[jperez]

I have a long, thin, two dimensional worm looking line on my CRT desktop monitor (several years old), that moves methodically waving from side to side, looking like a snake swimming to the surface of a pool of water. It appears after the computer has been inactive and the longer the period the longer the worm. It disappears immediately after I start using it. I have run my antivirus (Norton's) after updating it, and also PC Tools Spyware Doctor 5.0, as well as some free malware software off the internet and it is still there. This has been going on for several months but seemed to go away for a few only to return recently. My computer/CPU with Windows XP is one year old. What could it be?

jperez

[mphenterprises]

Hi JPerez. Welcome to PCWorld. :-)



Okay, let's look at the points:

- When you do not use your computer for a period of time, this line appears

- It grows in length the longer your computer is inactive

- It immediately goes away when your computer is active again



This is not a virus. This is a screen saver :-) Check your Screen Saver settings. I will almost bet you will notice what I am saying. If you set the Screen Saver setting to "none," or at the very least, change the screensaver, I bet you will never see this line again.

[jperez]

I was very hopeful and really wanted this to be my fix, unfortunately it didn't work. In fact it is longer and remains persistant as I work on my computer now, although it is decreasing in size as I write this.

[mphenterprises]

Well, I was hopeful that your problem was that simple also. :-(

Okay, this may be an instance where a screen shot is in order. Can you please take a screen shot of this worm and maybe we can try to figure this out. If you are not sure how to upload a screen shot into this forum, follow the instructions within this Document.




In the meantime, have you tried any security scans in Safe Mode? This may help isolate the potential viral worm. If you are not sure how to access Safe Mode, follow the instructions within this Document. Once you run some scans within Safe Mode, if you are still unable to remove this pesky line, we can try some more intense scans.

[jperez]

I disconnected my desktop monitor and hooked it up my laptop (OS Vista) and found the worm still on the desktop monitor but not on the laptop monitor as both are on. It took only a couple of minutes to do this and when my desktop monitor came on the line was from top to bottom, the longest it has ever been. It is gone now after a minute or so. MY desktop uses Windows XP OS so it would appear that the problem is not Windows XP or the desktop CPU, so I assume it is a monitor problem. What do you think?

[mphenterprises]

Have you tried the information I posted in my previous post? As far as I know, there is nothing that could cause such an issue - only in the monitors - but we will try to explore all avenues.

[LincolnSpector]

jperez said:

I disconnected my desktop monitor and hooked it up my laptop (OS Vista) and found the worm still on the desktop monitor but not on the laptop monitor as both are on. It took only a couple of minutes to do this and when my desktop monitor came on the line was from top to bottom, the longest it has ever been. It is gone now after a minute or so. MY desktop uses Windows XP OS so it would appear that the problem is not Windows XP or the desktop CPU, so I assume it is a monitor problem. What do you think?

So, if I follow you correctly on this, the snake (I don't like using the word worm here because it has an entirely different meaning involving bad stuff on your computer) appears on this screen no matter which computer it's hooked up to.

It's clearly a problem with your monitor. Depending on how old the monitor is, the question is whether it's worthwhile to try and repair it or just buy a replacement.



Lincoln

[jperez]

Lincoln,

I also hooked up an older CPU (Windows 95 or 98 OS) and the line is there again. This time I was using a boot disk to bring the CPU up and the line appeared but different - it was no longer one flat hard edged line but three or four thinner lines in the form of a vibrating rope or strands of line spiraling up. After a period while trying to reinstall windows on this CPU the line returned to its original nature. It is still there as the reinstall is attempting to complete. Definitely a monitor. I will have it checked out by a repair tech. I was wanting a flat screen anyway.

Lets see what the wife says. We had to replace our washer this week, we've been shopping for a DVD recorder, and I just replaced my laptop, brief case, & calculater which were stolen out of my car a few weeks ago, needless to say my budget no longer has funds available.

thanks for your help and you to mphenterprises.

[jperez]

No, I did not try your suggestions. thanks for the follow-up.

Do you feel I should continue with that process after trying two other CPUs and still finding the worm?

[mphenterprises]

Well, if you switch computers and still find the line, the problem is not the computer; the problem is definitely the monitor. Therefore, a security scan, whether in Safe Mode or not, would not really do anything. As Lincoln stated, you may just have to get another monitor.

Now, if you could please, follow the steps presented previously to post a screen shot of this line so we can all see what you see.

[jperez]

Thanks for the reply. I switched the screen saver again and it is no longer on the screen.

I will try the previous screens to see if I can replicate the problem and if so I will take a pitcure and post it for everyone to see, but I can't get to it now as I must do some real work to meet a deadline. I'll try to do it first thing tomorrow if not sooner.

[jperez]

I tried several times before I was able to replicate the line. I changed the screen saver three times and turned it off with no luck. Then I recalled that the times I switched the monitor to the other two CPUs the screen was off so I turned the monitor off for a couple of minutes and turned it on and there it was from top to bottom. I did a printscreen and pasted it in paint and saved it; I did this twice to make sure I had followed the instructions correctly, but both time it did not show up. Very strange. I any event I know a little more each time I try something different. It's strictly a screen problem which does affect or show up in or on any of the programs/software applications. I wonder if anyone else has run into this peculiar problem?

The url is:

s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/jsperez/?action=view¤t=line.jpg

[mphenterprises]

Hi JPerez. Yes, as you mentioned, the line does not show up in a screen shot so this is definitely a monitor issue and nothing else. I would advise you to get another monitor. This is a very strange situation and I believe you have eliminated all other possibilities.

[jperez]

Thank you mphenterprises, and Lincoln for your help.

jperez:-)

[mphenterprises]

With Pleasure. This is a very odd situation and I think we all learned something new with this one.