Thread: That gray rectangle again...

  1. #1
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    That gray rectangle again...

    After some recent progress on a major annoyance I've been having on my computer, I decided to once again try my luck with this little one, this time, armed with a screen shot (I learned how to do this from the Dilbert TV Show... who says it's a waste of time?)

    Usually after running a DOS program, but occasionally just for the fun of it, my computer pops this gray rectangle on the screen. Note the title-less button on the task bar. This appears in the task manager too. No way to close it or hide it. Programs run on top of it, but I've had to move all icons to the top of my desktop to be able to function with it (as you can see...).

    Anyway to that we know of to prevent or cure this?

  2. #2
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    Umm.. missing a screenie here.
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

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    Yeah - I just noticed the window saying the file was too large. I'll try and make it smaller.

  4. #4
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    You have a website, right? Why not post the image there and then give us a link?
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  5. #5
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    Sorry about that. Here it is, in much lower quality, but it still does the purpose.

    edit: Yeah I could do that... but I uh... *cough* forgot to renew *cough*.

  6. #6
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    Which version of Windows is this?
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  7. #7
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    XP Home

  8. #8
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    When it opens up, go to the task manager, right click on the task, and choose 'Go To Process'. What is the process it highlights?
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  9. #9
    Registered User Russell's Avatar
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    If you right click your desktop and then click refresh, does that remove it?

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    Hmm... let you know next time it opens up. *Going to run every DOS program he owns and pray for a problem*

  11. #11
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    No, clicking refresh doesn't do anything, and I looked in the Task Manager window and I have misinformed you - there is no entry under the task manager.

  12. #12
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    Mebbe speak with the people who made your PC then.
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  13. #13
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    sounds like a corrupted o/s to me, ober?

  14. #14
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Looks like corrupted video drivers. Have never seen this before. Normally Windows freaks the whole screen and the comp crashes. But yours is up and running. Weird.

    To be safe I would make sure your GPU is not overheating and/or your CPU. Weird stuff happens when they get too hot. Also look at your chipset fan and make sure its spinning. Its prob not the chipset as most can run w/o a fan contrary to popular belief...but I'd still check it.

  15. #15
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Have you checked for viruses? I don't think that's it, but you never know. I'd have to also agree with bad video drivers.... although I tend to shy away from that if they work when you don't use the DOS stuff. Still, it can't hurt to update them. If all else fails, you could do a repair on the OS... you are running XP if I can see clearly on the image, correct?

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