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Hi,
I was loading a game up yesterday when I started getting lots of very strange errors on the screen. I assumed that it was the game so I closed it down, only to find the start menu and desktop had the same problem.
Restarting didn't help, and now the problem occurs during starting and I got a really corrupt screen where the details of the graphics card normally appear. Now the computer won't boot up properly but I managed to get into safe mode. I took a screenshot...
http://www.source-designs.co.uk/des...
The card is a Sparkle 8600GTS. I've heard people mentioning errors like this when having problems with their PSU so could anyone confirm what could be causing this?
in my experience that is a graphics card hardware problem that is not fixable. however i would remove card from slot, make sure contacts are clean and reinstal - but the likelihood is it will make no difference
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The error occurs during the XP loading screen and in the BIOS screen.
I have already tried removing the card and this didn't do anything. It seems to be working fine after it's been left for a while but the problem reappears after XP has loaded. Although, the first screen I see after turning it on is always corrupt now (normally the version of the graphics card BIOS is displayed).
Oh, and no, the game didn't try to udpate DirectX. I had the latest version and had played on the game already that day and plenty of times the week before.
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Do you have another card you can drop in instead? Or onboard graphics? If so boot that way and attempt a sys restore. Uninstall the 8600 drivers. if this works then try to reinstall the 8600. With new drivers. Could be currupted drivers.
on the road again!!
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No, I don't have another card. If I'm able to get into safe mode again I could try reinstalling the drivers there.
Although, surely the error appearing before XP has loaded indicates that it's not a driver problem?
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If the POST screens at start up are corrupted then drivers are not the problem. You card is probably defective. Drivers don't come into play until Windows starts.
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Yeah. It seems like when I leave it off for a while it loads up ok until it gets to windows, but any restarts after that the problem is there straight after I turn the power on.
I think I'll just get a new card. I'm sure I'll be back soon if the problem doesn't go away. I might be a little more worried though!
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If the card has a cooling fan on it that may have quit on you.
If it isn't an expensive card then it probably isn't worth bothering with.
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It does but it looks like it's working fine. The card itself seems quite cool as well.
It wasn't a particularly expensive card in the range so I guess I got what I paid for. The one I'm looking at is a more familiar name.
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I think the cards bad also but I have also seen cards woth currupt firmware (rare but happens). only way to know that is a flash of the gpu. Or drop $100 on a newer card if you can ;). G/l
on the road again!!
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supertrucker
I don't think that would produce random corruption in the POST screens. The OP stated that if they start cold the POST screens are OK. If they reboot after using the computer the POST screens are corrupt.
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Four different situations that I've seen this in: 1) corrupt or conflicting device drivers, 2) corrupt swap/page file, 3) damaged extended memory or 4) damaged display adapter.
John W. Borelli
IT Specialist
OmniIT
borelli35
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True othehill. Guess its that old "wait! I can fix it" kicking in lol. As I posted earlier though I agree it sounds like the is toast. Wonder how the kid made out with the os disk.
on the road again!!
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Ok now I'm awake "long day otr yesterday". Othehill what was trying to get at is most gpus above the 5000 series have onboard firmware (upgradeable) that runs even during post (that's why you'll see the gpu post first). I've had gpus do this when the oem graphics utility is installed and gets hit with a bug. Either way at this point its best to get a new card :).
on the road again!!
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Learn something new most every day. In that case it may be worthwhile for the OP to flash the card.
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I just reviewed the mission statement of this site yesterday. Basically it states that no one knows everything so having many minds working toward a solution is the best method of resolution.
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True words. The more input (usually)= eventual resilution of of the problem.
on the road again!!
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I haven't been on c/n much in the last 2-3 yrs til lately. I realized I was getting rusty. Decided to make time because you folks actually make me think! Lol! Thks! Where's that aspirin? Lol
on the road again!!
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