Think You've Had Computer Problems?

TenSixTenSix Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7932Members
<div class="IPBDescription">I laugh!</div> My system broke down because so much dust got into the fan of my video card that it stopped the fan, burnt out the GPU, then killed the power supply. Yay.

So, I go out to buy a new video card, pick up a Geforce FX 5200 (Only $99, can't beat that with a stick) and pop it in.

Windows wont start, I figure this is because I left the drivers for the Geforce 4 on the HD. I reformat the HD and backup my stuff.

Windows won't install, it freezes while initializing setup (the blue screen with the grey bar at the bottom). Just before popping up the install menu it hangs at 'Setup is starting Windows'. FRIKIN YAY.

I don't really have any choices, I either need to flash the BIOS, reset it to its defaults, or have the hand of God come down and revive the sucker. That is the only thing I've narrowed down as being the problem, the BIOS.

(You can read the Microsoft documentation of the problem <a href='http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310760' target='_blank'>here</a>)

Comments

  • KillymageeKillymagee Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3136Members
    edited July 2003
    I feel for you, I really do. God knows I've been through LOTS AND LOTS of damned computer problems, in fact just four days ago for some odd reason while loading a map in bf1942 I got THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH ON winblows xp porffesional!~!!

    like what the hell?! thankfully i rebooted and all is fine but seriously computers are the best thing in the world when there working...but sadly this is rarely the case... <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> right know since then I've really been on my toes <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    You think that's bad? lol. I know someone who wasn't using a surge protector and just about all of the components in his PC got fried, literally. He managed to scavenge some of it though.
  • TenSixTenSix Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7932Members
    Screw this Im getting an Xbox.
  • lordbluewolflordbluewolf Join Date: 2003-03-04 Member: 14287Members
    edited July 2003
    NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    No warrentees on anything? What were you doing right before everything stopped working? I'll help as much as necessary, anything to keep one more soul from being stolen by X-Box! X-Box is just a watered down computer anyways.

    Also, did you try to do the little restore option the cd usually tries to make you do when you boot from your windows cd?
  • BeastBeast Armonkyi Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15731Members, Constellation
    My sisters pc had a power surge, killed the graphics card, mobo, powersupply, monitor, harddisks everything.
    I now have a surge box protector thing. gg me ^-^. I've personally never had any problems, and never will as my sister has taught me the value of a surge protector thingy box thing thing
  • TenSixTenSix Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7932Members
    All the parts are brand name, so they have manufacturer warranties. I replaced all the faulty hardware, the thing should be running faster then hell itself. I was playing GTA3: Vice City when the fan for the video card stopped, burnt out the GPU, and proceeded to somehow kill the power supply as well.

    Its all replaced, I have changed as many BIOS settings as I dare, I know the motherboard manual by heart now. Its not the video card, it cant be the power supply, theres no other hardware that could be faulty because its booting up ok.

    It just hangs while initializing the Windows XP install. It just stops at 'Setup is starting Windows', I had windows XP on there before and it wouldnt get past the loading screen with the blue bar. Even in safe mode it hung while loading.

    When I first started it up, it said there was a checksum error with the CMOS, I read up on that and it seems like it wasnt anything big, I just had to reset the BIOS to default values.

    Everything is set right as far as I can tell, I have a major headache right now. I don't have the faintest idea what could possibly be the problem. I have tried every BIOS setting imaginable. If the computer guy dosent call me back in an hour, im going to attempt to upgrade the BIOS <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->

    If I was a billionaire I would just throw it in the trash and go buy a new Alienware system for 3 grand...
  • Nil_IQNil_IQ Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15520Members
    Well, every few days, my computer locks up, and when it restarts the network is adamant that there are no other computers on the network...

    Its like the Iraqui mis-information minister;

    "There are no computers on this network. The Other computer has commited suicide at our firewalls. Their computer does NOT have a superior operating system...."

    Also, one of the computers locks up REALLY regularly whenever I try to play any game. (i.e, every 1/2 hour).

    Right now, the network (and hence the shared internet connection) is down, so i'm writing this from the downstairs computer <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • DY357LXDY357LX Playing since day 1. Still can&#39;t Comm. England Join Date: 2002-10-27 Member: 1651Members, Constellation
    I highly doubt its your display drivers as they're both provided by nVIDIA.
    Try a different Windows CD, maybe your current one is scratched or marked?
    If not take it to an independent PC store (note: avoid the big places like PC World)
    and see what they say.
  • BadKarmaBadKarma The Advanced Literature monsters burned my house and gave me a 7 Join Date: 2002-11-12 Member: 8260Members
    I saw a computer catch fire once. There was a bit of paper towle jammed in it becuase of maniac two year olds. The was a blanket draped over it by mistake so it couldent cool itself down. Wasnt mine so it was **** hilarious.
  • NecroticNecrotic Big Girl&#39;s Blouse Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 53Members, NS1 Playtester
    Have you checked your memory? if you have mutiple sticks try taking one out and testing your system with each one in on its own, if not try and borrow some off someone.

    Also most motherboards these days come with an on board jumper so you can just flash it...tried that yet? I f you havent I recommend it before updating..less risky...
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Jay123+Jul 6 2003, 09:08 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jay123 @ Jul 6 2003, 09:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You think that's bad? lol. I know someone who wasn't using a surge protector and just about all of the components in his PC got fried, literally. He managed to scavenge some of it though. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you bought branded surge protectors with guarantee, you can get money back on destroyed equipment.

    The lesson? Buy surge protectors. Guaranteed surge protectors = better. though it's your friend's fault he didn't have a surge protector.
  • James_H4xwellJames_H4xwell Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11518Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--TenSix+Jul 6 2003, 01:47 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TenSix @ Jul 6 2003, 01:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> My system broke down because so much dust got into the fan of my video card that it stopped the fan, burnt out the GPU, then killed the power supply. Yay.

    So, I go out to buy a new video card, pick up a Geforce FX 5200 (Only $99, can't beat that with a stick) and pop it in.

    Windows wont start, I figure this is because I left the drivers for the Geforce 4 on the HD. I reformat the HD and backup my stuff.

    Windows won't install, it freezes while initializing setup (the blue screen with the grey bar at the bottom). Just before popping up the install menu it hangs at 'Setup is starting Windows'. FRIKIN YAY.

    I don't really have any choices, I either need to flash the BIOS, reset it to its defaults, or have the hand of God come down and revive the sucker. That is the only thing I've narrowed down as being the problem, the BIOS.

    (You can read the Microsoft documentation of the problem <a href='http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310760' target='_blank'>here</a>) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    my old computer caught on fire. gg.
  • AezayAezay Join Date: 2003-04-19 Member: 15660Members
    Maybe the GeForceFX 5200 needs more juice than your psu can supply?
    Or maybe your mobo doesn't support the new AGP v2.0 standard with 1.5 volts?
  • ZelZel Join Date: 2003-01-27 Member: 12861Members
    ive heard of a lot of flakey apg slot voltages, many mobo's cannot supply enough power.
  • TenSixTenSix Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7932Members
    Its a new 400W PS, which is more power then I hope I will ever need since the power bill is already pushing $150 a month <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Turns out it was a faulty CD-Drive, an old one thank god, not the realativly new CD-RW...Im just glad its fixed. One more day without Vice City and I would have snapped.
  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    My old computer had a magnet near the hard drive...silly me. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    edited July 2003
    Our DVD-drive started having funny problems. Things like read errors and the like. Why? Turns out a spider had built a nice little nest inside. New drive. Hope the little beast was electrocuted, though I wouldn't count on it.
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--TenSix+Jul 6 2003, 02:48 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TenSix @ Jul 6 2003, 02:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I was playing GTA3: Vice City when the fan for the video card stopped, burnt out the GPU, and proceeded to somehow kill the power supply as well. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    heres your problem: nonexistent games ... lol

    [psst .... vice city is gta4 or its gta 2.5 dependin on how u look at it]

    i have just proven myself to be useless .... again
  • DubersDubers Pet Shop Boy Edinburgh, UK Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 998Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Mullet+Jul 7 2003, 06:41 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mullet @ Jul 7 2003, 06:41 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> My old computer had a magnet near the hard drive...silly me. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Classic! lol
  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Cereal_KillR+Jul 6 2003, 06:47 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cereal_KillR @ Jul 6 2003, 06:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--Jay123+Jul 6 2003, 09:08 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jay123 @ Jul 6 2003, 09:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You think that's bad? lol. I know someone who wasn't using a surge protector and just about all of the components in his PC got fried, literally. He managed to scavenge some of it though. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you bought branded surge protectors with guarantee, you can get money back on destroyed equipment.

    The lesson? Buy surge protectors. Guaranteed surge protectors = better. though it's your friend's fault he didn't have a surge protector. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    He wasn't my friend lol. We don't get on very well. I laughed when I found out about it.
  • xexexexe Join Date: 2003-03-27 Member: 14921Members
    my friend just sent me a pic of his desktop and he was running norton antivirus and it had the finnishing result 1114 INFECTED FILES AND OVER 20 DIFFERENT VIRUSES , then he ask's me do u reckon i should formatt it <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin--xexe^+Jul 8 2003, 05:29 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (xexe^ @ Jul 8 2003, 05:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> my friend just sent me a pic of his desktop and he was running norton antivirus and it had the finnishing result 1114 INFECTED FILES AND OVER 20 DIFFERENT VIRUSES , then he ask's me do u reckon i should formatt it <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That is awesome. Give your friend a pat on the back, then when he starts to turn away knee him visciously in the groin.

    pwnt.
  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Jul 8 2003, 02:40 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Jul 8 2003, 02:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--xexe^+Jul 8 2003, 05:29 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (xexe^ @ Jul 8 2003, 05:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> my friend just sent me a pic of his desktop and he was running norton antivirus and it had the finnishing result 1114 INFECTED FILES AND OVER 20 DIFFERENT VIRUSES , then he ask's me do u reckon i should formatt it  <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That is awesome. Give your friend a pat on the back, then when he starts to turn away knee him visciously in the groin. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ROFL

    howcome whenever I run across a post by monsieur I always wind up severely amused?

    I could tell some of the tech support horror stories that I deal with when it comes to teachers and computer, but I'm not going to


    *what do you mean start button?*
  • TenSixTenSix Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7932Members
    <a href='http://rinkworks.com/stupid/' target='_blank'>http://rinkworks.com/stupid/</a>

    A gem from that site:
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    <b>Customer</b>: "Hi. I have a Macintosh. I had a disk that I wanted to put in the computer, but it wouldn't go, so I pushed harder, and it wouldn't go, so I pushed REALLY hard, and now it's making funny noises. I think there was a disk in there already."
    <b>Tech Support</b>: "Unplug the computer, now."
    <b>Customer</b>: "I don't want to lose my paper!"
    <b>Tech Support</b>: "Unplug the computer right now. Your paper is lost. Your floppy drive is lost. If you're lucky the Mac will be OK. Unplug it now."
    <b>Customer</b>: "But I don't want to lose my paper!"

    After a few more repetitions of this, I heard someone, presumably the client's roommate, scream. Then I heard the dorm fire alarm go off in the background. Those things are awful loud, but she didn't seem interested in unplugging the computer, fleeing the fire in her room, or anything else other than arguing with me. Figuring I was doing her a favor, I hung up.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    LOL! That's a brilliant website. My personal favourite from the Paranoia section...

    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    At 3:37 a.m. on a Sunday, I had just looked at the clock to determine my annoyance level, when I received a frantic phone call from a new user of a Macintosh Plus. She had gotten her entire family out of the house and was calling from her neighbor's. She had just received her first system error and interpreted the picture of the bomb on the screen as a warning that the computer was going to blow up.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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