Stripes on your computer monitor: A step-by-step troubleshooting guide

Encountering stripes on your computer screen can be a frustrating experience, disrupting both work and leisure. However, there’s no need to panic, as there are several steps you can take to try and resolve this issue yourself.

1. Restart your computer:

• This is the simplest and first step to take. Sometimes, temporary software glitches or conflicts between programs can cause artifacts to appear on the screen, including stripes. Restarting your computer can help reset these temporary issues and restore normal system operation.

2. Check the connections:

• A faulty or loose cable can cause problems with signal transmission from the computer to the monitor, resulting in stripes or other image distortions.
• Carefully inspect the cable connecting the monitor to the computer, ensuring it is firmly plugged into the ports on both ends.
• Check the cable for any visible damage, such as bends, cuts, or broken pins. If you notice any defects, replace the cable with a new one.
• It’s also worth trying to connect the monitor to a different port on the graphics card (if available) or use a different cable of the same type to rule out the possibility of a malfunctioning cable or port.

3. Check the graphics card:

• The graphics card is responsible for generating the image you see on the monitor. Problems with the graphics card, such as overheating, component failure, or poor contact with the motherboard, can lead to stripes and other artifacts.
• Turn off the computer, unplug the power cable, open the system unit case, and make sure the graphics card is firmly seated in the PCI-Express slot on the motherboard.
• If the graphics card has additional power connectors, check that the power cables are securely connected.
• Visually inspect the graphics card for any damage, such as bulging capacitors or burnt components.
• If you have another graphics card, try installing it instead of the current one to see if the problem disappears.

4. Update the drivers:

• Drivers are programs that enable the operating system to interact with the computer’s hardware components, including the graphics card. Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers can lead to unstable graphics card operation and display problems.
• Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA or AMD), find the driver download section, specify your graphics card model and operating system, and then download and install the latest version of the drivers.
• If you recently updated the drivers and stripes appeared afterward, try rolling back the drivers to the previous version or performing a clean driver installation by removing the previous ones.

5. Test the monitor on another computer:

• If you have the opportunity to connect the monitor to another computer or laptop, do so. If the stripes also appear on the other computer, this indicates that the problem is most likely with the monitor itself, not with the graphics card or settings on your main computer.
• If the image displays normally on the other computer, this suggests that the problem probably lies with the graphics card or settings on your main computer.

6. Contact a specialist:

• If none of the above steps helped resolve the issue, or if you are unsure of your abilities to diagnose and repair computer hardware, it is recommended to contact a qualified specialist or a computer service center.
• Specialists will be able to conduct a detailed diagnosis of your computer and monitor, identify the cause of the problem, and offer the optimal solution, whether it’s repairing or replacing faulty components.

Remember that repairing computer hardware yourself can be dangerous and lead to even more damage if you do not have the appropriate skills and knowledge. Therefore, if you are unsure of your abilities, it is better to entrust the repair to professionals.