Dell pc system error and fuzzy screen

[Danland]

Hi, I'm completely. Computer illiterate and in desperate need of help from someone who knows their stuff. I have just bought a dell Precision 390 with a nvidia GeForce graphics card, worked fine at first and then I tried Playing a game and all of a sudden I got a fuzzy blupe screen and I could just make out the phrase "system failure" so I turned off the pc and turned it back on again and the picture wAs all fuzzy and messed up. I tried going into the nvidia control panel thinking it must be a graphics card problem and it just said that the computer wasn't linked to a nvidia graphics card, so I opened up the tower to see if I could see anything wrong and all appears fine, graphics card is firm in place and everything. Can anyone help me please? Just paid quite a bit of money for this against the will of the missus and if I don't sort it out I'll never hear the end of it!

 

Thanks, danny

[Danland]

Sorry I forgot to mention its windows 7.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

Have you tried updating the graphics drivers? You can find it here : http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

[Danland]

Thanks for the reply, I haven't but I will have a go. Only problem is with the screen being fuzzy I can't tell what I'm doing all that well..

[maynardvdm]

If you boot into safe mode, is it also fuzzy?

 

When you looked inside the case, was there any dust on the graphics card fan?

[Danland]

I'll have a go at safe mode but it's fuzzy as soon as I turn it on, and there was a bit of dust on the fan yeah but I couldn't take the gfx card out and didnt want to start yanking at things without knowing what I'm doing..

[Danland]

Okay so I installed the update for the gfx card and still getting the same thing. I've since taken the gfx card out and removed most of the dust (there wasn't that much anyway) and still nothing. It is worth mentioning that it comes up with a message saying that the copy of windows I have might not be genuine, but I can't see why that would make the display go all weird..

[maynardvdm]

If it is fuzzy from the moment you put on the pc it could either be the graphics card itself that is faulty or the screen (which i doubt it is). Try another graphics card.

 

We can unfortunately not help you with any software problems if your Windows is not Genuine.

[Danland]

Okay thanks anyway

[Plastic Nev]

Considering you just bought it, even as second hand, you still have the right to take it back and demand a refund due to it not working as promised.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi,

 

I see from your IP Address that you are UK based.

 

If this machine is new - then take it back and request that they sort it out.

 

Somehow I suspect that it is not a new machine - but a refurbished one as you are getting a " ......Not Genuine Windows " message.

If you bought this from a retailer ( shop / online ) then I suggest that you contact them and ask for your money back.

No doubt they will refuse.

You can then tell them about the Windows not being genuine message and that Microsoft and Trading Standards will be informed if they don't comply with your request.

 

I hate being conned !!