Thread: Oh crap...

My computer is not doing too well. It keeps getting stripes, blacking out or sometimes even crashing. It went away for a while, a bit after I used system restore in case of a virus, so I thought it was gone, but it's back and as bad as ever. Right now it's gone to a very basic pixel display, and I'm on a Windows 7. Here's what I see...

Interesting...I'm on another computer and it doesn't show any of the blue stripes... in fact it looks a bit better on this monitor.

Its something wrong with your computers graphics. If you computer has a graphics card you may need to replace it or if it has integrated graphics it will be a lot harder. (New motherboard) I suggest you head over to a computing forum such as Toms hardware for some more/better answers.

rather than doing system restore (which doesn't ACTUALLY restore it), unless you're confusing system restore with a reformat, try reformatting it.

This means pretty much wiping EVERYTHING and reinstalling windows. Idk if you can do this as you may not have the disk.

Also try updating your drivers.



My Dad and I always custom build computers, so we buy a copy of windows and we can wipe and reinstall if needed. But we use Acronis Disk Image and make a complete backup of the machine once we get our drivers and winrar and such installed. Then we can always revert back to that state whenever a virus or bios error happens.



But, sadly, it looks like more of a hardware issue. A new card may be needed. With integrated you'll need a new motherboard (i hate integrated for this reason, non-interchangable)
I use the EVGA nVIDIA 9800 GT. It's now considered outdated, but I can still run most non-brand-new games (so I probably won't run Skyrim very well, but I can run Oblivion with a texture repack and such), and works just fine for my needs -- Digital Audio Workstations, DVDs, and Internet.

Gigabyte motherboards are my favorite, as they are cheaper AND better quality usually.

I use AMD processors as they are equivalent to intels with lesser costs.



If you have to replace your motherboard, might as well get one that allows USB3 and Firewire.

Go into your graphics settings and check to see if you are using 8bit graphics or something low like that. On my old desktop it would randomly switch down and the colors would go to shit.

Jarrs right but depending on the age of your PC components aren't all backwards compatible. So if its an old system getting a new motherboard may result in needing new Ram, CPU etc. In this case may just be better off getting a brand new PC, or you could look for an older model Motherboard. Or instead of getting a new motherboard you could just add a graphics card assuming you have the appropriate slots.

That being said your system is running windows 7 so hopefully its fairly new.

Hope it's fairly new with Windows 7.

At least it isn't Vista.


Most motherboards come with two graphics card slots, two audio slots, two memory slots, then your standard 6 audio 1/8" connectors, HDMI, VGA, Digital VGA, a few USB inputs, and 2 Firewire inputs. Some are starting to ween away from the old multi-pin keyboard and mouses. Which I really think is a must because USB drivers usually don't load until after startup and you can't do some startup BIOS commands at times.

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Hope it's fairly new with Windows 7.

At least it isn't Vista.

Well, it's a fairly new computer (4-5 year old Gateway that naturally came with Vista) that I upgraded to Windows 7 a couple years ago. It's supposed to have state of the art graphics cards and a whole lot of storage capability.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

Well, it's a fairly new computer (4-5 year old Gateway that naturally came with Vista) that I upgraded to Windows 7 a couple years ago. It's supposed to have state of the art graphics cards and a whole lot of storage capability.

I have never had a graphics card last five years.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

Well, it's a fairly new computer (4-5 year old Gateway that naturally came with Vista) that I upgraded to Windows 7 a couple years ago. It's supposed to have state of the art graphics cards and a whole lot of storage capability.

State of the art graphics = on-board. Update the drivers, or roll them back. I actually suggest updating them. Go to the gateway site, and find your model, and download it. DO NOT USE windows update. Windows update is the devil when it comes to hardware.

Gigabyte motherboards are my favorite, as they are cheaper AND better quality usually.

gah... Just... GAH!

If you have to replace your motherboard, might as well get one that allows USB3 and Firewire.

USB 3.. hell yes
Firewire

I would try reinstalling the drivers. My guess is it is a driver problem since it's defaulted to 256 colors(the shitty quality).
I would also make sure that it is cooling properly, the blacking out/crashing could be due to overheating. Make sure there isn't excessive lint build up preventing air to exit out the back of the card.

If those two things don't solve it I would try reinstalling windows just to make sure it isn't software related.

Originally Posted by jarrhead

I have never had a graphics card last five years.

You must treat your computer like shit....

Originally Posted by OldSparta

gah... Just... GAH!

What do you have against gigabyte? They are great mobos....

Originally Posted by LikesToTrip

I would try reinstalling the drivers. My guess is it is a driver problem since it's defaulted to 256 colors(the shitty quality).
I would also make sure that it is cooling properly, the blacking out/crashing could be due to overheating. Make sure there isn't excessive lint build up preventing air to exit out the back of the card.

If those two things don't solve it I would try reinstalling windows just to make sure it isn't software related.


You must treat your computer like shit....

What do you have against gigabyte? They are great mobos....

There great boards, I just hate looking for drivers for them. especially if the damn board is more than 2 years old. But I still prefer my Asus for Mainboards.

Originally Posted by OldSparta

Firewire

Firewire is quicker than USB3.

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Firewire is quicker than USB3.

You high or something? No it isn't.

Chances are the cooling fan on the video card has stopped working.

FOR FUCK SAKES! This is third goddamn times I write this! I hate my mouse pad!

A bit faster? Firewires 800T, which is the latest Version of firewire, has a speed of 400Mbit/s. USB3.0 has a speed of something like 5Gbit/s... SO USB is MUCH faster. Granted we all know that in the real world, they never transfer that fast, USB3.0 still kills. And for the CPU thing, unless your computer was made in the earlier 90's and you managed to solder a USB port on it and make it work, then the CPU really isn't an issue thanks to multi-core processors.

And I think you were thinking of USB2.0 Cause USB2.0 has a rate of 480Mbit/s compare to firewire's 400Mbit/s. But Firewire blew USB2.0 out of the water in the real world

PS: Licensing fees for USB are a lot cheaper that the licensing fees for firewire

EDIT: They are currently developing a 6Gbit/s firewire.