Can't seem to track down a video problem

[foghat46]

This has to do with the Black Wrath PC listed below. The problem started several months ago, any app with heavy video requirements would suddenly cause my display to disintegrate into vertical lines, very close together, the cursor appears as a ghostly square block in the background, and the only way I can shut down is a reset, or powering down completely. I can fire it right back up and it will be OK for a couple of minutes, then go back to lines. I can pull the video card and reinsert it, sometimes it lasts for weeks, sometimes only a few hours. It appears to me to possibly be a cold solder joint on either the card, or the motherboard. I have updated drivers (Omega ATI drivers), the vid card fan works, so do the other seven in the system, temps are OK. I have a box somewhere with some AGP cards in it, but because I've been coping with yet another back surgery, I've been unable to find it. Swapping in another card would tell me which component causes the problem. I have avoided pulling the card from this system, simply because I can't be completely down for very long. Has anyone ever experienced this problem, and if so, what was the culprit? I need to send something back for repair before too long, this PC has data on it that I need. Thanks, Fog

[USAdidas22]

how old is your video card? it might be time to change it

[foghat46]

About 2 years old. An ATI AIW 9800Pro. Shouldn't be old enough to cause a problem.

[foghat46]

Oh, and I've been away for a little while. Can someone tell me why Hal's avitar is below my post count?

[glc]

You need to clear your browser cache and restart the browser.

[foghat46]

Yeah, that did it. Thanks, GLC. I don't suppose anyone has experienced this sort of problem, eh? Figures that I'd be the only one. Wish I could find that box of video cards.