Computer:
X2 4800+
Asus M2NPV-VN
4GB PC2-6400 Patriot
7900GT (broken?)
Antec Earthwatts 430W
Problems:
I think the video card is broken
Cannot go into windows
Summary:
I bought a used computer this weekend, the owner threw in a 7900GT for free (good seller a lot of feedback, said it was working fine when he pulled it from his daughter's computer). Came with non-legit XP Pro SP2, no antivirus. Booted it up everything was fine. Brought it home, noticed that PS/2 port wasn't working, had to use USB keyboard. Updated motherboard BIOS, AMD Quiet n Cool, and I think video drivers off the CD that came with motherboard (Drivers were old, from 2006). Downloaded some video codecs. Started watching Arrested Development off my external and noticed arrays of dots running around the screen. Installed Warcraft 3 and had the same problem. Thought it could have been driver problems: so I updated to the latest nvidia drivers. Didn't help. Noticed that nvidia control panel had a 3d preview, took a screenshot:
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3767/vram.jpg
Posted problem on another forum. People confirmed it was vram. Googled, found this page and it mentioned it could be my memory. Tested taking them out, trial error, problem still there. Downloaded GPU-Z, temp was ~40C. Downloaded ATItool and underclocked the card, problem still there. Downloaded DirectX9c, ran dxdiag and same artifacts came up during tests. It said my card had no problems though. Contacted gigabyte (2 days ago), still no response.
I needed a break so I started watching TV. Windows update came up and I just kept pressing OK without paying attention, thinking that if it updated stuff to the latest drivers maybe the problem would fix itself. Next thing I know the computer rebooted and Windows Genuine Advantage thing came up and I was apparently on SP3 now. Played a game of WC3. Turned my computer off, slept.
Yesterday morning, my monitor wasn't getting any signal. Tried other dvi port, no go. Took card off, used onboard video. Comp wouldn't boot to Windows. Rebooted, tried "last setting that worked", no go. I can only go into safe mode now.
Trying to find out:
*If my video card is indeed dead, or if it could have been something else.
*How to get back to Windows normally, and maybe rollback to original state. I do have legit XP cd at my parents place, but they're far and I won't be visiting for another month or two. Was hoping I could get by using this gimped XP for a while.
*What you guys would do in my situation
I tried to be as descriptive as possible. Thanks for any help!
X2 4800+
Asus M2NPV-VN
4GB PC2-6400 Patriot
7900GT (broken?)
Antec Earthwatts 430W
Problems:
I think the video card is broken
Cannot go into windows
Summary:
I bought a used computer this weekend, the owner threw in a 7900GT for free (good seller a lot of feedback, said it was working fine when he pulled it from his daughter's computer). Came with non-legit XP Pro SP2, no antivirus. Booted it up everything was fine. Brought it home, noticed that PS/2 port wasn't working, had to use USB keyboard. Updated motherboard BIOS, AMD Quiet n Cool, and I think video drivers off the CD that came with motherboard (Drivers were old, from 2006). Downloaded some video codecs. Started watching Arrested Development off my external and noticed arrays of dots running around the screen. Installed Warcraft 3 and had the same problem. Thought it could have been driver problems: so I updated to the latest nvidia drivers. Didn't help. Noticed that nvidia control panel had a 3d preview, took a screenshot:
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3767/vram.jpg
Posted problem on another forum. People confirmed it was vram. Googled, found this page and it mentioned it could be my memory. Tested taking them out, trial error, problem still there. Downloaded GPU-Z, temp was ~40C. Downloaded ATItool and underclocked the card, problem still there. Downloaded DirectX9c, ran dxdiag and same artifacts came up during tests. It said my card had no problems though. Contacted gigabyte (2 days ago), still no response.
I needed a break so I started watching TV. Windows update came up and I just kept pressing OK without paying attention, thinking that if it updated stuff to the latest drivers maybe the problem would fix itself. Next thing I know the computer rebooted and Windows Genuine Advantage thing came up and I was apparently on SP3 now. Played a game of WC3. Turned my computer off, slept.
Yesterday morning, my monitor wasn't getting any signal. Tried other dvi port, no go. Took card off, used onboard video. Comp wouldn't boot to Windows. Rebooted, tried "last setting that worked", no go. I can only go into safe mode now.
Trying to find out:
*If my video card is indeed dead, or if it could have been something else.
*How to get back to Windows normally, and maybe rollback to original state. I do have legit XP cd at my parents place, but they're far and I won't be visiting for another month or two. Was hoping I could get by using this gimped XP for a while.
*What you guys would do in my situation
I tried to be as descriptive as possible. Thanks for any help!
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