Computer Is Locking Up -- Any Ideas?

[shanedlm]

Hi Everyone! I am hoping somewhere out there can help me with the odd problems my computer is having.

To (hopefully) make a long story short, here's some background. I have a year-old Gateway computer that is under extended warranty at Best Buy. (I know... you can make fun of me later!)

My computer has begun locking up on me for no apparent reason. When this happens, my monitor gets all garbled. No motion. Just static garbledness. This happens sometimes while in Windows, sometimes at bootup, sometimes in the BIOS settings. Wherever it wants! There's no rhyme or reason as far as I can tell. Sometimes it happens when I'm pushing the processor, but other times not a single thing is running.

Often times, if/when this does occur while in Windows, I end up having some corrupt System32 files once I get the computer up and running again.

Here are some pics of what I'm seeing on the monitor -- also included is a pic of my CPU temps at a lockup. Doesn't seem to be an overheating issue, right?

Photos Available Here

When it locks up, it's COMPLETELY locked up. I can't do a thing other than open and close my CD/DVD drives. I have to do a manual power shutdown. Sometimes, after powering up again, I can't even get a bootup screen to come up. Power's running through, CD/DVD drives are powered, but nothing else.

I've already brought it the Geek Squad like 5 times. First they tried to tell me my OS was corrupt and tried to charge me $130 to install Windows -- screw that! Finally, they shipped it away for a week and told me a new mobo was installed, which I'm starting to doubt.

But before I go back screaming and yelling, I would love a REAL expert opinion.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated -- and if more info is needed, just ask!

Thank you all!


--Shane

 

[TheStu]

This kind of sounds like a problem I had with my old system. There was either something wrong with the graphics card, or the AGP slot was messed up... whatever, the end result looked the same more or less.

As far as fixing it went, I unfortunately never could. The only solution I could find was to fully shut down the system, never restart.

I would recommend backing up your data and then taking it back to Best Buy and demand a replacement. If they claim they fixed it, and the problem persisted, then they did not fix the problem. Ergo, they either send it off again and definitely do fix it this time, or replace it. If it doesnt come back fixed, then they replace it. You spent the money there, you bought the extended warranty, they are obligated to honor it.

 

[shanedlm]

Ha -- how encouraging! Yeah, I've already backed up everything and at this point, I'm working on bare bones.

It's just such a hassle bringing this thing back and forth to Best Buy (especially when it's in their hands for over a week) and I want to make sure I have a better idea of what's going on, because they sure as hell don't which is not very comforting to say the last.

First time I brought it in, I had formatted the drive completely so that they could see it was a hardware issue and not Windows related. Next day, they call me back and say "Good news! Your hardware is fine, but you need a new OS ..which will cost $130." This after I explicitly told them I had formatted the drive so they had a clean slate and could see how the hardware was acting up. I FLIPPED and said some nice things I'm not very proud of. (Well, that's not really true, the kid was an idiot.)

Thanks for the reply!

 

[KGB]

Welcome to the Forums! :beer:

After looking at you pictures, this is most certainly a video card issue.
Your CPU temps are fine.
Do you know the details of the video on your system?
Is it on-board graphics or do you have a discreet video card?
If it is a discreet card, can you try re-seating it in the slot?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Another vote for video card, or possibly the AGP slot. But more likely the card

 

[shanedlm]

It's an onboard video chip -- not an actual card. There are some weird factors that make me think it might not be video. For example, sometimes when this happens, and I try to boot up, my power light doesn't even go on, the fan doesn't start revving, and there's no picture on the screen -- BUT -- there is power running through the system and I am able to open and close the CD/DVD drives and I hear the HD doing its thing.

Also, sometimes when I do a manual shutdown, pushing the power button for 5 or so seconds (this is always the case when these lockups occur) -- my computer will shut off completely... but my keyboard light stays on and never turns off unless I completely pull the cord from the socket.

So that's starting to make me think it's a power issue of some kind. Or could the video problem actual cause this to happen?

So confused!!! But thank you all for your comments, I really appreciate it.

 

[WildHorse]

Since you opened the door for "Any ideas" I'll mention these:

(1)
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ghlight_key=y#25673855

In that linked instance, weird video artifacts were fixed by improving the cooling of the chipset.

You show 41 deg C "system temp" (which would be on the edge of "too high" for my particular mobo) but it's not clear what is being detected for that reading. There may be a temp detector somewhere on your mobo distant from the chipset which it's reporting. Maybe the temp of your chipset is higher than whatever is being reported for "system temp." I only mention this as a possibility, and I am not declaring that that's definitely the source.

However, I doubt that'd be causing the writing to your System32 files, corrupting them, which you mention. Still, since you asked for "Any ideas" . . .

(2)
You might also watch your power supply readings to see if they're steady (good), or if they're fluctuating a lot (not good). About 12 years ago I had a Gateway, and they had gone real cheap on the psu, using a no-name, underpowered 200W unit.

If you have a software utility that'll let you do that, use it. If you need one, there are many free ones, such as: http://www.gtopala.com/index.html or others. Watch power to cpu, ram, and chipset for a while.

(3)
Best Buy's comment that "you need a new OS ..which will cost $130" is ridiculous. Indicates that you are not getting reliable warranty service. Undependable. Have you considered demanding they exchange yours for a completely new computer under that extended warranty?

edited to fix typo

 

[KGB]

Shane,

Try clearing the CMOS.