Computer crash

Grimbones

Senior member
Jun 12, 2004
551
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Good morning, a few days ago i was logging into World of Warcraft, as i do rather often, but after entering my login information my computer froze, this had never happened before, but i figured it was just one of those things that computers do to piss you off, so i restarted it, but much to my chagrin my computer started having random letters and symbols following my POST.

Here is a chronology of what usually happens.

As i sit at the POST screen there are like intermittant yellow lines vertically on my screen where there shouldn't be. Once the first screen passes, the yellow lines disappea, and i am left with something that looks like the following:

: !! : . . . ..
. !! :!!:: :: !! :: !! :: !!

This wil be basically in the background, all across my entire screen, basically it is a series of two exclamation points, and a bunch of colons (but they all have 3 dots instead of 2), and these will just remain on my screen while my computer continues.

Usually i am able to get to a screen that asks if i would like to start in safe mode, which works, but some of the options spell things that are traditionally other things, such as:

!!Suaru!Wioeows!Nosmalmy!!:::!!

Instead of, obviously, Start Windows Normally.

(I am beyond complexed at this result, and am beginning to think it is a hardware failure, i suppose it could be some sort of virus, but i've ran a few anti viruses--when i get to safe mode--and i have run hijack this, and nothing out of the ordinary pops up)

If i choose to start windows normally, it gets to the Windows XP loading screen, and it acts like it is going to load up, then the loading bar discolors a little, the screen flickers, and rows of white/purple/grey lines with boxes in them appear for a few seconds, before the monitor decides to shut itself down.

I cannot start windows normally, i have tried system restore, but it did nothing, as usual, so i have come here.

I have tried Clearing my CMOS, i have removed both harddrives, and the odd exclamation symbols were still there, so i have a feeling it is not the harddrives. I have removed both sticks of RAM and the oddities still exist.

Unless anyone has any better ideas, i am beginning to suspect either my Mainboard or my PSU.

I took down the voltages...

CPU Vcore 1.48v
+3.3v 3/15v (that is what it says..)
+12v 12.40v
+5v 4.96v
5v SB 5.07v

Like i said i tried to clear my CMOS, I moved the JBat shunt to 2-3, and removed the power cord, and left it on for 30 seconds or more, and upon replacing it, the problems still existed, if i did this wrong be sure and tell me.

My components are...

WD raptor 70gb hdd
AMD 64 3000+
2x512 ddr 3200 (i think, it's been awhile...) Kingston Value Ram
MSI k8n Neo v2.0 (nvidia nforce 3 250 chipset)
BFG 6800 GT video card

Anyway, that is about all i can tell you about the problems, and what i have tried, thanks for taking the time to read this, any help would be deeply appreciated, as i am a gamer without a computer, also there is some college stuff tossed in there too i could use some help with!
 

robisbell

Banned
Oct 27, 2007
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thermal issue with the video card, or faulty PSU.
would need to manually test the PSU with and without load to be sure, will need those results.
also, get a copy of The Ultimate Boot CD, and have it run memtest86+ for 6 hours and post the results.
 

Grimbones

Senior member
Jun 12, 2004
551
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I am beginning to suspect my power supply unit, since i took out my Video card, and blew out all the dust, but when i plugged everything back in, and clicked the "power" button for my case, nothing happened.......i tried again, nothing happened. Is it safe to assume my PSU has seen better days? Thanks.
 

Grimbones

Senior member
Jun 12, 2004
551
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Well here are some new developments, the computer started up after i flicked the power switch to the PSU on and off a few times (i read before that somehow can get it to work again).

It still has the random exclamation points all over the place, and yellow lines, i can start the computer in safe mode whenever i want, and it runs fine, if a bit slow.... It also runs fine in safe mode with networking.

As i said XP loads up and it acts like it is going to start my desktop, and then there is just a black screen with a bunch of white lines acrossed it, with purple triangles sticking out of them! Additonally it seems like my USB mouse/keyboard do not work, i had to go back to one of those funky purple plugged keyboards.

Anyway, i'll run Memtest i suppose.

I really doubt my video card overheated because it was off up until i started World of warcraft, then it died, and it's cold to the touch now, all the fans are spinning... ?

Is there anyway to check a PSU without having any fance tools?! Thanks.
 

Grimbones

Senior member
Jun 12, 2004
551
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Mine is an Antec, what i have in it right now...i thought antec was supposed to be good, have they been slacking on the quality recently or something?
 

Grimbones

Senior member
Jun 12, 2004
551
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0
Memtest ran cleanly...i'm thinking i'm going to pick up a PSU now, thanks for the help.