# Problem with display: graphics card or screen?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 22, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785 "2021-11-22T22:08:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/1 "2021-11-22T22:08:00Z")
Right now I am using my travel computer; first time I have traveled in 2 years. Since then I have gotten a new laptop, seen the boards convert to discourse, and become a moderator. For travel I use a nearly ten year old Surface. Today, for the first time, I have seen that Mod actions are shown in yellow. In other words, my home machine doesn’t show any color. It is perfectly capable of displaying yellow normally, just doesn’t seem capable of displaying the yellow overlay of staff color. Recently, I had to fill out a form that involved checking some boxes. The check marks just didn’t show. I cranked up the Surface and the check marks showed as a white x inside a black background. Does this seem like a problem with the graphics card or with the display? Any suggestions on how to repair? Unfortunately, I won’t be back home for 12 days, so any suggestions will have to await my return
---
### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/2 "2021-11-22T23:52:38Z")
Let’s have a look at it. DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the ‘save all information’ button and save it to a file then attach that file here (or post a link to it on say Dropbox).
You may want to check it for personal details before publishing it.
---
### Author:  [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/3 "2021-11-23T00:04:42Z")
Update your drivers, hopefully it’s an easy fix.
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### Author:  [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/4 "2021-11-23T14:10:21Z")
Could it be a case of a bad color calibration profile knocking out a very narrow color range? Definitely try a different web browser too.
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### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/5 "2021-11-23T17:16:55Z")
Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely try them when I get home, which will not before 11 days. I had never heard of DXDIAG. When I check drivers, it claims they are up to date. I use Firefox, but can easily try the win explorer. As for color calibration, I had fiddled with that repeatedly, with no change.
---
### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/6 "2021-11-24T01:04:22Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#):
>
> When I check drivers, it claims they are up to date.
If that is the Windows check, that is not reliable. If you post or link that dxdiag.txt we can tell from there.
---
### Author:  [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2021, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/7 "2021-11-24T05:04:49Z")
I would also check that all the software involved in the chain is the same revision. Easiest to just update all. The operating systems as well, if they are compatible. Different combinations of browsers, operating systems, software versions, can throw out some very odd problems.
---
### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/8 "2021-12-05T02:59:22Z")
Home again and I tried the Edge browser with no change. I ran DXDIAG and it produced a huge file (over 1300 lines). I am not going to attach the whole thing here, but I have extracted the 79 lines that contain the string Video. It’s all gibberish to me, but here goes:
```
Video Accel: Unknown
```
Video Capture Devices
WMVideo Decoder DMO,0x00800001,1,1,wmvdecod.dll,10.00.19041.1110
Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder,0x005fffff,2,4,msmpeg2vdec.dll,10.00.19041.1320
Microsoft MPEG-2 Video Encoder,0x00200000,1,1,msmpeg2enc.dll,10.00.19041.0001
Video Mixing Renderer 9,0x00200000,1,0,quartz.dll,10.00.19041.0746
Video Renderer,0x00800001,1,0,quartz.dll,10.00.19041.0746
MPEG-2 Video Stream Analyzer,0x00200000,0,0,sbe.dll,10.00.19041.0001
Video Port Manager,0x00600000,2,1,quartz.dll,10.00.19041.0746
Video Renderer,0x00400000,1,0,quartz.dll,10.00.19041.0746
DV Video Decoder,0x00800000,1,1,qdv.dll,10.00.19041.0001
Enhanced Video Renderer,0x00200000,1,0,evr.dll,10.00.19041.0546
MPEG Video Decoder,0x40000001,1,1,quartz.dll,10.00.19041.0746
Video Compressors:
WMVideo8 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,wmvxencd.dll,10.00.19041.0867
WMVideo9 Encoder DMO,0x00600800,1,1,wmvencod.dll,10.00.19041.0001
DV Video Encoder,0x00200000,0,0,qdv.dll,10.00.19041.0001
Video Capture Sources:
MEDIASUBTYPE\_MPEG2\_VIDEO, Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder, CLSID\_CMPEG2VidDecoderDS
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMVR, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMVP, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMVA, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_h264, Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder, CLSID\_CMPEG2VidDecoderDS
MEDIASUBTYPE\_H264, Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder, CLSID\_CMPEG2VidDecoderDS
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMV3, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMV2, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WVP2, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMV1, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WVC1, WMVideo Decoder DMO, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_AVC1, Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder, CLSID\_CMPEG2VidDecoderDS
MEDIASUBTYPE\_MPEG1Payload, MPEG Video Decoder, CLSID\_CMpegVideoCodec
MEDIASUBTYPE\_MPEG1Packet, MPEG Video Decoder, CLSID\_CMpegVideoCodec
{6C737664-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}, DV Video Decoder, CLSID\_DVVideoCodec
{64737664-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}, DV Video Decoder, CLSID\_DVVideoCodec
{64687664-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}, DV Video Decoder, CLSID\_DVVideoCodec
{20637664-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}, DV Video Decoder, CLSID\_DVVideoCodec
Video Decoders:
Microsoft MPEG Video Decoder MFT, {2D709E52-123F-49B5-9CBC-9AF5CDE28FB9}, 0x1, msmpeg2vdec.dll, 10.00.19041.1320
Microsoft H264 Video Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMSH264DecoderMFT, 0x1, msmpeg2vdec.dll, 10.00.19041.1320
WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject, 0x1, wmvdecod.dll, 10.00.19041.1110
VP9VideoExtensionDecoder
MPEG2VideoExtension
HEVCVideoExtension
Video Encoders:
WMVideo8 Encoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVXEncMediaObject, 0x1, wmvxencd.dll, 10.00.19041.0867
WMVideo9 Encoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMV9EncMediaObject, 0x1, wmvencod.dll, 10.00.19041.0001
Microsoft MPEG-2 Video Encoder MFT, {E6335F02-80B7-4DC4-ADFA-DFE7210D20D5}, 0x2, msmpeg2enc.dll, 10.00.19041.0001
VP9VideoExtensionEncoder
HEVCVideoExtensionEncoder
Video Effects:
VideoStabilization MFT, {51571744-7FE4-4FF2-A498-2DC34FF74F1B}, 0x1, MSVideoDSP.dll, 10.00.19041.0746
Video Processor:
Microsoft Video Processor MFT, {88753B26-5B24-49BD-B2E7-0C445C78C982}, 0x1, msvproc.dll, 10.00.19041.0789
Microsoft H264 Video Remux (MPEG2TSToMP4) MFT, {05A47EBB-8BF0-4CBF-AD2F-3B71D75866F5}, 0x1, msmpeg2vdec.dll, 10.00.19041.1320
MFVideoFormat\_MPEG2, Microsoft MPEG Video Decoder MFT, {2D709E52-123F-49B5-9CBC-9AF5CDE28FB9}
MFVideoFormat\_DVSL, DV Decoder MFT, {404A6DE5-D4D6-4260-9BC7-5A6CBD882432}
MFVideoFormat\_DVSD, DV Decoder MFT, {404A6DE5-D4D6-4260-9BC7-5A6CBD882432}
MFVideoFormat\_DVHD, DV Decoder MFT, {404A6DE5-D4D6-4260-9BC7-5A6CBD882432}
MFVideoFormat\_MP4V, Mpeg4s Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMpeg4sDecMFT
MFVideoFormat\_MP4S, Mpeg4s Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMpeg4sDecMFT
{53314356-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMVR, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMVP, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_MJPG, MJPEG Decoder MFT, {CB17E772-E1CC-4633-8450-5617AF577905}
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WMVA, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
{3F40F4F0-5622-4FF8-B6D8-A17A584BEE5E}, Microsoft H264 Video Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMSH264DecoderMFT
MFVideoFormat\_H264, Microsoft H264 Video Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMSH264DecoderMFT
MFVideoFormat\_WMV3, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_MP43, Mpeg43 Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMpeg43DecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_WMV2, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_MSS2, WMV Screen decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMSSCDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_M4S2, Mpeg4s Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMpeg4sDecMFT
MEDIASUBTYPE\_WVP2, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_WMV1, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_MSS1, WMV Screen decoder MFT, CLSID\_CMSSCDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_MPG1, Microsoft MPEG Video Decoder MFT, {2D709E52-123F-49B5-9CBC-9AF5CDE28FB9}
MFVideoFormat\_WVC1, WMVideo Decoder MFT, CLSID\_CWMVDecMediaObject
MFVideoFormat\_DVC, DV Decoder MFT, {404A6DE5-D4D6-4260-9BC7-5A6CBD882432}
---
### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2021, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/9 "2021-12-05T03:56:04Z")
Sorry, nothing useful there. Can you upload the whole file to Dropbox or similar and post a link? Failing that, at least the whole section titled Display Devices please.
---
### Author:  [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2021, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/10 "2021-12-05T09:18:35Z")
> [@Askance](#):
>
> If that is the Windows check, that is not reliable.
You can say that again. I went nuts troubleshooting a display/video/graphics issue barking up the wrong tree(s) thinking my drivers were fine, so said Windows. Went directly to the maker of my video card’s website, downloaded the latest driver, and _BAM!_ I was good.
---
### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2021, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/11 "2021-12-05T23:48:27Z")
> [@BrickBat](#):
>
> You can say that again. I went nuts troubleshooting a display/video/graphics issue barking up the wrong tree(s) thinking my drivers were fine, so said Windows. Went directly to the maker of my video card’s website, downloaded the latest driver, and _BAM!_ I was good.
I had a user a few days ago with an nVidia driver from 2017, Windows told my user there were no updates available for it. We checked on the nVidia site and there was one from this month for them!
---
### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/12 "2021-12-07T02:16:34Z")
With real help from @Askance I was able to find, download, and install the latest video driver. But, alas, the problem did not go away. I am beginning to think it is a hardware problem. I have lived with it for a year and a half and I guess I will continue to. Part of the difficulty is just describing the problem since it comes up in obscure places (like staff color, or clicking some boxes with check marks).
---
### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2021, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/13 "2021-12-07T02:43:03Z")
Did you try a new Windows user, as I suggested?
Do you have access to any other monitor to try swapping that out?
Does this affect any other websites?
---
### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-display-graphics-card-or-screen/954785/14 "2021-12-07T15:26:16Z")
> [@Askance](#):
>
> Did you try a new Windows user, as I suggested?
>
> –Just tried that. No change.
>
> Do you have access to any other monitor to try swapping that out?
>
> –No, it is a laptop and I have no external screen around. Good thought, though. Perhaps my son could sign on to my computer using a remote access.
>
> Does this affect any other websites?
>
> –Yes. There are online forms I have filled out with check boxes. For some, but not all, checking the box shows nothing on the display. When I tried the same site using an old Surface, it turned out that the checked box turned black with a white check inside. Since the staff color changes the background to yellow and the white check mark is inside that black background, it would seem that the problem arises when there is a limited change in the background color. So the yellow of staff color doesn’t show up and the black background of the white checkmark doesn’t appear and a white mark on a white background doesn’t show at all.
But I will ask my son (he is an ex-Microserf) to try signing on remotely and see what he sees.