Beebo Brink

PC OS: WinXP Pro
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS

Two nights ago, while logged in to SL, my screen went dark and the computer froze for about 3-4 minutes, then crashed. The crash screen was black with dotted strips of blue and a message (which I should have copied, but didn't) warning me the graphics card was caught in an infinite loop.

I was able to reboot the computer without any trouble, and a helpful message from Microsoft appeared, telling me to install the latest hardware updates for my computer.

Did that.

Crashed again this evening, again while logged into SL, but this time Windows wouldn't load and I had to get in using Safe Mode with Networking. I found the NVIDIA site and downloaded the latest drivers, rebooted. No improvement.

Rebooted again, just to be sure. Still can't load Windows, still running on Safe Mode.

What do I do next?

PS: It figures this would happen just as I start a 10-day vacation. I think the gods want me to Go Outside.

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Beebo Brink

So I've continued to poke around and I tried to look at my NVIDIA control panel. I get this message:

I thought I just did that.

Beezle Warburton

If you can get into safe mode:

Uninstall the drivers, reboot (into safe mode again).

Then run driver sweeper -- select Nvidia display and Nvidia PhysX (not chipset)

Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper

Next, install the drivers again (downloaded from nVidia, hit cancel on Window's ZOMG warning) and try again.

The actual wording of the error message is useful, btw.

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Beezle Warburton

NEVER let windows update install graphics drivers. This is why.

Beebo Brink

I'm in safe mode now, but I have no idea how to uninstall the drivers. If you could be a leeetle more specific about how to do that, i would be very very grateful.

I've downloaded Driver Sweeper, and will run it just as soon as I know how to uninstal (see plea for help above).

Unfortunately, I didn't copy down the looping graphic message the first time, and it now flashes by so fast (just a quick blink) that I can't even read it.

Boot -- flash -- crash -- reboots -- offers Safe Mode.

Beezle Warburton

Assuming you're still running XP:

Start - Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs

Look for and right-click "uninstall" on:

nVidia graphics drivers
nVidia control panel
nVidia updater
nVidia PhysX

yure4u Sosa

Start buton ,right click on MY Computer Icon and select propperties once you get the propperties select device manager ,than select display adapter and right click on the nvidia and select uninstall

Joshua Nightshade

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Beebo Brink

I've installed drivers, uninstalled rivers, re-installed drivers and still no progress....

Then I noticed that my back fan is not working. Sooooooooo, what are the chances that I fried my graphics card and this isn't even a driver issue?

If so, what card can I get to fit the system? It's been over 5 years since I built this one, and I have no idea whether that puts it over the line for replacement parts.

MoBo: ASUS A8N32-SLI
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 - Socket 939

Beebo Brink

I tried that, but it wouldn't let uninstall from there, so I went with the method Beezle described.

yure4u Sosa

the back fan is not working wich from the computer case?

eku Zhong

could be your PSU started off with a limp which set a whole lot of things into motion.. ending with fried wotsits...

we actually have the whole innards you need for that pc.. mb, cpu gfx etc.. everything which aside from the PSU shouldnt cost much to send.. if youre in a real bind, Beebs.. give me a shout..

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Beebo Brink

The reason I wonder if my graphics card is fried is that for the time in which it tries to load Windows XP (before crashing), the background is black with blue strips. I saw a similar odd color patterning the last time I lost a graphics card (about 3 years ago). And it would make sense that the computer would crash while I was in SL because that's when my graphics load is most intense.

It's a miracle I managed to build this computer and keep it running for 5 years, given how little I understand about parts and stuff. But to the best of my knowledge I have a pretty solid PSU, with a light load on it. (One HD, floppy disk drive, CD player)

The big fan that fits into the back panel of the casing is the one that has died. It should be fairly easy to replace, no? I'm hoping one of the local computer repair stores will have a compatible case fan in stock.

I'm less sanguine about finding a card in stock because of the age of the mobo/cpu. Does that matter? How do I figure out what cards will work? It will really really suck if I have to order online because half my vacation will go by with my unable to log in to SL. I was planning on getting some toys to market, dammit.

Eku, thanks so much for the offer of parts, but if there isn't an easy fix for what ails my computer, it's time to bite the bullet and get a new one, with Win7 even. I can't bring myself to build it again, but at least this time I'll have a better idea of what specs to ask for.

yure4u Sosa

the back panel from your case fan probably is not broken if you can open the case and look for a different source for the electricity you will fine those fans last for ages and they are rare to break so i reckon is from the motherboard. if the fan is not working your computer probably overheating and that makes you get lots of errors specially graphic ones.

eku Zhong

Yeah even going for an older newer computer .. (you know what i mean lol) with an i5 and about a year old gfx card is going to deliver something akin to a whole new world to you after what you have.. and cost you probably 300USDish (well it would here)

yure is a packrat when it comes to pc parts.. we have boxes and boxes of stuff.. neatly packed in layers like fossils in an icecore sample.. hahaha

yure4u Sosa

PS: once you open your computer make sure there is not dust in any fan including the videocard. Once clean everything switch on the computer and see if every fan is moving normally before windows start . Every fan works shutdown PC and closed the case and try to boot normally and update the videocard drivers.

Beebo Brink

I'm betting on the fan because it's been a bit wobbly for the last year, making odd noises and sounding a bit labored. I was lazy not to replace it before.

Also, a drivers issue probably wouldn't get worse over the course of three days. I went from one crash on an evening, to two crashes the next day, and now I can't get past Safe Mode. So that would fit the pattern of an overheated, dying graphics card.

What is the best way to see what graphics cards I can run on my setup?

Beebo Brink

My case interior is actually pretty clean. I keep the tower up on my table, rather than down on the floor, which really helps avoid the dustbunnies.

The case is open now and all fans except for the back fan are running. Once I've replaced it, I'll try powering up the computer to see if the graphics card survived. Even if it works fine, though, I think it's time to get a replacement lined up.

eku Zhong

seriously i just found this..

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30265220/Pho...%2032%2001.jpg

and yure is looking for the 9800 thats languishing somewhere..

if i were you i wouldnt sink money into fixing an old pc but try to get it to live until you can get a new one.

Beezle Warburton

Doesn't uninstall the extra possibly conflicting bits (PhysX, Control Panel) -- best to remove all the nVidia stuff via programs.

eku Zhong

something nicer =^^= plus a gfx card

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30265220/Pho...%2052%2038.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30265220/Pho...%2002%2036.jpg

both need a little air cleaning ..

yure4u Sosa

in safe mode unfortunately you cant check the videocard 3d acceleration not without the drivers,the fan of your back panel you can used any old one is generic size so wont be a problem to get it in the pc store for the graphic card if you have the old one from your last computer you can check replacing that to see if is the videocard the problem. it should be fine the computer without the back panel fan but it will overheat after a while you use the graphics. I recommend if you used the computer without the fan to put a room fan blowing right closer form the meantime you get the fan from the pc store and the graphic card from the store in case works with the old replacement.

Beebo Brink

A good night's sleep has restored my spirits and Mrs. Beebo helped me take out the fan (which is seized, blades can barely move with extreme force). Putting it back in looks easy this morning -- last night it seemed impossible. Strange what sleep will do....

Am going to shop for a new graphics card in the local computer store for instant gratification. I have an IRS refund burning a hole in my pocket, so the timing is fortuitous.

Beebo Brink

New case fan: $10

New graphics card: $80

Logging in to SL again: Priceless.





The new card fixed my issues and SL is running as good, possibly even slightly better, than before. I'm pretty sure that the last card didn't even have Lighting & Shadows as an option, whereas this card lists that item but doesn't have it checked by default.

Rendering seems slightly faster, FPS is about the same, maybe a bit better.

Void

card is indeed likely fried if you are getting single color bands... usually it's memory that pops first...

if you can log into safe mode, right clicking on desktop --> properties --> settings --> advanced --> troubleshoot: hardware acceleration set to none will usually let you boot up normally without crashing, so you can at least get on the net.

I found this helpful for taking a guess at what went wrong
Diagnose video card problems by comparing with example corrupted screens

also note that the last set of official drivers from nvidia doesn't play well with firefox's hardware acceleration (which can be turned off in options), but supposedly the latest beta's do.

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