No video when starting windows

[poncherelli2]

I'm not entirely sure what is relevant, so I'll just run through a recap of my problem.

I had been having problems recently with my 6800gt running too hot and locking up during 3d apps. I took it apart yesterday and applied as5 and reset the hsf and it dropped the temps about 20C. Everything seemed fine and I could finally run games without locking up.

Today I started playing Portals and about 30 minutes in the game started getting really slow, and choppy, and finally locked up and crapped out. I restarted the computer and when it windows (vista) began to load up, it showed that little progress bar at the bottom on the black screen, it filled up, and then the screen went blank. I restarted and tried to boot into XP on my other partition- same problem, starts to load windows then goes black.

I am able to load safe mode for vista and I tried to un/re-installed video drivers. It didnt fix anything. I really have no idea where I stand or what could be the problem- any suggestions? Thanks.

UPDATE: So after nearly two weeks after these problems I finally had time to sit down and look at the computer one last time. Upon starting it up.... everything worked fine. I installed the latest drivers and it seems cool for now. I try not to question these things. Thanks for the help

 

[JustaGeek]

I am afraid that the card has reached the end of its natural life...

Time for the new card, IMO...

 

[poncherelli2]

it still displays in safe mode find and when I deleted the drivers and fired up vista with no drivers installed (i assume its using the default vga drivers) it works ok. However, as soon as I reinstall the nvidia drivers (several versions tried) and reboot, it goes black after the loading screen.

 

[BernardP]

Next logical step would be to borrow another NVidia videocard and try it in your system to find out if the problem relates to your card or the drivers. A GeForce 6200 will do

If you can't borrow, there are B & M stores with no-penalty return policies within 15 days.

 

[poncherelli2]

I don't have access to another video card at the moment, but I have to believe this card still has some life left in it if it can display windows in safe mode or run windows with the default vga driver

 

[nitromullet]

Are you using the DVI out? If so, try the VGA out and see if that works.

 

[poncherelli2]

unfortunately, i don't have a vga cable at my apartment. Where I'm confused is that the card still "works" and that it can display without the drivers installed. However, I'm less inclined to believe its a driver issue because I haven't used XP in sometime and when I tried today, it wouldn't display past the loading screen (and i haven't touched the xp drivers-they should work fine)

 

[SolMiester]

Could well be the card is expired and only using basic functions in safe mode....as soon as you install drivers which access all functions it cant cope and bombs out....

 

[poncherelli2]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
Could well be the card is expired and only using basic functions in safe mode....as soon as you install drivers which access all functions it cant cope and bombs out....

Sorry, could you explain this a little further. This is kinda what I'm feeling but I just wanted to understand it a little bit better. I'm going to be heading out of town for the rest of the week tomorrow and I'm trying to decide if I should buy one of those $90 8600GTs from zzf before I leave so I will have a working card when I return, but I really wanted to be sure this card is shot and its not some other problem so I don't needlessly waste money on a new card.

Also, is there anything I could have done when applying the thermal paste and reseating the hsf that might have caused this. I had done it once before a year or so ago and everything seemed cool yesterday with a dramatic improvement in temps and some stability in games.

 

[poncherelli2]

Also, this card is 2 years old. Is it worth trying to go through evga warranty at this point? I believe it may still be covered, is there any chance I could get a replacement, or should i suck it up and buy an 8600gt?

 

[lyssword]

It's prolly driver-related for sure Get another nvidia agp card, install drivers then swap driver. It worked for same type of problem with x1900gt for one of comp's I built. I brought my x800xl, plugged it in the troubled comp, installed driver, swapped vid card and it was working fine.

Then again, maybe your card really is fried.

 

[poncherelli2]

Originally posted by: lyssword
It's prolly driver-related for sure Get another nvidia agp card, install drivers then swap driver. It worked for same type of problem with x1900gt for one of comp's I built. I brought my x800xl, plugged it in the troubled comp, installed driver, swapped vid card and it was working fine.

Then again, maybe your card really is fried.

This is the pci-e 6800gt, although I doubt that makes a difference. Like I said before though, I'm skeptical of a driver related issue because I haven't touched the drivers on my XP install that I use occasionally and it won't go past the window's loading screen either. I doubt the drivers would corrupt simultaneously on two different OSes.

I'm leaning towards what SolMiester suggested, I just wish I could better understand how it works. What are the basic functions that can run under the vga driver and what kicks in and bombs out when the nvidia driver is activated. I'm still trying to figure out if I messed anything up when tinkering with the heat sink yesterday and perhaps something went bad today.

 

[poncherelli2]

it works!