Understanding Screen Artifacts: Why Your Display Shows Color-Changing Lines That Don’t Appear in Screenshots
In the realm of digital displays, encountering unexpected visual anomalies can be both perplexing and concerning. Recently, a user reported experiencing persistent, dynamic color-changing bars across their monitor screen—lines that shift and change as they interact with their window environment, yet mysteriously do not appear in screenshots. This article explores potential causes and troubleshooting steps for such display artifacts, with a focus on hardware and software considerations.
Case Overview
The affected system comprises a Windows 11 setup equipped with a Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card and a 9600X CPU, connected to a Z-Edge UG25I FHD 24.5-inch monitor operating at 1920×1080 resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate. The user observed intermittent, glitchy lines or bars appearing along the edges or across the entire screen, which dynamically changed color and shifted position based on user interactions such as moving or scrolling windows.
Key Symptoms:
– Dynamic, color-changing bars or lines on-screen.
– Localization along edges or variable across the display area.
– Lines shift and change as applications are moved or scrolled.
– The artifacts are not static black bars, but animated glitches.
– Not visible in screenshots, indicating a potential hardware issue.
Troubleshooting Efforts Undertaken
The user has already undertaken comprehensive troubleshooting, including:
– Resetting Windows to resolve potential software conflicts.
– Starting the system in Safe Mode to rule out third-party software interference.
– Updating and reinstalling GPU drivers through both automatic and manual methods.
– Running system integrity scans using ‘sfc /scannow’.
– Adjusting display parameters such as resolution, scaling, and refresh rate.
Key Observation
A critical insight is that screenshots captured during the presence of these artifacts do not display the lines. This suggests the problem is likely rooted in hardware rather than software or driver issues. Since the glitch is observable only on the physical display, troubleshooting should focus on hardware components including the graphics card, display connections, and the monitor itself.
Potential Causes and Next Steps
- Display Cable & Connection
- Check the video cable (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort) for secure connections and possible damage.
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Consider replacing the cable or testing with an alternative to rule out interference or degradation.
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Graphics Card Issues
- Inspect the graphics card for proper seating and debris in the PCI
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