Hi,
I am brand new here so please be gentle  

I'm not sure what section to post my question in- so I'll try here. If it's the wrong place I apologize.  Also- I am not very computer literate...

I was in the middle of playing a game tonight (City of Villians beta) and my screen locked up and turned into a bunch of vertical, colored stripes. I shut it down, assuming it was a game glitch- this is beta after all...anyway, when i turned my computer back on it booted up ok and then when it got to my desktop screen it started with the vertical stripes again. I restarted several times - each with the same result.  I am able to use the computer, but the screen is distorted and stripey.

I have limited knowledge as stated before - but is it a problem with my graphics card? the drivers? am I way off here?

I don't know what info to give .. so:
it's a Sony Vaio PCV-RZ 40C1b
ATI Radeon 9800 graphic

...what else should I tell you?

Any help would be very much APPRECIATED...

Thank you very much Don't go too crazy trying to fix a problem with their BETA product. Let them know or see if that is a known issue.

you may spend a lot of time and effort trying in vain to fix something that is their issue (and may already have been fixed by the final release).

Other than that, how's the game?   Wow- quick response- thank you  

The problem isn't just happening in the game - since it did that the first time, I have not logged back in to play. The issue is continuing even when I am just looking at my desktop or am on the internet. Most of the time I can peer through the stripes- but sometimes it LOCKS up completely and I have to shut down.

and the game rocks   I have been playing like crazy... well..up until this little issue anyway.Uninstall and reinstall drivers is the first thought. Make sure the video card is firmly seated in the slot. Pull it out and put it back in. If this doesn't help, post back.Check your video drivers in your device manager.
Check your screen resolution.
Check your refresh rate.
Does it do it in safe mode?wow- this forum is awesome. I will try everything suggested and post back.

thank you!!We do appreciate feedback.   Quote

Uninstall and reinstall drivers is the first thought. Make sure the video card is firmly seated in the slot. Pull it out and put it back in. If this doesn't help, post back.

Check your video drivers in your device manager.
Check your screen resolution.
Check your refresh rate.
Does it do it in safe mode?

So it was totally fine until 2 days ago and nothing happened to the computer. The fan still turns on it? Does it help to take the side panel off the case. Does it stay the same or continue to degrade the longer its on?
How long have you had the card. We are sure your system has internet cr*p on it - adware/spyware, virii?

When you open that case, see if the fan is still turning on that video card. Heat does a lot of bad things!