Graphic Card Problem?

[3babylions]

Hi everyone,

 

First my computer details:

I have a Medion PC - MD 8818 ML (Nearly six years old).

Duo Core 2 Processor

320Gb HDD 1Gb Ram

I think the video card is a NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7650 GS graphics card with 256 MB DDR2 graphics memory.

 

Problem

Suddenly upon turning on computer there appears all faint dots across the login screen. Sometimes a vertical line appears down the middle. When I log on the dots remain on the desktop but then computer reboots.

Sometimes the computer reboots before I get to the login screen or simply stays switched on but with no signal on the monitor.

 

My knowledge of dealing with internal hardware is very basic. I have only ever installed a dial up modem card on another computer about 6 years ago.

 

Any help/guidance greatly appreciated

Tony

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

Checking the specs on your machine the Video Card is listed as GeForce™ 7650 GS.

I was hoping that there would be an on-board video option too - but this does not appear to be the case.

 

I suspect the video ( graphics ) card.

You could try taking it out ( there is one small screw to remove ) and cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser before putting it back.

 

Take this opportunity to clean the case of dust.

Use a can of compressed air or a soft brush. Pay particular attention to the video card.

( this is best done outside for obvious reasons :) )

[3babylions]

Thanks KenB for your reply.

 

I have followed your instructions but the problem remains the same more or less.

The dots still appear in vertical parallel bands across the screen but sometimes fade in and out.

As I'm logging in the monitor screen will blank out/blink on several occasions.

As I try to open a file the computer usually shuts down and reboots.

 

An error box keeps occuring as I try to log in:

Error signal: BCCode:1000007e BCP1:C000005 BCP2: 8061E52C BCP3:E7A6FC64 BCP4:F7A6F960

OSVer: 5_1_2600 SP:3_0 Product:256_1

 

Sometimes the numbers are different.

 

After several attempts I did manage to log in once long enough to complete a system restore.

When this was complete the blue screen appeared with: IRQL NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

I rebooted again and - dots - error box etc

[KenB]

Shut down then re-boot.

Immediately start tapping F8 > this will take you to the Advanced Startup Options.

 

Select Safe Mode.

 

Does it boot up OK using this method ? ( graphics will be odd )

 

Do you get the dots appearing ?

 

==============

 

Start > type in ......devmgmt.msc ...........> Enter

Click on the + next to Display Adapters

Are there any yellow exclamation marks ?

[3babylions]

I have tried the F8 key a few times. The only screen that appears is the Boot Menu.

This offers 2 choices: a hard disk b CD Rom

There are no dots on this screen.

However, the screen seems frozen and none of the keys work so I cannot navigate.

I have reached this screen several times with the same outcome.

[KenB]

Hi

 

Wait a few seconds longer before you start tapping the F8 key.

You need to do this about once per second.

[3babylions]

Hi thanks again for the quick reply.

I tried many times to get to the safe mode screen via the F8 key but it always takes me to the Boot Menu or the Windows logo page appears.

Eventually I did get to the Advanced Options Screen but only because I shut the computer incorrectly or something else...

However, as with the Boot Menu I am unable to navigate with the arrow keys on the keyboard. None of the keys work.

On the log in screen the keys do work.

[KenB]

I am unable to navigate with the arrow keys on the keyboard. None of the keys work.

Try taking the CMOS battery off the motherboard for 1 minute then replace it.

( + uppermost )

This will reset the BIOS to defaults.

 

Try F8 again.

 

Is the keyboard USB ?

 

=============

Try taking the RAM out and replace just one.

Try booting up now.

 

If the same problem still exists swap the modules over and try the other one by itself.

[3babylions]

I'm afraid this is getting into unknown territory for me.

Providing I learn where/what the Motherboard is - do you mean take the battery out while computer is switched on?

What does the CMOS battery power?

No idea how to take RAM out.

The keyboard is USB

[KenB]

OK - no problem :)

 

This is all relatively easy stuff.

The Motherboard is the big circuit board that everything is attached to.

The CMOS battery maintains the settings in the BIOS - one of the simpler things it does is keep the Date and time set correctly.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1676[/ATTACH]

 

DO NOT take the CMOS battery out when the computer is switched on.

Shut down and unplug from the wall.

 

The RAM modules look something like this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1675[/ATTACH]

 

The white levers at either end pivot outwards to release the module.

 

Putting them back is a simple case of locating the module in the slot and press down on one end - then the other.

[3babylions]

OK thanks.

Before I start... if I take the battery out will that affect the date/time etc?

I think I have new CMOS batteries - would a new one help?

Are you still thinking this is a graphic card problem?

Could anything I've described to far have been caused by a virus?

 

The trouble is - someone else was using this computer when this occurred so I'm not sure exactly how it began.

[KenB]

Hi

 

faint dots across the login screen

This doesn't sound like a virus to me ( not that I am an expert in this field )

 

if I take the battery out will that affect the date/time etc?

The whole point of taking the battery out is that we reset the BIOS to defaults.

The Date and Time should not be affected but if they are it is easy enough to correct.

 

I think I have new CMOS batteries

If you have a new CMOS ( usually CR3220 ) battery then by all means install it.

 

Are you still thinking this is a graphic card problem?

It certainly sounds like a Graphics Card problem - but we are exploring other options too.

 

Could anything I've described to far have been caused by a virus?

All things are possible - but the description of what happens on screen plus the fact that you have re-installed and still have the same problem certainly doesn't point us in that direction.

[3babylions]

Hi Ken

I took out the battery and put the same one back in.

I couldn't get to the RAM modules because there are lots of stiff bundles of wires in the way.

 

I switched on the computer.

A light blue screen came up and the computer began checking the disk for for errors.

Some errors were fixed and files deleted or moved.

There were the bands of dots on this screen but they gradually faded as the disks were being checked etc.

 

I think there was a reboot at this point and/or the log in screen came up.

There are now no dots on the log in screen.

 

I log on and everything seems fine except that an error box appears - similar to those described previously - I delete one and another pops up. This happens 2 or 3 times.

I click on a link in an error box and am taken to a Microsoft page that suggests checking for updates.

At first I can't update because the date and time have altered - back to 2005.

I correct the date and time.

The computer then reboots.

 

I'm back to the log on page and complete some XP updates.

The computer reboots.

 

The dots are still absent.

Just when I think the problem's solved, the desk top freezes and the computer reboots.

Now every time - as soon as I log on and the desk top appears the screen freezes and the computer reboots.

 

I try F8 - can only get to the Boot Menu and still unable to use any key.

[KenB]

You had me thinking that we had solved it for a while ..... :)

 

Does this system Beep when you switch it on ?

 

Switch off at the wall.

Try taking the Video Card out - there is one small screw.

Switch on.

If the machine beeped before - there should be a change in Beep Code.

Leave it running - you are watching for it re-booting.

( Hard drive stops / fans stop / keyboard LEDs go out etc )

Then Beeps again.

 

Does it re-boot with the video card out ?

 

This is XP - correct ?

 

Do you have the original installation CD for the Operating System ?

( Not recovery disks )

 

If you do we can try a Repair Install of the OS.

[3babylions]

The system does beep and it is XP

 

So if I remove the video card again I will leave the monitor unplugged?

The video card has 2 small screws. It is also attached to a card above it by a white 'plug' and lead.

 

I have an 'application and support' disk and the 'recovery disk'.

[KenB]

So if I remove the video card again I will leave the monitor unplugged?

You will have to as the monitor attaches directly to the Video Card.

You will need to disconnect the white plug from the card too - unless the lead is long enough to leave attached and move the card to a safe point within the case.

 

Recovery Disk will allow you to restore the system to factory settings - not what we want to do.

There is no option to do a Repair Install using this.

 

So .....with the card out switch on.

If it is stable there should be one set of beeps. ( This is what we are hoping for )

 

If it restarts you will hear the beeps again.

 

The system does beep

With the card in how many beeps do you get ?

One is normal.

[Helcaraxe]

Correct me if i'm wrong but the fact that the keyboard is usb rather than ps2 be the reason for the keys not working when not in windows environment as the drivers will not be controlling the usb connection. Slightly off topic i know but was reading the posts further up the thread.

[3babylions]

Before I took the card out I just had another check - the dots are back.

 

 

Took the card out. I didn't take the white plug out as I'm not sure how to without breaking it.

Switched on. There is still a beep but it is a longer beep.

 

With the card back in there is just the normal short single beep as usual.

Computer closes down soon after I get to the log in page. All the dots are there across the screen fading in and out.

The computer reboots as before.

[KenB]

Switched on. There is still a beep but it is a longer beep.

What I was hoping you would report back on was ...

Did the system restart with the Video Card out of the slot?

 

If not then the card is the problem.

[3babylions]

Just tried again.

The system did not start with the card out of the slot.

Computer just stayed on. White plug still attached to card.

 

I don't understand the logic though - if the card is out of the slot how can it affect whether the computer restarts or not?

Edited October 16, 2012 by 3babylions

[maynardvdm]

Correct me if i'm wrong but the fact that the keyboard is usb rather than ps2 be the reason for the keys not working when not in windows environment as the drivers will not be controlling the usb connection. Slightly off topic i know but was reading the posts further up the thread.

 

As long as the USB keyboard is enabled in the BIOS it should work.

[KenB]

Thanks Maynard ....I missed that post by Halcaraxe :)

 

 

if the card is out of the slot how can it affect whether the computer restarts or not?

If the system does NOT restart with the card out of the slot but is DOES restart with the card in the slot ......

the obvious conclusion is that there is a fault on the card causing the restarts.

[3babylions]

OK thanks.

So how do you uninstall a card/driver before inserting a new one in the current scenario - given the fact that the computer is always switching off and restarting?

How do you actually uninstall a video card/driver?

[KenB]

Hi,

I would have suggested trying Safe Mode - but for some reason you cannot access this.

 

The normal proceedure is to uninstall the present card's drivers.

Start > Run ....type in .....devmgmt.msc ....hit Enter

Click on the + next to Display Adapters and right click on the card listed.

Properties > Uninstall.

 

Shut down normally and Switch off at the wall.

Remove the old card and replace with the new one.

Boot up.

Windows will find new hardware and you can install the drivers from there.

 

However .....

If you cannot get to Device Manager .......you will have to try installing the card without uninstalling the old drivers.

( sometimes there is a conflict ...........hopefully not in your case )

 

There are no guarantees that a replacement card will fix the problem - but all clues point in this direction.

[3babylions]

I forgot to mention - the other night when I replaced the CMOS I did manage to get to the login page and type devmgmt.msc ... in the 'run' box.

There were no yellow exclamation marks next to 'display adapters'

But thanks for all your help - greatly appreciated.