If the mouse cursor appears strange and images are corrupt on a Windows workstation, what is a possible solution?

A likely solution for a scenario where the mouse cursor appears strange and images are corrupt on a Windows workstation is to decrease the video adapter's hardware acceleration. This issue often arises from a conflict or problem with the video card driver or settings, which can cause rendering issues and display anomalies. By reducing hardware acceleration, the system relies less on the video card’s capabilities, which can help alleviate these types of display problems.

Decreasing hardware acceleration may allow the operating system to revert to a safer mode of operation, thereby stabilizing the display and correcting issues with the mouse cursor. This approach is often a first step in troubleshooting graphical issues, as it can resolve conflicts caused by overly aggressive rendering settings or drivers that do not play well in their current configuration.

Increasing hardware acceleration might worsen the display issues, as this setting pushes the video card to operate at its maximum potential, which may not be stable due to driver or compatibility issues. Replacing the video adapter could be an extreme solution if other troubleshooting steps fail, and reinstalling the operating system is a last resort that is typically not necessary if the issue can be resolved through adjusting settings.