What has happened here? - Pattern across entire screen

http://img204.imageshack.us/i/photoxh.jpg/

When I started my computer this morning the above pattern formed over the entire screen. There were also a few funky colours flashing on startup too.

Can anyone tell me if they have an idea as to what this might be, and would a reinstall be likely to fix it?

This is on a Vista machine.

Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks for the advice there, much appreciated!

http://thumbnails39.imagebam.com/12382/78a7dc123813471.jpg

That is a photo of what I see, however if I take a screenshot and look at it on another computer it actually shows up fine. Am I right to persume that this is a driver issue then perhaps?

 

It's a laptop?

I did try plugging an external monitor into my laptop but it wouldn't work unfortunately, I couldn't get the hotkey that swaps displays to work.

It has actually 'fixed' itself since, but every now and again it happens. Last time I did a system restore and it seemed to fix it.

Weird thing just happened; it started going again just and as I moved my mouse it started leaving a green fleck across my screen.

I have updated all my drivers on my computer so I don't think it's that and I'm pretty sure it isn't a virus, as I'm really careful with things like that.

It's just confusing that the only way I can show you guys this is my taking a photo, because if I take a screengrab it shows up perfectly normal :confused

Thanks.

 

Yeah, being a laptop, somewhat confuses the issue.
On a desktop, with a plug-in video card, I'd have to say it's the video ram. But on a laptop, with integrated Video, they usually use a part of the main ram for video ram.

I'd check the main ram. If you can take it out, clean it with denatured alcohol and dry it thoroughly before re-installing it.

Just one thought.

Shadow