Hate you too Nvidia!

[Xanthia]

Welcome one and all to my latest rant on everyone's favorite topic- me versus computer. Now before you tech savy people start flinging advice my way ( not that I don't appreciate it) you may want to pass for now since I'v already decided I am going to bring it to a professional to have it looked at. I'm mostly doing this to rant and gain maybe some emotional support while I wait till morning comes. Till then enjoy.

I hate computers. Just when I start believing I can fix any problem that comes my way, my pc flings something at me that I have never had to deal with before-the blue screen of DEATH. But I am getting ahead of myself, instead lets go back a few minutes before this all occured.

So while playing Skyrim for 2 hours ( yes I am cheating on you Istaria for a game that kills dragons! I should be ashamed!) I get this really weird and bad graphics glitch that turns some of the textures an ultraviolet color and locks the computer up. I have no choice with the frozen screen but to push the power button and reboot. The computer proceeds to turn back on, and it looks like it is okay so I go to load my game and continue where I left off. After a min "playing", I get the same graphics glitch and freeze.

So being the dummy that I am, I decide that maybe the problem is being caused by an outdated graphics driver. Sure enough I check and there is an update available for me. One download and reboot later and everything appears to still be working. Fire up the game and before I can even get pass that logo screen the graphics glitch and the computer freezes. Damnit!

At this point I figure I'd try lowering the settings...but before I can even test this theory, I notice something horrible has occured. I am now getting weird graphical glitches on the screen as soon as the computer starts up. Course I don't get too far, because before my desktop can even load, I get hit smacked with the bsod.

Looking at it, it reads that the problem is being caused by nv4_disp creating an infinite loop. According to google, it is my Nvidia graphics card. So I attempt to fix it by following the top suggestions and uninstall and reinstall the driver. During the whole process I still see the weird graphical glitch of green dots and swiggles across my screen even while in safe mode. But even after installing the latest driver and then a slightly older one that I know was working before, the dots and swiggles remain. Siiiiiiiiiigh. However, I did notice that while I had the drivers uninstalled I was able to atleast reboot the computer without getting a blue screen.

So since it seems that the driver isn't the cause of the problem, I' ve come to the scary realization that it might be a hardware issue. And as little as I know about software, I know even less about hardware! So hopefully tomorrow, I'll be able to convice my dad to take it to the repair shop and figure out what actually is causing the problem. I don't want to touch it myself because not only do I have 0 idea on what to look for, I 'm afraid I might make it worse with some static electricity.

For those who want to know, I have a NVIDIA GeForce 9800 Gt graphics card.

So yea...... I hate you computer and I always will >

[Sigi]

You have my emotional support on this matter. Although I know computers are inanimate objects, I could swear they sometimes act up just to annoy you.

Hold in there, I hope it will be fixed!

[Thicklesip]

Ew! That sounds unpleasantly like what happened to me the last time one of my video cards died. The bad news is that probably means you'll need a new video card; the good news is well, you'd ONLY need a new video card-- replacing one part of a system isn't too bad, it's when nobody can figure out what's malfunctioning that you get into the fun test-everything-in-the-computer-one-by-one cycle.

Regardless: did I mention EW? Rassa frassa computer malfunctions.


Oh! One small... kinda-advice thing: if you DO take it to the repair guys and they seem reasonably nice, ask them to show you how to safely open up the computer case and dust it. Dust build-up can clog fans and lead to things overheating, which means replacing them sooner than you'd otherwise have to, very annoying! And I can assure you from personal experience as someone who barely knows what they're doing with a computer that it's not very hard. Trickiest bit is finding a can of compressed air.

Good luck, I hope everything is fixed as painlessly as possible!

[Xanthia]

Thanks for all the support! It so frustrating sometimes when all you can do is wait and pray that the problem isn't worse than it seems. Makes me wish I could role back time before this all happened. At any rate I should have my answers in a few days.

Atleast I still have other means of getting work done and connecting to the Internet meanwhile. Good thing every device these days are practically mini computers themselves!

[Steelclaw]

I am now getting weird graphical glitches on the screen as soon as the computer starts up. Course I don't get too far, because before my desktop can even load, I get hit smacked with the bsod.

...

During the whole process I still see the weird graphical glitch of green dots and swiggles across my screen even while in safe mode.

These are the signs of a hardware problem. "Burned-in" garbage on the screen is a sign of VRAM failure. Try running your video card in another system that is known to work properly otherwise. That should tell you if you're looking for a replacement video card or something else, like a power supply or motherboard.

[Romirez]

HARDWARE.

your graphics card is dying. you need a new one. don't get it looked at by the proffessional... he'll charge you for looking at it, charge you to install a new card, on top of the card's $100+ price...


just get a new card. you need one.

[Xanthia]

Thanks for the advice Romirez and Steelclaw, but I already dropped it off to be looked at. It's so odd to see an empty space where it use to be....

[Steelclaw]

Just a reminder, Black Friday is coming.

[Romirez]

Thanks for the advice Romirez and Steelclaw, but I already dropped it off to be looked at. It's so odd to see an empty space where it use to be....

i really wish you had asked me first.... i build and maintain my own computer. i could have diagnosed it for you.

[Xanthia]

i really wish you had asked me first.... i build and maintain my own computer. i could have diagnosed it for you.

Maybe next time! Knowing my luck with computers there will most likely be a next time!

[Trust]

9800 GT is getting pretty long in the tooth, it may be dying. you can pick up a good gtx 560 for less than $150.
*E* may have to go with a bigger power supply though.