Hi.

Hope someone can help me? I'm quite IT literate, so normally don't need to ask for help, but hey, here goes...

I use a Dell, with a Dell Monitor. 19" CRT.

Now then, I was in Google Earth - was working fine and have had no problems at all with my PC, ever! - when the image section of said program (ie, the maps) went berserk (I know not very technical).

Re-booted all seemed fine, however upon moving the cursor\pointer to a white background (my desktop is black y'see), I noticed a flickering "around" the arrow icon.

Imagine the pointer is a box - with invisble sides (cuz it actually is!), well the "flickering" occurs within the confines of the "box".

So I try a game; Civ 4 as it happens. All seems ok, altho main menu options had a striped effect. But upon entering a saved game, the main screen (map) was like looking at a kaleidascope, on acid - I kid you not.

Now my question is: is the graphics card having melt-down? Or is it the monitor finally giving up the ghost? Monitor is approx 4 yrs old (ok, I hear the screams now: change it, change it!!)

My hunch was the card, as XP has generally been ok. However, the screen saver (flying 3D text) also was doing kaleidscope impressions, so I'm now veering towards the monitor capitulating... add to this, the fact that nothing has changed on my PC at all.

I shall try and use an alternative monitor and work at it by exclusion, rather than supposition, but any thoughts and comments greatfully received :-)

Regards.