My computer is very poorly - please help

Maus · 01-12-2007, 07:45 AM

Hi:

Any idea what's going on here? this morning I got a failure notice on an email I sent due to possible virus/spam content, but a scan of the attachment I was trying to send this morning with my virus checker came up clean. My computer is sick

**Apophis** · 01-12-2007, 07:54 AM

Try booting into safe mode and re-scan. What virus scanner are you running anyway? Not all virus scanners are created equal, not even close to it.

Personally, I would recommend Kaspersky.

Maus · 01-12-2007, 07:58 AM

Okay -- I'll try that. For what it's worth I'm running AVG at the moment (I used to have Kaspersky, but didn't like how it took over my machine while it ran - I'm fairly low-spec). The visual glitches happen pretty much as soon as the screen has something to display on boot.

Safe mode is hold F5 on boot, right?

**Apophis** · 01-12-2007, 08:13 AM

It's F5 or F8. One of the two. It's also possible your video card is just on its way out. Do you have a spare card you could try? It might also be worthwhile to re-install your video drivers as well.

**Wimpinator** · 01-12-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maus

Okay -- I'll try that. For what it's worth I'm running AVG at the moment (I used to have Kaspersky, but didn't like how it took over my machine while it ran - I'm fairly low-spec). The visual glitches happen pretty much as soon as the screen has something to display on boot.

Safe mode is hold F5 on boot, right?

Does it do this when it is showing the POST information when you first boot? I mean when you first press the power button and the BIOS reports the amount of memory and looks for your Hard Disk. If it does, then a failing video card is probably the culprit. Also try the easy stuff first such as making sure that your video cable didn't come loose.

Zoopy · 01-12-2007, 10:37 AM

Looks like a graphics card issue to me. Try switching your resolutions/colour. Or just update your video drivers, they are most likely bad.

**Twisted_Firestarter** · 01-12-2007, 01:51 PM

Agreed. It may not even be hardware related, but rather driver related. I've seen something like that happen when either the resolution isn't supported or the refresh rate isn't. Right-click on your desktop and choose "Properties", clikc on the "Settings" tab, click the "Advanced" button" and then click the "Monitor" tab. Make sure your refresh rate isn't set too high. To test, set it to 60Hz and press "apply" and see if that helps.

Also, I've seen a problem like this when the centering on the monitor is way off. Try using the picture movement keys on the monitor to move the image left,right,up,down and see if that helps.

Acreo Aeneas · 01-12-2007, 02:20 PM

Well...I'd start by switching out your monitor with another before you go and open up your case. Also if there are any wireless devices that are in the RF spectrum, move them away from your monitor as they might interfer with the operation of the display (will look like your screenshot).

Maus · 01-13-2007, 10:33 AM

(1) Phew - virus scans came up clean -- it's my video card that's fried. I'm now on an old GeForce 2 MX 400, so I don't think I'll be playing Battlefield with you chaps anytime soon.

(2) As far as a replacement card goes, I don't want to go nuts with the spending as this computer is old and undeserving of a fancy new card -- when I upgrade I'll be getting a new comp, and presumably a decent card then.

So.

(3) I'm looking to replace a 128Mb 9800 Pro with something similar, or at least under $100. The X1300 looks like it'll do -- any other suggestions?

oh, edit: is there an easy way to tell what kind of AGP slot I have? I don't know if an 8x card would be kind of wasteful.

Lorian · 01-13-2007, 11:10 AM

If you're looking for a cheap replacement I'd go with a GeForce FX 5200, it's fairly old, but can handle BF2 on low settings, I used to use it before I upgraded.

**PanzerHans** · 01-13-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maus

oh, edit: is there an easy way to tell what kind of AGP slot I have? I don't know if an 8x card would be kind of wasteful.

This will do the trick

Maus · 01-13-2007, 11:20 AM

Thanks Panzer -- that did indeed do the trick. I only have AGP 4x, but I think the 1300 supports that.

iirc I originally changed from a fx5200 to the 9800pro, so I don't especially want to step backwards.

**Wimpinator** · 01-13-2007, 04:51 PM

I saw in another thread that some guys around here had some 68000GT's for sale. You may want to look into that.

Maus · 01-19-2007, 08:52 AM

Bit of last-minute advice wanted, before I go buy a card tomorrow:

My computer's specs are 2.4GHz P4 with 512Mb RAM -- as I said it's a bit low these days. I'm toying between an X1300 Pro and an X1650 Pro, as there's only about $30 in it.

Would the X1650 be wasted on this computer? My plan is hopefully to get a card that wil not feel crappy when I get round to building a new box later in the year.

aeroripper · 01-19-2007, 09:15 AM

Same thing happened to my 9800 Pro, Radeon 7000 came to the rescue

.

01-12-2007, 07:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Maus Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 326	My computer is very poorly - please help Hi: Any idea what's going on here? this morning I got a failure notice on an email I sent due to possible virus/spam content, but a scan of the attachment I was trying to send this morning with my virus checker came up clean. My computer is sick __________________ 2142: \|TG-Irr\| Silverfish BF2: \|TG-Irr\| Maus

01-12-2007, 07:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Apophis Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Rhode Island, USA Age: 36 Posts: 8,993	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Try booting into safe mode and re-scan. What virus scanner are you running anyway? Not all virus scanners are created equal, not even close to it. Personally, I would recommend Kaspersky. __________________ Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick.

01-12-2007, 07:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Maus Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 326	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Okay -- I'll try that. For what it's worth I'm running AVG at the moment (I used to have Kaspersky, but didn't like how it took over my machine while it ran - I'm fairly low-spec). The visual glitches happen pretty much as soon as the screen has something to display on boot. Safe mode is hold F5 on boot, right? __________________ 2142: \|TG-Irr\| Silverfish BF2: \|TG-Irr\| Maus

01-12-2007, 08:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Apophis Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Rhode Island, USA Age: 36 Posts: 8,993	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help It's F5 or F8. One of the two. It's also possible your video card is just on its way out. Do you have a spare card you could try? It might also be worthwhile to re-install your video drivers as well. __________________ Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick.

01-12-2007, 10:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zoopy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,870	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Looks like a graphics card issue to me. Try switching your resolutions/colour. Or just update your video drivers, they are most likely bad.

01-12-2007, 01:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Twisted_Firestarter Join Date: May 2003 Location: 90064 Posts: 935	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Agreed. It may not even be hardware related, but rather driver related. I've seen something like that happen when either the resolution isn't supported or the refresh rate isn't. Right-click on your desktop and choose "Properties", clikc on the "Settings" tab, click the "Advanced" button" and then click the "Monitor" tab. Make sure your refresh rate isn't set too high. To test, set it to 60Hz and press "apply" and see if that helps. Also, I've seen a problem like this when the centering on the monitor is way off. Try using the picture movement keys on the monitor to move the image left,right,up,down and see if that helps. __________________ Twisted Firestarter a.k.a \|TG\| Harkonian

01-12-2007, 02:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 4,683	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Well...I'd start by switching out your monitor with another before you go and open up your case. Also if there are any wireless devices that are in the RF spectrum, move them away from your monitor as they might interfer with the operation of the display (will look like your screenshot). __________________ Current Obsessions: Netbooks and other low-cost, small, and portable PCs. RSS Feeds: Bamboo

01-13-2007, 10:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
Maus Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 326	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help (1) Phew - virus scans came up clean -- it's my video card that's fried. I'm now on an old GeForce 2 MX 400, so I don't think I'll be playing Battlefield with you chaps anytime soon. (2) As far as a replacement card goes, I don't want to go nuts with the spending as this computer is old and undeserving of a fancy new card -- when I upgrade I'll be getting a new comp, and presumably a decent card then. So. (3) I'm looking to replace a 128Mb 9800 Pro with something similar, or at least under $100. The X1300 looks like it'll do -- any other suggestions? oh, edit: is there an easy way to tell what kind of AGP slot I have? I don't know if an 8x card would be kind of wasteful. __________________ 2142: \|TG-Irr\| Silverfish BF2: \|TG-Irr\| Maus

01-13-2007, 11:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Lorian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: United Kingdom Age: 18 Posts: 2,036	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help If you're looking for a cheap replacement I'd go with a GeForce FX 5200, it's fairly old, but can handle BF2 on low settings, I used to use it before I upgraded. __________________ \|TG-E17th\|Lorian Member since 18th February 2006 Supporting member since 4th August 2006 PGP public key Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Memory: 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 RAM Video Card: XFX NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT 256MB Monitor: 17" Dell CRT and 15" generic LCD Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic and Creative Sound Blaster Live! (no Linux X-Fi drivers yet)

01-13-2007, 11:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
Maus Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 326	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Thanks Panzer -- that did indeed do the trick. I only have AGP 4x, but I think the 1300 supports that. iirc I originally changed from a fx5200 to the 9800pro, so I don't especially want to step backwards. __________________ 2142: \|TG-Irr\| Silverfish BF2: \|TG-Irr\| Maus

01-13-2007, 04:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
Wimpinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: United states, TN Age: 36 Posts: 2,988	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help I saw in another thread that some guys around here had some 68000GT's for sale. You may want to look into that. __________________ \|TG-6th\|Wimpinator BF2 Rules and SOP's\|Teamspeak information\|TG on IRC

01-19-2007, 08:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
Maus Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 326	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Bit of last-minute advice wanted, before I go buy a card tomorrow: My computer's specs are 2.4GHz P4 with 512Mb RAM -- as I said it's a bit low these days. I'm toying between an X1300 Pro and an X1650 Pro, as there's only about $30 in it. Would the X1650 be wasted on this computer? My plan is hopefully to get a card that wil not feel crappy when I get round to building a new box later in the year. __________________ 2142: \|TG-Irr\| Silverfish BF2: \|TG-Irr\| Maus

01-19-2007, 09:15 AM	#15 (permalink)
aeroripper Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 25 Posts: 2,291	Re: My computer is very poorly - please help Same thing happened to my 9800 Pro, Radeon 7000 came to the rescue .

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