[SOLVED] monitor is distorted in places (and drop-down menus too)

Gregg Bell · 10-09-2015, 05:29 PM

On certain sites my monitor is distorted in places. (see screenshot). Now in that example, when I hover over those buttons that are distorted they clear up.

And sometimes when I get drop-down menus. Several of the items will be distorted (often with horizontal lines), often to the point of being un-readable. But again when I hover over the entry it clears up.

And everything is perfectly functional. So this is no big deal but it is an annoyance.

Also when I first turn on the computer it has a 3" or so vertical line runnning down it that is black.

This all started happening when I upgraded to 15.04 Vivid (Xubuntu).

Any ideas? Thanks.

Rinndalir · 10-09-2015, 07:37 PM

Any error messages in your logs? Cable firmly attached? Can you try another monitor? Reseat the graphics card if possible.

ardvark71 · 10-10-2015, 11:55 AM

Hi...

In case it might help, can you give us the output for...

Code:

lspci -nnk | grep VGA -A 12

Also, was this an upgrade (or sandwich install) using the previous version of Xubuntu or did you install 15.04 from scratch? If the former, I've learned it's always better to install any OS from scratch, wherever possible.

Regards...

Gregg Bell · 10-13-2015, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rinndalir

Any error messages in your logs? Cable firmly attached? Can you try another monitor? Reseat the graphics card if possible.

Thanks Rinndalir. No error messages. I tightened the cables. No monitor around to test and I don't know how to re-seat the graphics card. But we'll see if the tightened cables helps.

Gregg Bell · 10-13-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardvark71

Hi...

In case it might help, can you give us the output for...

Code:

lspci -nnk | grep VGA -A 12

Also, was this an upgrade (or sandwich install) using the previous version of Xubuntu or did you install 15.04 from scratch? If the former, I've learned it's always better to install any OS from scratch, wherever possible.

Regards...

Thanks ardvark. It was an upgrade. So when the upgrade comes around, how do I install from scratch?

Here's the terminal output on that command.

Code:

gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$ lspci -nnk | grep VGA -A 12
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2572] (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:017a]
	Kernel driver in use: i915
00:06.0 System peripheral [0880]: Intel Corporation 82865G/PE/P Processor to I/O Memory Interface [8086:2576] (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:24d2] (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:017a]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.1 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:24d4] (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:017a]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.3 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:24de] (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:017a]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
gregory@OptiPlex-170L:~/Desktop$

ardvark71 · 10-14-2015, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

It was an upgrade. So when the upgrade comes around, how do I install from scratch?

Hi...

By burning a CD/DVD of the new version and wiping the hard drive and installing from the CD. However, unless you back up everything you want or need, you will lose everything and any settings, configurations, custom installed drivers, etc., will have to be recreated/reinstalled. So this may not be a direction you want to go.

Intel graphics chips are usually onboard so there is no reseating required.

It would be helpful if this can be duplicated on another monitor, if at all possible. What is your brand and model (and model number) of your system exactly, or is this a whitebox? Also, do you see this problem of you run 15.04 live (by burning a copy to CD/DVD?

I'm inclined to think this is a driver issue or bug.

Regards...

Gregg Bell · 10-14-2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardvark71

Hi...

By burning a CD/DVD of the new version and wiping the hard drive and installing from the CD. However, unless you back up everything you want or need, you will lose everything and any settings, configurations, custom installed drivers, etc., will have to be recreated/reinstalled. So this may not be a direction you want to go.

Intel graphics chips are usually onboard so there is no reseating required.

It would be helpful if this can be duplicated on another monitor, if at all possible. What is your brand and model (and model number) of your system exactly, or is this a whitebox? Also, do you see this problem of you run 15.04 live (by burning a copy to CD/DVD?

I'm inclined to think this is a driver issue or bug.

Regards...

Thanks ardvark. I've got it on another monitor now. I'll report back soon.