutes of being logged on, I get a blue screen with Nvid_Disp error and my laptop re-boots.

I have run many virus and spyware checks with different programs, and they have not detected any virus. I have installed and reinstalled the nVidia GeForce 6800 drivers and updated them, no luck. The only time my problem doesn't occur is in safe mode.

If i have to re-install windows, how would I be able to do this?

I have a CD that came with the laptop that contains a back-up copy of windows xp.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

Your actual video card is playing up, reinstalling drivers or windows xp won't help.

You'll need a new video card.

Answer 2

It sound like there is a hardware or software conflict. Have you installed new hardware recently? If you have "system restore" enabled, you can go to "last configuration that worked".

BUT, it might be as simple as cleaning the registry! Try the free "Glary Utilities at; http://www.glarysoft.com/gu.html

To reinstall Windows, set your "boot options" (F8 usually) to "boot from CD" and restart your pc with the Windows cd in the drive. Also, in System Setup, if there is an option called "OS Installation Mode", be sure and select it.

Spaz could also be right, but replace your video card as a last resort.