Author Topic: Stuff... (Read 6670 times)

lidz · « **on:** July 15, 2007, 07:15:23 PM »

Need some assistance, some additional brain power

Below are some screen shots of what I am seeing on my monitor right now. Not sure what is going on. I can barely see, so if my typing is a mess, thats the reason.

I did open up the computer and cleaned out all the dust and crap. I re-seated the video card, hoping that would help. It didn't. This issue is occuring in safe mode as well.

I really am not a computer person, so those are the minor things I knew to try.

So, I am not sure if it is a bad monitor, bad video card, bad something or other....

Thanks to any assistance.

[BTF]EyEsTrAiN · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2007, 08:00:54 PM »

You try a monitor degauss? Are the lines moving or do they just sit there in the same spot? If you have another monitor laying around, try plugging that in and see what happens, if the lines are still there its most likely the vidcard.

MyDocuments · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2007, 08:09:51 PM »

Are these screenshots taken by software on the computer? or "Screen" shots taken by a camera? Do these artifacts show up when you first turn on the PC, or only once Windows has booted? Have you changed anything recently (updated drivers, windows updates? bought new speakers etc?)

This may help http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/584200-gfx-card-monitor-vertical-blue.html

[BTF]Gator · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2007, 08:55:52 PM »

im a noob, so i may be off, by i interpret monitors to be pure output, so if you can take a screenshot, and we can see the defects, then it should be video related and not monitor related, correct? or incorrect?

i'd assume the video card has failed, again after checking the connection for cleanliness, etc like you did.

Have spare parts to try swapping crap?

[BTF]DeathStalker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2007, 10:49:40 PM »

True, if it's a screen shot with the print screen key then saved from paint, it's defenatly vid card "related", but not nesessaraly defective.
Could be driver corruption, or incompatabiltiy with some new software.

lidz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2007, 06:25:40 AM »

Those images are from the print screen function - so that makes sence, if the print screen captures these lines, then it must be something other than a monitor issue?

The moment the computer is turned on and you see the Windows logo - the lines appear. The lines do change color and size, but what is odd is when a windows window pops up, for example a Save window, it is not effected like the rest of the screen. Meaning, it doesn't have the lines over top of the window, but if I grab the box and drag it around, it then becomes effected. But then If I take that box and move it out of the feild of view, it then is corrected and lines are gone, until I drag it around some more.

Do video cards often go bad? I mean I really don't run much other then q2 anymore, so it is not like I am pushing the thing over it's limits of functionality.

PANTONE 7717C · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:45:55 AM »

That is the thing with electronic devices, sometimes they just go bad without warning but they all go bad some day. Even if you buy a brandnew device, once you install it you can only hope that it works. I'm always handling my computer parts with care and keep them clean, while a friend of mine just grabs the parts with his greasy fingers, keeps an ashtray next to the open case and never cleans anything. And somehow his computer keep working fine, the bastard.

I know you don't want to hear this but I'm afraid it's gameover for the card. However always try to rule things out first before drawing conclusions, that includes trying a different monitor. Here is what happened to my previous vidcard. I was happy with my old trusty 9800pro until recently my pc froze in the middle of a game of Q2. I heard my main HD shut down as if it suddenly lost power and boom a screen full of artifacts (checkerboard style). Did a reboot and the screen was messed up even during the Bios POST. Once in Windows everything seemed fine exept for the mousepointer which showed as a block of pixels.
I took the card out for a while and reseated it but still the same deal. I reinstalled the card with the standard xp drivers and it seemed to work again in Windows with no artifacts, but only with 2D desktop apps. But at this point I could not play games without proper drivers so I had to try and install some drivers again.
After the restart the mousepointer was screwed up again and when I tried to load a game the screen just stayed black. So the card was still working with the desktop apps but something in the '3D department' had died.
As a last resort I asked a friend if I could test my card in his PC and the second he turned it on with my card we saw the same artifacts... Conclusion ->

In this case I guess the crappy PSU was to blame and I immediately bought a better one to prevent more damage. Of course damage had already been done so I also had to buy a new vidcard:/
Anyway I guess the best thing to do right now is to try the card in a different PC if possible, because there could also be something wrong with the agp/pci-e slot.

MyDocuments · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2007, 07:38:35 PM »

I agree with all above. The problem could be anything from a corrupted driver/ OS installation to a hardware problem with your Graphics card (it isn't overclocked is it?), motherboard, memory or PSU. I would just take it one step at a time, starting with the easiest and rule out each cause until you find the problem. Since your monitor has already been ruled out, I would:

1. Uninstall and reinstall graphics drivers
2. Unplug the power cables from your CD ROM and anything else you can do without temporarily
3. If your PC has more than 1 memory module, try each one on its own
4. Reinstall the OS (or if you don't want to, download a bootable linux cd such as Knoppix and boot it)
5. Try a different graphics card, or try your graphics card in a different PC.

Hopefully you will find the problem before you reach the end of the list.

lidz · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2007, 08:04:58 AM »

Thanks for the input - I have only opened up a computer, maybe twice in my life....so the list will be a short one for me. I don't have another computer sitting around, but I feel pretty confident it is a video card issue, just based on all the input I have recieved.

I did try to update the drivers and that seemed to make the problem worse. Which is odd.

I think I will buy a new card and try it out. I assume I can return it if it doesn't fix the problem. I just need to buy it from a store which accepts returns...Best Buy here I come?

Whirlingdervish · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2007, 10:47:16 AM »

depending on where you are, I'd recommend Newegg.com for your gfx card purchases.
they have a 30 day return policy and I haven't had any problems with their hardware.
(no DOA mobos/memory/HDs or fuxored gfx cards.. yet.)

lidz · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2007, 11:18:53 AM »

Many people have been hyping this card for me - I want to spend no more the $150.

Whirlingdervish · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2007, 11:27:50 AM »

for an older mobo, without PCI-E slots, that is a great card.
they run cool, and put out solid performance.

PNY makes reliable geforce cards too.

I wouldn't bother with the drivers they give you on the CD though..
just go to nvidia's website and download the latest forceware drivers for your series of card.
they seem to work quite well on every one of their cards I've used.

MyDocuments · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2007, 08:50:51 PM »

If you wan't somewhere you can return it, Circuit City has a pretty good return policy. I am not in any way affiliated with them by the way.

I would also recommend newegg though, they rule! I bought every component for my pc from them. Got a Geforce 7900GT for $199 almost 6 months ago.

uranus · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2007, 07:42:05 AM »

Quote from: lidz on July 17, 2007, 11:18:53 AM

Many people have been hyping this card for me - I want to spend no more the $150. Any suggestions?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133176

i had that card for a little while, then got a 8600gts, just because i got a new HP w/vista, and wanted to take advantage of DX10 games ltr. hope that works out for me!

anyway the 7600gs is a excellent card imo, ran everything i could throw at it with np's.

pic... the 7600gs vs the 7350le my HP came with...

jägermonsta · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2007, 07:49:28 AM »

how does your computer breathe with all them wires?

Author Topic: Stuff... (Read 6670 times)

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