Ahhhhh [PC Problem]

ScaredLittleBoy · 12-03-2007

A Brief History:

- Formatted PC last night due to recurrent startup errors, a few virus alerts (although I think they were keygens - damn AVG!)

- Monitor went on standby during XP installation, and wouldn't come back on even though the PC was on etc

- Every time I turn the PC off or reboot it the PC will boot but the monitor WON'T ever ever come on.

- I HAVE to unplug the power leads and wait a few minutes then reboot. Then it works although I think it stays on standby a bit too long and takes awhile to 'find' the signal from the PC

- My PC is also ridiculously slow! I have 1GB of RAM but its only running at 200MHz when it has a 400MHz capacity.

I can update the BIOS myself and hopefully that will help the slowness problem (I can't change Frequency in BIOS manually for some reason)

What I need help with is the monitor problem. I've also tried a substitute monitor that I know is working and had the same problem.

Bad power supply :(
I've only had it a year and a half or two years :(

Help!

sjprep06 · 12-03-2007

It sounds like there might be a problem with your video card then. Are all the pins fine? Could possibly be a short? Did you try updating all of the drivers for it? and finally what is your video card?

Have you tried gently removing the vid card and replacing it? It may just need to be reseated.

Or, this could very well be tied into your failing power supply. Can you get another one relatively cheaply to see what symptoms you experience then?

Did you build this PC yourself or was it pre-built?

And be careful updating your BIOS. One wrong move and you have a very nice, powered paperweight...

Think_Kink · 12-03-2007

I don't get why you don't just take your computer to a professional? Every time you try and do something to it... it gets broken. Why do you mess with things you can't fix? Save yourself the stress and stop tampering with it. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Mr. Snakey · 12-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredLittleBoy

A Brief History:

- Formatted PC last night due to recurrent startup errors, a few virus alerts (although I think they were keygens - damn AVG!)

- Monitor went on standby during XP installation, and wouldn't come back on even though the PC was on etc

- Every time I turn the PC off or reboot it the PC will boot but the monitor WON'T ever ever come on.

- I HAVE to unplug the power leads and wait a few minutes then reboot. Then it works although I think it stays on standby a bit too long and takes awhile to 'find' the signal from the PC

- My PC is also ridiculously slow! I have 1GB of RAM but its only running at 200MHz when it has a 400MHz capacity.

I can update the BIOS myself and hopefully that will help the slowness problem (I can't change Frequency in BIOS manually for some reason)

What I need help with is the monitor problem. I've also tried a substitute monitor that I know is working and had the same problem.

Bad power supply :(
I've only had it a year and a half or two years :(

Help!

What do you mean when you say format? All you have to do is use your Recovery Disc's. If you have them use them. Follow the instructions. Defragmenting your hard drive will give you speed. Do it once a week. Do disc clean up. Do not run programs on start up. Clean drive c of unwanted vids and music. Video takes up space big time. Get rid of programs you are not using.

findfirefox · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredLittleBoy

A Brief History:

- Formatted PC last night due to recurrent startup errors, a few virus alerts (although I think they were keygens - damn AVG!)

- Monitor went on standby during XP installation, and wouldn't come back on even though the PC was on etc

- Every time I turn the PC off or reboot it the PC will boot but the monitor WON'T ever ever come on.

- I HAVE to unplug the power leads and wait a few minutes then reboot. Then it works although I think it stays on standby a bit too long and takes awhile to 'find' the signal from the PC

- My PC is also ridiculously slow! I have 1GB of RAM but its only running at 200MHz when it has a 400MHz capacity.

I can update the BIOS myself and hopefully that will help the slowness problem (I can't change Frequency in BIOS manually for some reason)

What I need help with is the monitor problem. I've also tried a substitute monitor that I know is working and had the same problem.

Bad power supply :(
I've only had it a year and a half or two years :(

Help!

Sounds like a video card issue, if its onboard try using a new one, if its PCI/PCIE/AGP/ETC try removing it and using on a board one. Sometimes this happens with conflicts on choosing a video card, the BIOS should use the PCI/AGP/ETC card but you never know.

ScaredLittleBoy · 12-04-2007

I've had the video card only a few months; not even a year. Its PCI and has been running fine til now. The graphics card is a Nvidia Geforce 6200

Also there is nothing on the PC except windows XP, so its not a disk space issue or a defragmentation issue. I think its the RAM running at a lower speed than it should do.

Last night, when I held the power cord next to the pins in the power supply (eg about to plug it in) there was a staticy discharge sound...does that mean its a bad power supply?

Anyway its annoying.

dong20 · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncut

What do you mean when you say format? All you have to do is use your Recovery Disc's. If you have them use them. Follow the instructions. Defragmenting your hard drive will give you speed. Do it once a week. Do disc clean up. Do not run programs on start up. Clean drive c of unwanted vids and music. Video takes up space big time. Get rid of programs you are not using.

He means a low level wipe of the drive. He may not have recovery discs! If he doesn't (or even is he does) then while not strictly necessary a format and re-install is a sound option provided he has all the drivers he needs. The other things are good practice, although removal of video etc isn't strictly necessary unless disc space is at a premium.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredLittleBoy

I've had the video card only a few months; not even a year. Its PCI and has been running fine til now. The graphics card is a Nvidia Geforce 6200

It's a good basic card with minimal power/display issues.

Also there is nothing on the PC except windows XP, so its not a disk space issue or a defragmentation issue. I think its the RAM running at a lower speed than it should do.

RAM may be the problem but I doubt it. You may be able to change the RAM speed in the BIOS (did you flash it?), or you could set it all to auto, or to failsafe defaults. RAM running at lower speed won't necessarily cause your machine to run much slower, though it can. Usually the problem will come if you try to run it above its rated speed. Also, it may be worth disabling all onboard power management - though this 'may' upset XP. Check that VGA pallette snoop and shadow is off.

One tip....clear the BIOS - usually there will be a three jumper near the BIOS battery, the clear it one usually shorts the two pins that are not currently shorted though this can and does vary. Wait a few seconds then replace the jumper. This will force the BIOS into a default mode. Removing the battery alone usually won't work.

As another suggested, if you have an onboard VGA then remove the PCI one and see what happens, there may be a conflict. A BIOS reset may help resolve this.

Last night, when I held the power cord next to the pins in the power supply (eg about to plug it in) there was a staticy discharge sound...does that mean its a bad power supply?

Perfectly normal.

Anyway its annoying.

SLB, it's always hard to diagnose these things remotely. At your own risk!!

ScaredLittleBoy · 12-04-2007

Hmm okay...I'll try reseting the BIOS.

The problem with the slowdown is that my PC would have 100% memory usage at startup and take ages to do anything. Anyone know what causes that? I know its not viruses or anything since the only thing on the PC is XP, freshly installed.

I'll try reseating the card and reseting the BIOS when I get in. I was just thinking about buying a new PSU too...hehe.

PS the memory issue seems to be okay, it was after I installed AVG and some other programs...but it went away once I uninstalled them. Safe Mode ran okay, it was just Windows that was at 100% memory usage.

Industrialsize · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredLittleBoy

A Brief History:

- Formatted PC last night due to recurrent startup errors, a few virus alerts (although I think they were keygens - damn AVG!)

- Monitor went on standby during XP installation, and wouldn't come back on even though the PC was on etc

- Every time I turn the PC off or reboot it the PC will boot but the monitor WON'T ever ever come on.

- I HAVE to unplug the power leads and wait a few minutes then reboot. Then it works although I think it stays on standby a bit too long and takes awhile to 'find' the signal from the PC

- My PC is also ridiculously slow! I have 1GB of RAM but its only running at 200MHz when it has a 400MHz capacity.

I can update the BIOS myself and hopefully that will help the slowness problem (I can't change Frequency in BIOS manually for some reason)

What I need help with is the monitor problem. I've also tried a substitute monitor that I know is working and had the same problem.

Bad power supply :(
I've only had it a year and a half or two years :(

Help!

I have the cure to your computer problem. GET A MAC!.....bug and virus free, stable and solid as a rock.

dong20 · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Industrialsize

I have the cure to your computer problem. GET A MAC!.....bug and virus free, stable and solid as a rock.

Oh crap...here we go.

Actually the virus free status of MACs isn't strictly true any more and if they become more popular it will get worse! They certainly are NOT bug free however, no software is.

The new MACs are pretty stable though, I agree.

ScaredLittleBoy · 12-04-2007

MAC hardware can fail too. And I like to play games on my PC. I'm hoping this is a temporary problem

I think reseting the BIOS will work. I think the BIOS probably had an upset when the PC wouldn't restart (it was 'hanging' when I tried to shut down) and maybe me manually resetting it messed it up a bit.

dong20 · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredLittleBoy

PS the memory issue seems to be okay, it was after I installed AVG and some other programs...but it went away once I uninstalled them. Safe Mode ran okay, it was just Windows that was at 100% memory usage.

Is that 100% RAM use or 100% CPU use? You can get this from task manager. Either way look at what is using all the resource and try to disable it (if you can) using msconfig.

ScaredLittleBoy · 12-04-2007

What I meant was CPU use. Now its even worse. Changed the jumper settings and I got a CMOS Battery low error. PC is still at 100% usage and really fucked up.

Is it the battery? Would that cause the high CPU usage. It's also got the wrong time and lost two years when I formatted (thought it was in 2005)...so I guess it is the CMOS battery. Do they usually only last 18 months or something?

ScaredLittleBoy · 12-04-2007

Okay disconnecting the AGP card (it was AGP

) doesn't help. When switched to onboard gfx, monitorf doesnr turn on.

CMOS battery?

dong20 · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredLittleBoy

Okay disconnecting the AGP card (it was AGP

) doesn't help. When switched to onboard gfx, monitorf doesnr turn on.

CMOS battery?

A flat CMOS battery won't stop your machine booting. Does the board POST or have you tried another screen?

The time issue is only becuase the BIOS has reset. I assume that if you can see that it's posting, sorry. If it won't display using onboard VGA or the AGP card I would try to find another screen to check.

PS if you do a safe mode boot...what's the last driver loaded?

Ahhhhh [PC Problem]

A Brief History: - Formatted PC last night due to recurrent startup errors, a few virus alerts (although I think they were keygens - damn AVG!) - Monitor went on standby during XP installation, and