Sony Vaio VGC-LT10 Stand alone Graphic problems

I am currently troubleshooting a Sony VAIO VGC-LT10 (Serial # PG 281L (?)) All-in-One Desktop PC. The graphic began displaying horizontal color bands. I rebooted and received a black screen with several random symbols that appeared to be floating. One of the icons appeared to be a smiley face (rectangular) in shape. I immediately suspected a virus. I shut down and rebooted again, I was able to get to the initial boot screen but then all of the squiggly multi colored horizontal lines appeared. I then tried a repair and went into a continuous loop. The PC has an Anti-Virus software (AVG-Free version) installed.

I was unable to go any further. I inserted the owners certified copy of Windows 7 in order to reinstall the OS. I was able to reinstall the OS (Win7) without any problems...however the squiggly horizontal bands did not go away. I now believe the problem to be a hardware failure. As this is an All-in-One Desktop I don't believe there is a separate video card that can be replaced. The unit was purchased in 2007 so the warranty is no longer valid. However, I contacted Sony Support and was unable to receive any positive feedback from them. Actually I was quite disappointed with their response.

I have not popped the back off yet to determine if there is a separate graphics card as it is not my PC. I checked out the Sony website for replaceable parts, a new motherboard is over $600. USD.

The person who owns the PC mentioned he may go MAC if I am unable to solve his problem...don't want to see that happen...hahaha.

Thanks in advance. Any ideas out there are greatly appreciated.

I think you instincts are correct. Those symptoms are very common for video card (chip) errors.

One other possibility is overheating. But if it were that then it would not occur on cold (off for many minutes cold) boot.

Most likely the graphics is supplied by a chip soldered to the mainboard. These all in one products are built to be disposable (Grrrr), not easily repairable. And not easy to test by just switching out components.

I suggest that you encourage the owner to buy a MAC because he will never have any problems with one of those (laugh here) and then offer to take the "piece of crap" off his hands so he will never be bothered with a "Windows Computer" again (It runs Windows - it's a Windows computer - perfect logic).

Then you can experiment to your hearts content. If you are handy with a solder gun you might even try replacing the graphics chip.

TVeblen, thanks for your quick reply in confirming my suspensions. You are correct...some computer makers have gone the way of the disposable PC, All-in-one's being the case in point.