I have Norton 2005

Do you keep it updated?

Definitely

I don't have an answer to this problem but I think your timestamp is a red herring. Mine is 04/08/2004 00:56. It depends on whether you have the cd or download (which version and where it came from) or WU. Mine is the UK cd version.

For your problem, have you tried checking your screen refresh rate? Have you updated your graphics card drivers?

Norton by itself isn't enough, I'd recommend Ad-Aware 6, Spybot and Windows Defender as a three pronged attack on spyware.

Don't want to sound dumb, but what is a red herring? How do I check my refresh rate? No, I haven't updated my graphics card drivers. I do have Ad-ware, Spybot and Window Defender. I've been using every resource I can find. Are Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer connected in any way on a pc?

red herring   • noun 1 a dried smoked herring. 2 a misleading clue or distraction.

For refresh rate, right click desktop, then properties > settings > advanced > monitor > screen refresh rate and see what it says. Make sure 'Hide modes that this monitor cannot display' is ticked, then from the drop down box select the highest refresh rate it will allow, my screen for example, is 85Hz.

I was able to set it to 75Hz. On the Nvidia website it says to remove Nvidia Display Driver before installing new drivers. There are 2 listed in the Program list. One is Nvidia Windows 2000/XP Display Drivers and Nvidia Display Driver. Should I remove both?

Bump

Hi MsPooma. I was hoping someone would see this and have an answer for you. All I can tell you is that I use an ATI card and although ATI recommends the same thing I just downloaded the new drivers and installed them and it worked without a hitch. I can't tell you though if doing the same thing with an Nvidia card would work.  

Jagged edges can happen by the wallpaper not being the same size as your screen resolution and Explorer resizing it.

In Display properties on the Desktop tab try setting wallpaper to be Centered.

I updated my nVidia drivers in the manner nVidia suggested
I only had one option 'nVidia drivers' - uninstalled, rebooted, double clicked the nv download, installed

I just checked and still only have one option in add/remove 'nVidia drivers' - no 2000/xp in the list - mine doesn't even say 'display'

Maybe mine says Display because of the version. I believe it's the original from 2003, possibly version 4 and they offer version 9. I'll just uninstall both of them and hope for the best. I've tried changing my screen resolution without any luck.
I'll post back after I DL the drivers.

I had nvidia version 6, now v.9, but it didn't make a difference at all. The problem lays somewhere in my Windows Exlporer. When I end that process, my wallpaper is fine.

Hey MsPooma did you see Reply #35 from Meowy. Have you tried that?

Sure did BigDogBigFeet, I answered him in #37

Changing my wallpaper to be the exact size of my screen resolution seems to work now, but it's still disappearing when something is loading on Start Up, where it never did that before. I never had to resize my wallpaper either. I've tried smaller wallpaper and larger wallpaper. All are jagged unless I resize to screen resolution. Does everyone have to do that? I never had to do that before.

I answered him in #37

#37 has nothing to do with the question asked in #35.

but it's still disappearing when something is loading on Start Up

Download Starter


Then you can check out what is running at startup.

Pardon me, BigDogBigFeet and Koasati, I only gave a partial answer. I tried centering before installing new graphic drivers without any luck, then tried again afterwards and it worked better. My screen is still blanking out and then reappearing. Got me stumped. I'll check out Starter.
Thank you

Its okay with me MsPooma when you answered my question with your response in #40, I believed you. I'm sorry this one has been so difficult and that's exactly why I expressed I'm really stumped by this. It does seem that all the obvious answers to what can be causing this, you've checked. It has occured to me that one theoretical cause is that your file registry is corrupted (and not loading the true version of explorer or that explorer has become corrupted). Can you obtain a clean copy of explorer from CD's, your backup disks, or Microsoft to see if that solves the problem. Also, explorer probably relies on DLL's and one of those could be at fault. This sure is a difficult one to solve. I keep hoping there's a simpler explanation that noone has thought of yet. Good luck MsPooma.

Oh it just dawned on me that there is one most likely candidate that needs to be fully eliminated. Most display problems when they occur can be traced to the graphics adapter, the display driver, or the video screen. We can rule out the video screen, the graphics adapter is probably okay, but the one area that Nvidia is known to have some problems with is 2d graphics. Jagged edges are just that kind of problem and occurs in 2d rendering. You should definately be submitting a work ticket to Nvidia on this to see if they have an answer.

I will share this one other item with you. Sometimes when I'm having system glitch problems that I just can't track down and figure out how to solve, I've done this with some success. I reach down and hit my power switch off without going through the Start menu and selecting shut down. This will cause Windows to record an abnormal termination. Then when you turn the power back on Windows will offer to restart in Safe Mode and some other choices. Choose to restart Windows in the Last known good configuration. This doesn't allow you to find out what's caused the problem, but it sometimes makes the problem go away.

And, finally MsPooma since I'm just kinda of doing a brain dump on this. When setting screen resolution it is also important to check the color bit depth. A screen display that is set to 1280x1024 at 16bit color depth will have more pronounced jagged edges than a screen display that is set to 1280x1024 at 32bit color depth. Many graphics cards can be set for either mode. So please make sure, if you haven't already done so, to check the color depth setting on your graphics card and set it at the highst color quality 32bit. I hope this isn't redundant but, I'm just trying to make sure all the likely causes are checked.

I really appreciate all your help and everyone else as well. I do keep it at 32bit color. I have shut down Windows the way you mention (out of frustration), but it never offered me those options when starting back up. I think it is all going to boil down to a reinstallation of Windows....what a pain, but that is about the only sure fire way to solve this problem. Everyone has been so very helpful and patient with me.
Bless your hearts and thank you, Mary