[Sphynx]

I am having some computer issues, and I am not the most computer savvy guy around. I thought, if you guys were willing, I might run my problem by you and see if anyone has any ideas that may be helpful.

The other day, while my family was running a game, the computer seemed to freeze up. The screen went black and it crashed. I tried starting up the computer, and when it got to the point where I would log in (and where I believe the video card would kick in for resolution), the screen kicked off. It would start up in safety mode, which, if I am not mistaken, doesn't do the card-acceleration. I spent some time to let the video card cool off, and then I could start up the computer normally again.

Out of curiosity, I booted up another program that uses the video card, and it crashed similarly.

I ran a virus scan (using AVAST)... nothing. I ran a scan with Super Anti-Spypare. It also found nothing.

When I don't use the video card, it will run anything else. So I am guessing that my video card has gone bad. Does anyone with any real knowledge about computers have any idea if I am on the right track? If not, does anyone have any different thoughts to point me in the right direction?

My system is an HP Pavilion a1440n. It has 2.0GB ram, 250 BG hard drive, and I am running an EVGA Geforce 7600 GS (yes, it is a humble rig). The entire system is about 6 years old. I placed the 7600 to replace a 7300LE that it came with and it has been running fine all these years.

[Scourge of Ages]

It sounds like you're on the right track.

I doubt that the video card is all bad, because if it were, you wouldn't get anything done. Even when it's not doing 3D stuff, the video card is always doing some processing.

It's possible that it's overheating way too easily when you start a program that's more intensive. If you can adjust the case fans, turn them up. Open up the case and dust everything, and make sure the video card fan is still running when it's on.

[Bob-san]

Also reinstall the graphics card drivers: if they got corrupted, there'd be similar problems. Double-check all connections and perhaps reseat the graphics card.

[Mars]

In my experience they tend to fry randomly sometime after three years.

[Achillion]

Yes it's possible the VGA is fried, well part of it. I had the same issue once where the PC would crash whenever I installed the VGA drivers and the hardware acceleration tried to kick in.
Try cleaning the graphics drivers and reinstalling.

Get speedfan and check temperatures.

I doubt it's a heat issue, otherwise it wouldn't crash so consistently when you run something, but might as well give it a look.

At first I thought it was a laptop (I used to have a Pavilion lappy and the name just means HP laptop to me), but replacing a VGA on a desktop is cheap and piss easy.
I have a couple of XFX 8800 GT from my old PC if you're interested.

[Bobboau]

first thought is drivers.

however, if your card is more than 3 years old you can probably pick up a better one for $50.

[Nuke]

take it out back and shoot it, then rape it, then light it on fire, and then rape it again. then cut up your family with a chainsaw. finally, check yourself into the psyche ward. problem solved.

wait? what was this thread about?

run a memtest, 99% of the time instability is caused by memory errors. if you get any errors remove and re-seat the ram and test again. if you still get errors, you need to go into the bios and check timing settings (which will confuse the **** out of anyone who doesnt know what they are doing). not sure if memtest can test video memory, ive seen utils that can not that i could name any right now. better yet, just go with my first suggestion. i generally dont like the direction computers have gone much in the last decade.

then thers simple stuff, like jiggle monitor cables, check the video mode, especially that your monitor supports the video mode. especially make sure the refresh is within the monitors spec.