Graphic or driver problems

[Sando]

Hello,

I'm having a problem that appeared one morning. I didn't install/remove anyting before, it just happened.

The problem :
I see graphics problems when i'm playing games, when i'm surfing on the web or even watching a movie. It can go from the windows task bar going all pink to a complete black screen (for 1 second). I even have , sometimes, the blue screen and it automaticly reboots.

my hardware :
cpu : C2D e6600
ram : 2GB of DDR
G.card : Geforce 8800 GTS 320mb
OS : windows 7 rc 7100 64bits (only that one, I don't dual boot)

I was using 185.xx driver and I thought updating that would fix my problems.
So I've unistalled them , then reboot and my PC freeze when I'm trying to install the latest one. Forcing me to restart my computer (and it automaticly install some old driver 181.xx , I think).
After a few try, I manage to install the latest drivers.

Yet, I always have the same graphics problems and always this message appears :

It says that the driver wasn't responding and it was "restore".

I'm writing from the same OS but in safe mode with network and I don't see any graphic problem so far.

If you have any idea what is the problem and how to fix it , thanks.
I can only wonder if problem comes from :
. windows 7 alone ?
. my graphic card is dying ?
. Nvidia driver broke ?

I don't have any other computer with Windows7 OS. Don't have any extra graphic card to test.

Thank you.
Sando

 

[Sando]

Up.

I'm having a lot of BSOD.
I've tested my 2GB of DDR and memtest found no errors.
Any ideas where the problem could come from please ?

 

[visy199]

I think you should upgrade to Windows Seven 7600!
The problem must be from driver,try this one:
GeForce/ION Driver Release 190

 

[Sando]

Thanks for the reply.

I've already tester the 190 drivers and it didn't change anything (actually it was even worse, more BSOD, more black screen)

When I start w7 on safe mode, I have no graphic problems.
When I start w7 normaly but no driver installed, I have no graphic problems (it's ok to use firefox, but awful if I try to watch a video.)

I'll try to upgrade to rc7600 but I don't think it'll solve anything.

 

[visy199]

You uninstalled the old version before installing 190?

 

[Sando]

Yes, and I used Driver Sweeper too.
unistall drivers & used driver sweeper in safe mode.

Doing a repair install could fix my problem ?
My main concern atm is to find the source of the problem. If it's hardware or software.
If it's my graphic card , my hdd, my psu or if it's windows7, nvidia drivers.

 

[AstaLaVista]

Did you also Uninstall the Nvidia PhysX drivers? if not... uninstall both of them, run the sweeper and install a fresh copy of the latest drivers making sure you right click on the file and "Run as Administrator"

 

[mickey megabyte]

maybe it's a cooling problem and your card is overheating?

are you able to monitor the temperatures?

take the side of your case off, and see if the fan is spinning - you may want to clean it with an old toothbrush...

 

[Sando]

Hi,
First I apologize for the late reply and thanks for the help. (reason was my job sent me away from home for 2 weeks.)

To answer your questions. Yes, the video card fan works. Yes, I've clean my PC with a brush. My case is open from both side so I don't think temperature is an issue.

There's a few changes since my first post.
Now Windows have stoped using my video card (that what it says, it stoped because there's a problem). I've updated the Nvidia driver via WIndows Update but my video card is still inactive.

I also have a few vertical lines on my screen. Always at the same place no matter how many time I restart. Moreover, I have those line in safe mode too. And I see graphic bug as soon as my computeur is turn on.
When the background is White, it's vertical yellow lines.
When the background is Black , it's vertical blue lines (same place).

I've tryed an old lcd screen I had and I have the same lines on it, the same problem. So I can conclude my screen isn't the problem here.

I think my graphic card is simply dead. What I would like to know is why? is it possible that something else is broken ? (motherbord ? memory or PSU ?)

edit : I've did the memtest+ 3 weeks ago and had no errors.
I'll try to check if my PSU is the problem one or the other.
Donno how to check if motherboard is working correclty or not.

edit 2 : I did a screenshot simply to check if I could see the yellow/blue lines and it doesn't show up so it's my screen that show those lines. (because of a (dead) video card ?)

 

[mickey megabyte]

it does look like a graphics card problem, but it is difficult to be sure.

can you borrow a card from somebody (nvidia preferably, so you don't need to install new drivers) to test?

 

[Sando]

UNfortunelty I can't. Most of my friends/family use laptop or old PC (AGP video card)

 

[mickey megabyte]

ok, before you go out and spend money on a new card, let's make sure that windows is not the problem.

either reinstall windows, or, if you have enough space on your hard-drive, you could make a new partition and quickly install another copy of windows 7, so you'll have a dual-boot setup.

try booting into the new windows to see if you have the same problem.

 

[Sando]

I did an update (when I put win7rc dvd, I had that option) and it didn't change anything.

Anyway, I don't think it's windows7 fault since I'm having those bugs as soon as I turn on my computer so I guess even before the OS is loaded.

 

[mickey megabyte]

i didn't realise you were having the problems before windows is loaded.

in that case - get a new graphics card! (although there is a small possibility that your power supply may be faulty and is not supplying enough to the card - a very small 'maybe'.)

bonne chance!

 

[TGSoldier]

You did an upgrade or a clean install? Please click custom and not upgrade.

Good point mickey. I skimmed through the thread and noticed no mention of PSU.

What PSU are you using?

And what about your PCI frequency in the BIOS?

And what "Bugs" are you experiencing when you turn on.

 

[Sando]

So I took a few photo with my camera.

here's the blue lines while i'm on windows7 :
http://dl.2ways.fr/pics/1/1/1251815869_bug.JPG (you have to rotate it of 90°)

this is a screen where the first graphic bug appears (almost as soon as I turn the computer on)
http://dl.2ways.fr/pics/1/1/1251815890_bug.JPG

Those are 2 pics when I'm loading windows after a restart :
http://dl.2ways.fr/pics/1/1/1251815902_bug.JPG
http://dl.2ways.fr/pics/1/1/1251815911_bug.JPG


As for the PSU, it's a Seasonic S12-600 (600W, i've just check) .
I've never touch or edit my BIOS so It can't come from there , right ?
And I did an upgrade.
Moreover, now that my videocard was disable by windows, my computer is stable and do not crash. When my videocard was still enable, I had a few crash, a few graphic bugs and blue screens of death.

edit : updated the info about the PSU.

 

[mickey megabyte]

ok, it's definitely not windows!

looks like graphic card. unplug the card's power, take it right out, and put it back in again, plug power back in.

restart machine, if the problem is still there, think about buying a new card.

 

[Sando]

Problem is still there. Guess i'll have to buy a new Video card.
I might go for ATI now since I had a problem with nvidia.

 

[TGSoldier]

card not under warranty?

 

[mickey megabyte]

the ati 48xx series is highly recommended if you play games.