View Full Version : I'm having serious computer troubles, please help
Mr. Anderson
05-22-2006, 02:44 PM
Every so often, my computer would start up, and the picture would be so completely distorted you could barely see anything. It had like a multi-colored fuzz over it. If I turned it off for a while, the picture would be back to normal and the problem would go away for a bit. It never happened while the computer was actually running correctly. Well, I just upgraded to Service Pack 2, and it does it if the computer is on for about 45 minutes. It doesn't go away, and it ruins anything I'm doing. I need this fixed ASAP, what is the problem and what is the solution? Also, it's not the monitor, as I've tried another and the problem is the same.
klwillis45
05-22-2006, 02:57 PM
try to upgrade or roll back your graphics driver
Mr. Anderson
05-22-2006, 03:46 PM
I need to rollback, but how?
ITDEFX
05-22-2006, 04:24 PM
I need to rollback, but how?
boot in safe mode, then after waiting 5 or 10 mins for it to boot in safe mode, then go to system restore, and then find roll back to an eariler time, find a spot on the calander (say a day or whatever before your problems occured) and let it do its magic...chances are that its going to work :)
Moxio
05-22-2006, 06:58 PM
Are you sure it isn't your monitor?
Mr. Anderson
05-22-2006, 08:07 PM
Yes, I'm sure it isn't my monitor, I've tried another one and it did the same thing. Also, I haven't tried the rollback, but I updated the drivers and it still doesn't work, and it's getting worse. Fuck.
CappyCobra
05-22-2006, 09:02 PM
Reseat the video card? Try another card to eliminate the AGP/PCI-E slot?
Are you sure it isn't your monitor?
This is what I was thinking I had a CRT monitor that did some crazy shit like that. It would distort the image on screen and I would have to unplug the monitor and then plug it back in to work right.
ITDEFX
05-22-2006, 10:31 PM
DO A ROLLBACK, there is a good chance you can restore it back to the pre fuck up state.
Mr. Anderson
05-23-2006, 12:34 AM
boot in safe mode, then after waiting 5 or 10 mins for it to boot in safe mode, then go to system restore, and then find roll back to an eariler time, find a spot on the calander (say a day or whatever before your problems occured) and let it do its magic...chances are that its going to work :)
I have system restore turned off....
And how do you boot in safe mode again?
CappyCobra
05-23-2006, 12:47 AM
I have system restore turned off....
And how do you boot in safe mode again?
F8 before the Windows XP splash screen comes up
Mr. Anderson
05-23-2006, 12:53 AM
F8 before the Windows XP splash screen comes up
And can I do any kind of rollback if sytem restore isn't on?
CappyCobra
05-23-2006, 01:16 AM
Nope:cry:
And can I do any kind of rollback if sytem restore isn't on?
Moxio
05-23-2006, 01:27 AM
Are you sure you don't have both Integrated Video and your card acting at the same time? I remember that would fuck me up.
Check out your Device Manager and post any irregularities.
Mr. Anderson
05-23-2006, 07:46 PM
Are you sure you don't have both Integrated Video and your card acting at the same time? I remember that would fuck me up.
Check out your Device Manager and post any irregularities.
Where is the device manager located? Sorry, I'm a little noobish at this, but this problem is serious.
Vinny
05-23-2006, 08:21 PM
Where is the device manager located? Sorry, I'm a little noobish at this, but this problem is serious.
Right click on My Computer (on your desktop), go to properties, click the hardware tab, then you should see device manager.
Mr. Anderson
05-23-2006, 08:25 PM
Thanks. I went to Display Adapters and it has my Radeon 9800 and Radeon 9800 Secondary. I don't know what that means, but it's always been like that.
Mr. Anderson
05-29-2006, 09:35 PM
So this problem is only getting worse with time. Somebody please help me!
Roufuss
05-29-2006, 09:38 PM
I had this same problem a long long time ago... is there anything else around that emits any sort of magnetical / electronical radiation / interference?
I used to have a real old speaker set, would be a giant main box with the two speakers coming out of it, it's hard to describe, but it completely killed one monitor and would severly distort any other monitor around.
Mr. Anderson
05-29-2006, 10:36 PM
The only things around the computer are a printer, a lamp, and a subwoofer (for my computer speakers). I'll move the subwoofer farther away, but I doubt that will do anything.
Murcielago77
05-29-2006, 10:40 PM
your card could be overheating
CappyCobra
05-29-2006, 10:51 PM
Some FeedBack on the advice we have already given you and what has actually been tried already would be helpful.
Mr. Anderson
05-30-2006, 11:58 PM
Some FeedBack on the advice we have already given you and what has actually been tried already would be helpful.
I appreciate all the advice, but there hasn't actually been anything I can really do. I don't have system restore, and I moved the speaker away from my computer (which was last night, and the problem is still occuring). I finally snagged a picture of the screen from my crappy camera phone. All the distorted crap is what is actually on my monitor. It is completely unusable.
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1133/computerscreenallmessedup0ll.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Oh yeah, this is a screenshot of Winamp.
CappyCobra
05-31-2006, 12:12 AM
I appreciate all the advice, but there hasn't actually been anything I can really do. I don't have system restore, and I moved the speaker away from my computer (which was last night, and the problem is still occuring). I finally snagged a picture of the screen from my crappy camera phone. All the distorted crap is what is actually on my monitor. It is completely unusable.
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1133/computerscreenallmessedup0ll.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Oh yeah, this is a screenshot of Winamp.
Have you tried swapping out the video card for a known working one?
Mr. Anderson
05-31-2006, 12:26 AM
Have you tried swapping out the video card for a known working one?
No, that's a little out of my ability right now. I only have one other PC that I could access, and it's my grandmother's. If push comes to shove I'll try it, but any other ideas?
CappyCobra
05-31-2006, 12:32 AM
That's really the best way to test this out. You don't have a buddy of yours to loan you an older video card just to rule it out? My money is on an overheating video card OR the power supply is not supplying enough juice to the 5V connector to video card. Is the power connector on the video card Directly connected or is it sharing a power lead using a splitter?
No, that's a little out of my ability right now. I only have one other PC that I could access, and it's my grandmother's. If push comes to shove I'll try it, but any other ideas?
Allnatural
05-31-2006, 02:04 AM
That's really the best way to test this out. You don't have a buddy of yours to loan you an older video card just to rule it out? My money is on an overheating video card OR the power supply is not supplying enough juice to the 5V connector to video card. Is the power connector on the video card Directly connected or is it sharing a power lead using a splitter?
In my experience, insufficient power to the card would cause lockups when the card was stressed. Overheating (as when the fan died on my GF3) would cause all sorts of visual corruption, usually pink, horizontal lines across the monitor. Given the description in the op, I'm leaning towards overheating.
Mr. Anderson
05-31-2006, 05:00 AM
In my experience, insufficient power to the card would cause lockups when the card was stressed. Overheating (as when the fan died on my GF3) would cause all sorts of visual corruption, usually pink, horizontal lines across the monitor. Given the description in the op, I'm leaning towards overheating.
That sounds like what's happening. Is there any way to cool the card down until I get a new internal fan?
Kayden
05-31-2006, 09:46 AM
I'd say overheating or corrupt gfx drivers. Go to ATIs site and download the latest drivers and install them. The newer drivers are pretty good at removing the old ones.
That sounds like what's happening. Is there any way to cool the card down until I get a new internal fan?
Get a household fan. Run with the case open and the household fan blowing at full blast right on the video card.
BTW, as someone mentioned, many have given you some good things to try, but you don't give us any feedback in return. You need to help us to help you.
Someone suggested running in safe mode to see if the problem happens when running in that mode. That is a really good suggestion. This will isolate the video driver as the source of the problem, since in safe mode the regular driver isn't used (it uses a generic VGA driver). If you don't know how to boot in safe mode look it up on Google (keep hitting f8 during boot). DID YOU TRY THAT? WHAT HAPPENED?
Someone suggested reseating your video card. That is a really good suggestion. All you have to do is pull your video card out of the slot and plug it back in. The card/slot connection is an electro/mechanical connection. Over time normal oxidation can weaken the electrical integrity of the connection. Reseating the card "scrapes" away the oxidation and redoes the connection. DID YOU TRY THAT? WHAT HAPPENED?
If you try all three of these things, and the problem persists, then there is a very good chance that your video card is toast and you'll need a new one. The only way to confirm this is for you to get your hands on a known good video card to try out in your system. There's nothing any of us can really do about your ability to obtain said card, so it's no use complaining about it here.
The people here are trying to help you. As it stands, you're not making it very easy for us to do so.
Mr. Anderson
06-01-2006, 12:44 AM
Get a household fan. Run with the case open and the household fan blowing at full blast right on the video card.
BTW, as someone mentioned, many have given you some good things to try, but you don't give us any feedback in return. You need to help us to help you.
Someone suggested running in safe mode to see if the problem happens when running in that mode. That is a really good suggestion. This will isolate the video driver as the source of the problem, since in safe mode the regular driver isn't used (it uses a generic VGA driver). If you don't know how to boot in safe mode look it up on Google (keep hitting f8 during boot). DID YOU TRY THAT? WHAT HAPPENED?
Someone suggested reseating your video card. That is a really good suggestion. All you have to do is pull your video card out of the slot and plug it back in. The card/slot connection is an electro/mechanical connection. Over time normal oxidation can weaken the electrical integrity of the connection. Reseating the card "scrapes" away the oxidation and redoes the connection. DID YOU TRY THAT? WHAT HAPPENED?
If you try all three of these things, and the problem persists, then there is a very good chance that your video card is toast and you'll need a new one. The only way to confirm this is for you to get your hands on a known good video card to try out in your system. There's nothing any of us can really do about your ability to obtain said card, so it's no use complaining about it here.
The people here are trying to help you. As it stands, you're not making it very easy for us to do so.
Yeah, sorry, I haven't been too vocal about what I've tried. I re-seated the card, and it didn't do anything (this was about a month ago when the problem only happened on startup). Strangely enough, the problem seems to have gone away for the time being. I didn't change anything, but if it comes back, I'll try both the safe mode boot and the fan trick. I really appreciate everybody helping me, sorry I've been so stubborn. =(