Is my AGP slot malfunctioning?

[Wiedzmin]

I will detail my problem first and then go into how it happened, in case the explanation helps someone identify it better.

Currently, as soon as I load up Windows XP, my monitor will turn off like the video card is not sending it a signal, but I can still hear Windows loading up.

My setup is:

DFI LanParty 875B rev. b
Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz
1024 MB Corsair XMS Memory
Radeon 9800Pro 256MB flashed with the XT bios
SB Live!
Koolance case with passive water-cooling for both CPU and video card
Windows XP SP2

Everything except for the video card is clocked at normal speeds.

Two days ago, I tried starting up Worlds of Warcraft while I had Sidewinder Gamevoice and Azereus running (I had done this many times.) My computer crashed as I tried logging in, so I restarted it, then Gamevoice, and then it crashed again. Another restart, this time everything works fine and I actually log into WoW. After about one minute, WoW crashes and leaves my desktop at 1600x1200 which is the resolution I use to play the game. My desktop was running really slow, so I decide to restart yet again. Next time I restarted, my current problem surfaced. I restart again, this time go into Safe Mode and use System Restore. Lo and behold, it works and I can see my desktop again. I am afraid of starting up WoW now, so I try Counter-strike: Source. I get a bunch of random garbled graphics and am forced to restart. No signal again, so I System Restore and try Vampire: Bloodlines; same result as CS. After this, even System Restore would not fix my problem. The Radeon still works in DOS and Safe Mode, but not when I try to get into Windows normally. I am currently using a PCI Matrox Millenium, which works.

Things I have tried to fix this:
Reinstall video drivers-nothing
Reinstall motherboard drivers-nothing
Repair install of Win XP-blue screen and forced restart everytime Windows loads up
Fresh install of Win XP-reinstalled fine, but as soon as it was done installing the problem reappeared
GeForce3 AGP video card-same result as Radeon
Re-flashing my BIOS-nothing

The only thing I can think of is that my AGP slot is malfunctioning (or something else on the motherboard.) Maybe someone wiser than me can shed some more light on this. Thanks.

 

[Scott66]

Hi there Wiedzmin
If you try to just use say office or any other 2d application do you still have video or is it garbled as well? It does sound like the voltage going to the agp slot is getting messed up since the regular pci slots seem to work

 

[Wiedzmin]

I can't test that at this point since my monitor goes into standby mode as soon as Windows loads up.

 

[Wiedzmin]

I still have not figured out if this is fixable or not. I guess I'll be ordering a new motherboard tomorrow when I get paid.

 

[Fern]

as soon as I load up Windows XP, my monitor will turn off like the video card is not sending it a signal

This implies a gfx driver problem to me.

I take it you are seeing the BIOS screen and POST screen?

When windows loads, it loads your gfx driver. From what you post that sounds like the problem.

What happens when you try safe mode? (no drivers are loaded in safe mode, other than vanilla MS)

Fern

 

[Wiedzmin]

Safe mode works. I thought it might be a graphic driver problem too, which is why I wiped all the Radeon/nVidia drivers off my machine using Driver Cleaner. Still did the same monitor standby deal. Since it wasn't just one but two AGP video cards doing the same thing, I can only assume it is the AGP slot. But we all know about assumptions...

edit: as I mentioned, I also re-installed Windows which should have fixed any driver problems.