1. Use Windows System Restore
If you are experiencing graphical errors on your Windows PC, the first thing to try is using the Windows System Restore feature. System Restore allows you to revert your computer to an earlier point in time before the errors occurred, restoring your system and its files to a previous working state.
To use System Restore, open the Start menu and search for “Create a restore point.” Click the result, then click “System Restore,” and follow the on-screen instructions to select an earlier time and begin the system restore process. It may take several minutes for the process to complete. Once done, restart your computer and see if the graphical errors have been resolved.
2. Check for hardware issues
Sometimes, graphical errors can be caused by hardware issues. Check to make sure all of your hardware components—including your graphics card, display, and monitor—are properly working and connected. If one or more of your components is failing, you may need to replace it to resolve the issue. You should also try cleaning any exposed hardware components with canned air to remove any dust or dirt buildup.
3. Update your graphics drivers
It’s possible that your graphics card’s drivers may be outdated or corrupted, causing the graphical errors you’re seeing. Your graphics drivers are responsible for translating data from your computer’s operating system into visuals that can be displayed on your screen.
To update your drivers, first identify which type of graphics card you have—such as AMD, Nvidia, or Intel—then head to its manufacturer’s website and download the most up-to-date drivers. After they finish downloading, install them, then restart your computer to allow the new drivers to take effect.
4. Rollback Windows Updates
In some cases, the graphical errors may have been caused by a recent Windows update. It’s possible that the most recent update has caused incompatibility issues with your system, resulting in these errors. To fix this, you can roll back the update to an earlier version.
To do this, open the Start menu and search for “View Installed Updates.” Select the result, find the most recent Windows update, then right-click and select “Uninstall.” After you uninstall the update, restart your computer and see if the graphical errors have been resolved.
5. Run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
The DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DxDiag) can help you diagnose and troubleshoot graphical errors in Windows. This tool can help determine if the errors are related to your hardware, drivers, or DirectX versions, and then help you resolve the problem.
To access the DxDiag tool, open the Start menu and type in “dxdiag.” Press Enter, then wait for the tool to run. The Results window will display information about your system’s configuration—if there are any errors, they should be visible here.
If your results reveal any issues with your DirectX installation, you can try reinstalling it. To do this, open the Start menu and type “DirectX.” Select the result, then follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall DirectX on your computer.
6. Clean Install Windows
If none of the solutions above have worked, then you may need to perform a clean install of Windows to resolve the graphical errors. A clean install will reset your computer’s operating system, wiping out any corrupted files or settings that may be causing the errors.
Warning: Before performing a clean install, make sure you have backed up all of your important data.
To begin the clean install, insert your Windows installation media into your computer, then start your computer from the disc. Choose the “Repair your computer” option, then the “Troubleshoot” option. Select “Reset this PC” and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows. Once done, restart your computer and see if the graphical errors have been resolved.