• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Possible virus? Bad hardware?

D

DyslexicHobo

Senior member
A few days ago I woke up to find my computer at the login screen with odd lines running across the monitor.

http://img430.imageshack.us/img430/232/badcomp1wn.jpg

My first thoughts were "Oh crap, my video card is bad."

I first restarted a few times, did a system restore to a few days ago. No luck.

Next I went into safe mode and ran my (updated) AVG Antivirus, along with Spybot S&D. I think it caught one bad file from a long time ago when I downloaded eXeem.

I rebooted, and it was fine. . . until the next morning (today). So I tried the same thing, I went into safe mode again, ran the anti-virus and Spybot. Neither found anything, so I rebooted. Still had the same problem. Tried to system restore again, no luck.

I have the feeling the problem has something to do with Window's auomatic updates. The only thing my computer does during the night is run AVG and update windows, every night at 3:00AM. Not sure how that has anything to do with my problem, or if it even does. But I thought the fact might help other people help me out.


If anyone has any suggestions to help me solve this problem, that'd be great.
Thanks a ton!
 
what kind of power do you have running all that stuff? looks like it might be a video problem, but i remember one card I had artifacted pretty bad before the power supply died. Also, wiggle the cable from the card to the monitor 😉
 
I have an X800 pro with an Antec TruePower 350.

I do have a lot of things hooked up to it: 3 hard drives (1 SATA 2 IDE), cd drive, 3x 120 mm fans, 1x video card fan (~80 mm).

And it's not a problem with my monitor. I use dual monitors and they both have the same problem (one LCD and one CRT).
 
ah you didnt note that you had 2 monitors... any chance you can disconnect some components and see if you still get that problem? you might be taxing that 350 watt PSU a little...
 
Sure looks to me like either the video card is overheating or is power-starved.
 
Hmm I think it's the power supply, because I just randomly restarted and it booted fine.

I can almost garuntee that if I restart this again, it will break. 😛
 
Originally posted by: DyslexicHobo
Hmm I think it's the power supply, because I just randomly restarted and it booted fine.

I can almost garuntee that if I restart this again, it will break. 😛
Click to expand...

just to make sure, play some video card intensive games. if it starts to artifact again, you know what's the problem.
 
that's classic video card memory artifact. Clean out the dust bunnies from your case. Beyond that, your main suspects would be...

1) overclocking if applicable of the video card.

2) Fan died on video card. Make sure it spins when you are running.

3) Not enough case cooling. Use a freeware program to find out your temps.

4) Power supply not keeping up, especially on the +12 volt side of life.
 
Either your video card is going bad or your power supply just can't handle the load. Download a program capable of monitoring your rails (I use motherboard monitor). While these programs are inacurate at best, if it shows your 12v rail at 11.1 then even that is outside of the error range of these programs. If possible test it at different loads with a real voltimeter.
 
Originally posted by: jmdeathsquad
oh yeah, I almost forgot, can you check that monitor on another computer?
Click to expand...

Since he posted a screenshot, it isn't the monitor. Monitor malfunctions won't manifest themselves on screenshots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top