Yesterday evening I decided to try and install Windows 98 on another HD I have to attempt playing Overseer. I tried for 5 hours to get 98 to work on both my old computer and my new computer, and it wouldn't work out.
This involved swapping drives because I don't have enough for both. In the process I must've broken something, because now my computer won't recognize its own graphics card and has trouble booting. When it can boot, it looks like this (except what I see is probably worse):
But it was working fine before I went to bed! Oh God help me. All I wanted to do was play Overseer.
Nooooo....
The next time my computer turns off, it might not turn on again. But at least I know my main HD isn't the problem and my data is safely backed up also. A new computer could cost $400+, but that stuff's irreplaceable.
This involved swapping drives because I don't have enough for both. In the process I must've broken something, because now my computer won't recognize its own graphics card and has trouble booting. When it can boot, it looks like this (except what I see is probably worse):
But it was working fine before I went to bed! Oh God help me. All I wanted to do was play Overseer.
Nooooo....The next time my computer turns off, it might not turn on again.
But at least I know my main HD isn't the problem and my data is safely backed up also. A new computer could cost $400+, but that stuff's irreplaceable.
It's not a software problem. I can fix those easily. The display looks bad from the moment I turn it on, even before the OS loads. And I'm sure it's not the monitor.freepizza wrote:Try reformatting it. That's the best advice I can think of because of lack of detail. Since you have everything backed up, a reformat shouldn't be a problem.
I think I actually did something to mess up the board, or I broke my video card.
Couple of questions - Are you connecting from PC to display using a DVI or VGA cable, and also are you using onboard graphics or an expansion card (PCI/AGP/PCI-E)
If you're using an expansion card just try taking the card out (after earthing yourself by touching the case), cleaning the connectors by rubbing them with a piece of A4 copier paper or an abrasive rubber and then reseating it - could be a dodgy connection.
If that fails then part of your graphics card may be fried in which case see if you can borrow another from a friend. If that fails then it could be the motherboard.
If you're using an expansion card just try taking the card out (after earthing yourself by touching the case), cleaning the connectors by rubbing them with a piece of A4 copier paper or an abrasive rubber and then reseating it - could be a dodgy connection.
If that fails then part of your graphics card may be fried in which case see if you can borrow another from a friend. If that fails then it could be the motherboard.
I Have both analog and digital cables. The gfx card only seems to like the digital one.
I'm thinking of trying to swap in my old computer's 16MB gfx card, but I'd have to turn off my computer. It seems that only earnest prayer can make it boot up at all, and I'm listening to music right now (yeah, all the hardware works just fine).
By the way, I suppose a mod can move this to "Tex support." The original post was meant to be more emotional that technical.
I'm thinking of trying to swap in my old computer's 16MB gfx card, but I'd have to turn off my computer. It seems that only earnest prayer can make it boot up at all, and I'm listening to music right now (yeah, all the hardware works just fine).
By the way, I suppose a mod can move this to "Tex support." The original post was meant to be more emotional that technical.
The image i see if as if the video driver if broken and only showing 16 bit color but hmmm if u alraidy see bad images in starup thats out couse vid driver not loaded yet.
OK easy way to check where the faults ly is
1 swap vid cards
2 have u a spare monitor u can hook up
3 remove all vid drivers and let windows auto detext or reinstalll the defauld driver CD.
well hope that helps ya think the spare monitor is the safest folowed by removing drivers and einstaling it
Sorry for my spelling today ialraidy knocked my koffie all over the salook table LOL. im not a happy camper
OK easy way to check where the faults ly is
1 swap vid cards
2 have u a spare monitor u can hook up
3 remove all vid drivers and let windows auto detext or reinstalll the defauld driver CD.
well hope that helps ya think the spare monitor is the safest folowed by removing drivers and einstaling it
Sorry for my spelling today ialraidy knocked my koffie all over the salook table LOL. im not a happy camper
Simple... Your video card is history. It's a hardware failure... nothing to do with software or your OS (and unfortunately there is nothing you can do to fix it).
Seen that same thing happen all the time, and it can only mean this one thing. What you see there is what's called 'artifacting'... usually you get the same thing when you try and overclock your video card too high and then you try and play a game (although not as severe)... and sometimes you can reset your video card and get it back to normal... but if you are getting artifacts in Windows its safe to say that your video card needs replacing.
It's not your motherboard as it shows different symptoms of failure, and it is not software related nor does it have anything to do with your drivers. And if you have already tried unplugging and re-plugging you monitor cables, then there is nothing else for me to tell you. If your video card has a fan, check to see if the fan has not failed... but if you cannot boot into windows without this happening the damage has already been done.
If you have an old video card sitting around whack it in and see if it goes away. I am certain it will, in any case, time to get a new video card!
-Cub. =o)
Seen that same thing happen all the time, and it can only mean this one thing. What you see there is what's called 'artifacting'... usually you get the same thing when you try and overclock your video card too high and then you try and play a game (although not as severe)... and sometimes you can reset your video card and get it back to normal... but if you are getting artifacts in Windows its safe to say that your video card needs replacing.
It's not your motherboard as it shows different symptoms of failure, and it is not software related nor does it have anything to do with your drivers. And if you have already tried unplugging and re-plugging you monitor cables, then there is nothing else for me to tell you. If your video card has a fan, check to see if the fan has not failed... but if you cannot boot into windows without this happening the damage has already been done.
If you have an old video card sitting around whack it in and see if it goes away. I am certain it will, in any case, time to get a new video card!
-Cub. =o)
Thank you Cubase. I hope you're right about it only being the card; replacing that wouldn't be too hard.
Yeah... I agree that it's over. My GeForce 8500 is gone.
I removed and re-inserted it. Same deal. I also tried to swap in a 16MB card, and it was about 1/4 cm too long and couldn't even get close enough to seat halfway (it jammed against the case). I can't use the old computer for testing, either, because it has no drives and can't boot form USB.
The card's fan turns and there's nothing visibly wrong with it. I have no idea what I did.
But I am still trying to scrape together enough parts to make my old computer into a Win98 machine. No way am I going through all this and not playing Overseer in the end!
Yeah... I agree that it's over. My GeForce 8500 is gone.
I removed and re-inserted it. Same deal. I also tried to swap in a 16MB card, and it was about 1/4 cm too long and couldn't even get close enough to seat halfway (it jammed against the case). I can't use the old computer for testing, either, because it has no drives and can't boot form USB.
The card's fan turns and there's nothing visibly wrong with it. I have no idea what I did.
But I am still trying to scrape together enough parts to make my old computer into a Win98 machine. No way am I going through all this and not playing Overseer in the end!