Support NeoGAF

[gofreak]

I'm starting to have some serious problems with my computer, and I don't think they're software related.

Here's a breakdown of what's been happening:

Starting a couple of days ago, I notice some "minor" corruption of rendering in Windows, but everything seems to be working OK, so I ignore it.

Today, that corruption gets a little worse. I decide to try updating my graphics drivers. I do that, and I restart once OK, but the corruption at the windows loading screen is still there etc. Later when I restart, after the login screen, the screen goes black. The keyboard still responds to input (at least numlock goes on/off). After numerous reboots, the screen still goes black (but now just after the Windows loading screen, and before the login screen).

I decide to go into safe mode, back up my data, and I try restoring the system to a previous configuration. No dice, still the same problem. In fact, now when I try to go back into windows, I get to the black screen, and the system reboots itself. So I decide to format my hard disk and reinstall Windows from scratch. That seemed to work successfully, BUT, the corruption of the Windows loading screen is still there! I go into Windows, and everything seems OK. But a couple of hours later, and the rendering corruption in Windows itself is back AND programs are slow to respond, and in fact seem to freeze.

Earlier, before formatting, I cleared away some dust around some of the vents figuring it might be an over-heating problem. There was a LOT of dust on some of the vents. I have just now tried opening my computer, but it seems fine inside - little dust inside.

To get it out of the way, I don't, nor have I ever overclocked this machine. It's a regular Dell, the only time I opened it before was to add a network card a long time ago. I've had it for a number of years now without problems.

Anyone know what might be happening? Thanks for any help!

 

[Crow]

Sounds like video card either dying or not seated in the AGP/PCI-E slot properly. My guess is dying. I'll let the collective gaf help you out on this one. I've got enough spare parts sitting around I usually just narrow my problems down by process of elimination.

Video card needs to be working properly for your computer to boot up and POST or no ball game... but normally your computer would give out some rather ear piercing beeps if that is the case.

All the best.

 

[gofreak]

Thanks for your reply. I'll try taking the card out and putting it back in again.

Is it advisable to turn the machine on with the case open to see if the GPU fan is working?

I can't believe it'd just die This would be the first time this has ever happened to me.

edit - I haven't ever got any beeps or the like since these problems started. It has always got at least to the Windows loading screen, albeit it a rather corrupted, funny looking one. Currently it gets to windows, but with rendering corruption, and freezing programs (really difficult, if not impossible to use).

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

Open up your case, start taking it apart piece by piece, checking the slots on the vid card, on the ram, etc.


I had the same problem a couple days ago I thought it was one of the fans that died on me. Turns out to be some corrosion on the inside of the video card slot. =\

No problems anymore though. *crosses fingers.

 

[gofreak]

Thanks, I'm having a look around now. I've taken out the vid card, checked it and put it back in, but the problems are still there kind of. There was no corruption on the windows loading screen, but there is corruption still in windows itself..and still unresponsiveness, but i managed to make this post on it. A sign I'm getting warm? I couldn't see really anything wrong with the card :/

I'll try the RAM next just in case.

Anything else I should be looking for?

 

[gofreak]

My computer seems slightly more functional now.

Here's a potential clue - turning down hardware acceleration for the GPU one notch, to disable cursor and bitmap accelerations, has removed a lot of the corruption in windows. As soon as I try to restore it to full acceleration, corruption around the cursor etc. comes back.

That seems highly irregular, though. I mean, that perhaps suggests a software problem, but it's a fresh install of windows (and I have, just prior to checking this, updated my drivers to the latest version again).

 

[Diablos]

My computer seems slightly more functional now.

Here's a potential clue - turning down hardware acceleration for the GPU one notch, to disable cursor and bitmap accelerations, has removed a lot of the corruption in windows. As soon as I try to restore it to full acceleration, corruption around the cursor etc. comes back.

That seems highly irregular, though. I mean, that perhaps suggests a software problem, but it's a fresh install of windows (and I have, just prior to checking this, updated my drivers to the latest version again).

Your GPU is dying. If "a lot of" but not all of the corruption of the display in Windows is still there, that just means your GPU isn't working as hard but still getting too hot regardless. If it's in the BIOS, safe mode, etc... then it's more than likely your video card. What video card do you use btw, and how old is it?>

 

[gofreak]

Your GPU is dying. If "a lot of" but not all of the corruption of the display in Windows is still there, that just means your GPU isn't working as hard but still getting too hot regardless. If it's in the BIOS, safe mode, etc... then it's more than likely your video card. What video card do you use btw, and how old is it?>

I haven't checked for corruption in the bios..I don't remember any in safe mode, but i'll have a look. I've been using my PC like this, with acceleration turned down a notch, for a few hours with no problems, except some lingering icon corruption on the desktop.

I guess it is my GPU It's a Radeon 9700 Pro, I got it pretty much as soon as they came out, so it's a couple of years old now.

I guess I might be looking for a new GPU so, but is there any way to check FOR SURE that it is definitely the GPU? Just so I don't buy a new one, only to find the problem persists?

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

I haven't checked for corruption in the bios..I don't remember any in safe mode, but i'll have a look. I've been using my PC like this, with acceleration turned down a notch, for a few hours with no problems, except some lingering icon corruption on the desktop.

I guess it is my GPU It's a Radeon 9700 Pro, I got it pretty much as soon as they came out, so it's a couple of years old now.

I guess I might be looking for a new GPU so, but is there any way to check FOR SURE that it is definitely the GPU? Just so I don't buy a new one, only to find the problem persists?

Switch it out with another video card you may have lying around. If you don't, well get a cheapo for 10 bucks to diagnose.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I had my 9700 Pro die on me a few months back as well, and it acted very much like you are reporting. It sounds like your vid card is going. Time to head to Best Buy or Fry's to get something new.

 

[Dsal]

At least you have a very legitimate reason to upgrade your vid card now.

 

[gofreak]

Cheers for the help guys. I can pick up a card for maybe 30 euro to try out and check for sure. Although I'm slightly worried it may be a different problem, in that I noticed what looked like a very hard blob of dust underneath the card, on the motherboard, when I took it out - like it was caked unto the motherboard. It didn't come away with a hoover, so..maybe that's related. But we'll see.

I'm already keeping an eye on Dell's outlet store (though I'm not sure if that's just looking for more trouble! I only would have max maybe 500 or 600 euro to spend though..).