faulty graphics card??

bluedog

Hi,

I have a gateway GT5056b desktop pc (Windows media centre). A few months ago it kept crashing and rebooting and error message saying it had recovered from a serious problem (or words to that effect). The blue screen lasted long enough to glimpse something about the graphics card and eventually, I was directed to Nvidia and resolved it by updating the driver using their widget to look for the correct one. It was ok until last week;

My pc constantly crashed and re-booted, and error reporting sent me back to nvidia so I checked the driver as suggested. It worked for barely a day and then it crashed completely and on re-boot suggested to try a repair from disc. It failed dismally and only option left was to try a complete new installation. (thankfully I have backed up a lot of my files & stuff so haven't lost much..)

I bought my pc just before Vista was released and qualified for a free upgrade to Vista. I have both operating discs, XP media centre version 2005 (with update roll up 2) and Vista Home premium Express upgrade.

I have done a new install before without problems, but this time, alot of drivers didn't install. It won't install vista so I've run all the updates to XP and installed all drivers except for my graphics card (Nvidia GeForce 7300 LE as each time I do,the pc shuts down and I have to re-boot using "last known good configuration" and this removes the drivers again for it.

In Device manager, it is listed under Display Adapters as "video controller (VGA compatible.) it changes to the graphics card name when the driver gets installed.

I can't change any settings for the monitor either and there are no options to select its type. I've tried looking for drivers from the makers website, but its nigh impossible with the way my screen is at the moment with lines and the page won't fit so I can scroll it either.

I hope someone can understand this enough to be able to help me please as although I have a very basic understanding of pc's, I'm not very techie really! I'm guessing that as I can't install the graphics card driver without it crashing the pc, that I need to buy and install a new one or have I over looked something completely please?

If I need to replace my graphics card, how do I choose one if I go for an upgraded one, how do I know which one is compatible with my pc please?

Any help or suggestions will be very gratefully received.

pcombo

try going into safe mode and uninstalling all video drivers. can normaly do this by press F8 when u turn computer on.

Either that try format the computer and install a brand new copy instead of using upgraded versions of windows.

DatabaseError

so the PC is about 7 years old? might be worth wondering if it's as simple as dust buildup on the GPU fan preventing it spinning, so falling down soon as the driver kicks in? unplug and remove the side of the case and have a look, if there is loads of dust in there blow it out, maybe using a paintbrush to loosen it around fans and heatsinks. if you're a smoker then just enjoy the unpleasant sticky mess every PC repairer has faced.
To clean the GPU fan it will probably be easiest to just remove the GPU itself

JasX

I had similar sympthoms for yonks and it turned out to be a faulty RAM stick rather than the graphics card, worth explicitly testing that (easy and quick to do) before getting too involved in other areas.

Testing RAM:

1) download memtest86+ (freeware)
2) burn a bootable CD from the .iso (using a freeware iso burner if you don't have one)
3) pop the CD in your PC, boot from it and see if it brings up a string of big red error messages while runnign test patterns on your RAM

bluedog

DatabaseError -I've cleaned inside it and removed as much dust and gunk as possible. (I'm an ex-smoker and was a bit shocked at the goo to be honest .. so glad I've quit!) It cleaned ok though and the fan is working. I've tried reloading the driver but its still crashing afterwards unfortunately.

I'm currently running a disc check as I thought it may be worth giving that a go whilst am at it in the maintenance dept!

pcombo - am I right to assume that after uninstalling the video drivers, I should re-boot to normal and do re-installs? I thought about getting a full programme and was toying with getting windows 7 instead but hadn't got round to checking if my pc is capable. Its still a consideration though.

Jasx - if I can download the programmes you suggest, I will give that a try too.

bluedog

I am now on a borrowed laptop as all efforts to get my pc running have failed.

The memory tested fine, the fan etc is cleaned and no matter how many times I've tried to do the re-installation, it crashes as soon as the graphics card drivers are installed. including going into safe mode.) I've not had any problems before when doing a re-install so in my limited understanding, can only conclude a new graphics card is needed.

I've contacted both gateway AND nvidia and both are very unhelpful! Gateway's response was short and sweet, telling me to talk to retailers and nvidia said speak to the pc manufacturer .... !!

I desperately want to get my pc back up and running again so will be so, so grateful if anyone can help and advise me on a suitable replacement or how to choose one please.

The broken one is a "nvidia GeForce 7300 LE with Turbo Cache, Supporting 256MB (64MB shared)".

I'm not sure what other information is needed. I'm not a big gamer, but it is a media centre pc and used for films, tv programmes and music (with videos) if that's any help?

GunJack

will it run ok without the GPU fitted, i.e. using the mobo's onboard graphics chip ?? If it's still giving problems, then try swapping/removing one at a time/etc. the RAM sticks..

smos585

Seen similar probs on a HP almost the exact same symptoms in regard to trying to load drivers, even when "cold".

You've done the right things by running a chkdsk and memtest, and a dedust.

Change the graphics card is called for - the 7300 was pretty basic so anything would be better - for a 4-5 yr old PC (has a good 5 more years if you look after it)

bluedog

many thanks for all your input and help with this.

I haven't been able to try that yet GunJack (doesn't life know I need to sort my pc??!?!!), but after reading a similar thread, realise I probably should have mentioned that I had multi-coloured lines randomly across the screen before the main crash. As it loads up, I there are lines across/down the screen (mainly blue).



I've done some homework and am deciding between these graphics cards. Before that though, I've been told I'll need to upgrade the power supply to this to accommodate the new graphics cards :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-238-CM

The choice of graphics cards are nvidia GT 520 or radeon 6450 which I've been told will be fine with video/tv and music playback.

These are the ones I'm choosing between:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-060-ZT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130569892833?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_4460wt_1270

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005ER1IE6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I am favouring the last one and wondered if this would be ok if I use the power supply above too please? (hope this makes sense ).