I challenge thee!!!

[Spooner]

Well I'm thoroughly stumped. My machine is having some major problems.

Symptoms:
- Sometimes boots up to a very distorted screen with color blotches and wavy lines (when this happens I can boot my machine into safe mode, then reboot and everything is fine)

- Sometimes sounds like it is booting but the monitor simply displays "No Video" and gets me nowhere.

- Sometimes starts up to a very weird sound coming from what I'm guessing is the power supply (sounds like the fan is struggling and making almost grinding noises.)

Do you think this is all caused by a failing power supply? Like I said, it often sounds like it's on its way out and it's also only a 350W when I have 3 hard drives, dvd drive, lcd, and numerous pci cards.

This is a very strange problem. Help!!!

 

[newbiepcuser]

not pc expert, but you can try this.


What are the symptoms in SAFE mode?

Can you disengage some of the periphals you don't need i.e. Rom-drives, secondary hard drive, floppy, etc. See if it is a power supply problem.

If the powersupply is struggling, I would avoid total failure before its "pops" and takes out your other hardware. Not worth the risk esp when a new powersupply will cost less than your other hardware.

 

[Spooner]

I'm gonna go ahead and purchase a new power supply anyway.... I was just confused with the video problems... didn't know a strugglin PS would cause that as well

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: Spooner
I'm gonna go ahead and purchase a new power supply anyway.... I was just confused with the video problems... didn't know a strugglin PS would cause that as well

Well if you have one of those high end ones, it definetly could. Combine that with the newer cpus, etc. Before you run out and buy that Antec True 550, see if it occurs in SAFE mode. If it doesn't, it could be driver issue with AGP port, video card, etc.

Just newbie advice.

 

[Spooner]

When it allows me to boot into safe mode, the video is still all screwy. Other times (like right now), it won't even boot... but if I leave it off for a day, the first scenario i painted is what occurs

 

[newbiepcuser]

Sounds like hardware. AT safemode you're loading the bare essentials.

Do you get this at all in the BIOS screen? Meaning distortion in the BIOS screen.

What i'm afraid also is is the mobo is foobar also. Do you have acess to another machine that you can test the video card. Don't test powersupply on another machine, reason if it "pops" on your buddy's machine, you might have to buy your buddy new hardware. I was getting something similar with Asus P4PE, thought it was video card, powersupply, etc. I had G4 ti4200 and put in 9700 pro. Everythng went to sh@t even in safe mode, I put the 9700 pro in my buddies machine, zero problems. Tried different powersupplies, ram, etc. It turnn out it was the mobo.

Sorry, i'm cheap skate and hate to see you hit with restocking fee even its not my money.

 

[Spooner]

Yes. I definitely get distortion even in the BIOS/bootup screen.

Once odd is that when I can get into safe mode and booted up. When I then reboot my machine normally, the display still seems quirky loading up, but when all is booted it is fine and I can use my machine normally. Would a f'ed up mobo allow that to happen?

I will probably be buying the new PS anyway because the fan is making funny noises and is a cheap generic 350W. Thanks for your help tho!

 

[newbiepcuser]

Would a f'ed up mobo allow that to happen

It is possible. It did for me, I thought I got bad deal on 9700 pro Hercules on FS/FT etc. But I tried on my bud's machine, works like champ. I had antec true 380 and 430 to test with

Buy a decent powersupply but don't go overboard. Remeber, there are new powersupplies that are more effiecent for PCI-E and Intel's BTX format is coming.

So think in the long term, if you're going to spend the Big Bucks.

 

[Spooner]

F!!! So it's not the power supply. Replaced it and still get the fuzzy screen on boot. Then it resets and forces me to boot into Safe Mode. Once I boot into safe mode and restart, everything works fine.

What do I do now?

 

[newbiepcuser]

Uninstall all graphics drivers. See reboot and see if Windows can rebuild it.

2nd, once you're "normal" mode. Check Device Manager for any exclamination marks. Can you borrow a spare video card or test the current video card in another machine?

3rd. borrow a spare drive, load windows really quick. What bothers me is that you stated it screwy in the BIOS menu so it doesn't seem like its a Windows related issue.

I assume you ran some kind of memory test so it elminated the memory. You've changed the powersupply and now it leaves the video or mobo.

 

[Spooner]

Swapping out the vid card is my next test. I really hope it isn't a mobo issue.

I have not done any memory tests. What tests do you mean?

 

[newbiepcuser]

memtest86


Try the video card first. Remember video card and memory can always be tested another machine. Mobo is is PITA to troubleshoot.

 

[Cogman]

it could be a powersupply, but Ill wager that it is a problem with the video card and its drivers.

 

[Spooner]

How would a messed up vid card driver cause the machine to reboot on initial startup?

 

[newbiepcuser]

it could be a powersupply, but Ill wager that it is a problem with the video card and its drivers.

He already tried the powersupply, but its looking towards the video card or mobo.

Originally posted by: Spooner
How would a messed up vid card driver cause the machine to reboot on initial startup?

When I was working on machine for a client, it was his ATI video card. It was bad. Every time, Windows would try to initilaize it from the "background". It would just reboot. I tried reformating etc. After the Windows install and the 1st true log in, bam reboot. Put in a new video card, solve the problems. That was his sceniro.

 

[Grimmett]

Ya,
It sounds like the video card or AGP port to me. The only time I have ever had the bios distorted is when I used a motherboard that didn't like Radeon cards. Definitely try another video card and also put that video card in another computer. That way you can tell if its the video card or the AGP slot on your motherboard giving you the problem.

 

[Spooner]

I've been using the same video card for months now without problem. Would this card just "go bad" out of the blue like that?

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: Spooner
I've been using the same video card for months now without problem. Would this card just "go bad" out of the blue like that?

How often do you get out of ATOT?

If you read the General Hardware, video cards, or even hotdeals, from people's experience it does happen.

It happens all the time, some peeps could fo years and others 1st week. When I first got my Hercules Geforce 1, it only lasted week. It got the best reviews etc, and dam thing only lasted week. Exchanged it for a new and it died 4 years later.

 

[Spooner]

yeah, I guess that was a stupid question.

damn computers.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: Spooner
yeah, I guess that was a stupid question.

damn computers.

Not stupid, i guess the price people pay for video cards these days they expect better quality, etc. No biggie. I paid 175 for my Geforce 1 back then and it retail for 299. I was PO etc.

 

[Grimmett]

Ya,
Thats the risk you take when you don't by expensive ass computers from Dell, etc. Even in the long run, youre probably saving cash if you built your own computer and had to buy another video card. You can build the same 1200 dollar computer Dell sells for almost half that.

 

[Spooner]

I've always built my own machines.... have never bought from the inflated companies like Dell or Gateway