PCWorks: Odd refresh every 40 seconds

I have a 2 year old Dell pc that does this refresh every 40
seconds or 
so. Regardless of any programs running or not the screen
refreshes and 
nothing works when this happens.

Specs include: Celeron 2.4 ghz, 1 gb DDR 400 dual channel,
40 gb hdd, 
cd-rom, dvd burner, XP Home. Aside from the extra memory and
dvd burner 
every thing is original.

Full diagnostics from a dozen apps on all parts all show
positive 
results. The hdd is regularly checked for errors and
defragmented.

Any idea's?

Peter Kaulback
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A very interesting problem. I saw this once in a Dell with a
bad video 
card (It refreshed somewhat more often.) I switched to the
onboard video 
card and the problem was solved. I'm not sure if it was
related, but the 
motherboard died a few months later.
I'd start by removing and re-seating the video card, or
adding one if 
it's an on-board video and you have a slot for a card.
Does this phenomenon occur in Safe mode? If so, it may be a
software 
glitch, but I'm leaning toward a hardware problem.


Peter Kaulback wrote:
> I have a 2 year old Dell pc that does this refresh
every 40 seconds or 
> so. Regardless of any programs running or not the
screen refreshes and 
> nothing works when this happens.
> 
> Specs include: Celeron 2.4 ghz, 1 gb DDR 400 dual
channel, 40 gb hdd, 
> cd-rom, dvd burner, XP Home. Aside from the extra
memory and dvd burner 
> every thing is original.
> 
> Full diagnostics from a dozen apps on all parts all
show positive 
> results. The hdd is regularly checked for errors and
defragmented.
> 
> Any idea's?
> 
> Peter Kaulback
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