Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Black dotted lines on icons and toolbar (+ iphoto), Virus???
- Thread starter ***Mik***
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You can hit this keystroke to do a screen capture, 
, Shift, 3. You can then upload that picture so we can all see it. Are just the words/letters themselves that are messed up? Are any graphics/pictures distorted too? If so then it's more then likely that the system is corrupted somehow. Try reinstalling the original software again. Make sure you backup all your information first though.
Like others said, it could also just be your video card or logic board. Does it happen after a while. It's probably getting too hot and that's why you are getting the distortions. I'd recommend cleaning out all the dust in your system and removing the graphics card and dusting that too.
, Shift, 3. You can then upload that picture so we can all see it. Are just the words/letters themselves that are messed up? Are any graphics/pictures distorted too? If so then it's more then likely that the system is corrupted somehow. Try reinstalling the original software again. Make sure you backup all your information first though.Like others said, it could also just be your video card or logic board. Does it happen after a while. It's probably getting too hot and that's why you are getting the distortions. I'd recommend cleaning out all the dust in your system and removing the graphics card and dusting that too.
Yeah it looks like your video card is about to hit the bucket. You wouldn't still have AppleCare by any chance would you?
Another possibility could be the power supply. There was a recall on them. Check here to see if you fall under that category.
I said what about, breakfast at tiffany's....
Yeah, bad video card... if it's not covered under the recall, you'll need to get a new one and really that's not to big a deal as a video can be had for cheap these days. Just make sure you get a mac card or one that can be flashed for OS X.
Yeah, bad video card... if it's not covered under the recall, you'll need to get a new one and really that's not to big a deal as a video can be had for cheap these days. Just make sure you get a mac card or one that can be flashed for OS X.
Other possibility is that you have a video card that uses a molex connector for extra power and the molex connector came lose.
Your graphics card is well on it's way to the land of Graphics Cards that Work No More.
Get one now before it finishes it's journey.
Get one now before it finishes it's journey.