Unofficial Aptiva Technical Support Knowledge Base   Aptiva TechDoc #10012
Last updated 11/08/99





The Green Line of Death


Problem

After installing a game or software that uses the DirectDraw features of Microsoft DirectX, your screen may be black, or you may see a green line(s) running across the screen. Users have termed this "The Green Line of Death"


Occurs

After installing, or when launching software which uses DirectDraw


Effects

Aptiva systems with the ATI Mach64-based ("3D Rage") graphics chipsets


Cause

Conflict between Microsoft DirectDraw and ATI Mach64 graphics adapters


Solution

Often to resolve this problem, you need to change your video
drivers and/or display settings. Try the following:
  1. Right-Click on the Desktop > Click Properties
  2. Choose the Settings tab
  3. Click the Change Display Type button
  4. Click the Change button > Change Adapter Type
  5. Select Show All Devices
  6. Under Manufacturer, choose [Standard Display Types]
  7. Under Models, select "Standard Display Adapter [VGA]"
  8. Click OK twice > Click Yes to restart Windows

    After the computer restarts:

  9. Right-Click on the Desktop > Click Properties
  10. Choose the Settings tab
  11. Click the Change Display Type button
  12. Click the Change button > Change Adapter Type
  13. Select Show All Devices
  14. Under Manufacturer, select ATI Tech Enhanced
  15. Under Models, select either ATI Mach 64 PCI (DirectDraw)
    or ATI 3D Expression PCI (Mach 64)
  16. Click OK twice > Click Yes to restart Windows
  17. Start your DirectX program


More Info

Note that rather than reloading the original ATI display drivers another option is to upgrade to newer drivers. The latest IBM-supplied ATI drivers for the Rage I and Rage II chipsets are in the file ATI435US, but even newer drivers are available directly from ATI

Also note that the steps above are for Windows 95 OSR1, users of OSR2 or Win98 should use the following alternate steps for (3)/(4) and (11)/(12):
  • Click the Advanced button
  • Choose the Adapter tab > Click the Change button




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