My computer has been having some problems lately. I have determined it is not virus related, ran all the fixtools and got all the updates. After running for about 10 minutes, my monitor shuts off and goes into "No Signal" mode, while my computer is still running. I have tried this on several monitors, so it's not a monitor problem. I have tried reseating my video card, an Nvidia GeForce 2 GTS Pro, and I've installed the latest drivers. I'm thinking it *may* be a heat issue with the video card...if i try reseting the computer, I get no monitor signal. If I shut power off from the back of the computer and turn it back on after an hour or so, I get a monitor signal, but then it cuts off after about 10 minutes.

Any help would be appreciated!

The best way to check on a heat problem is to open the case, blow a small fan onto the innards and see if that cures or delays the occurence of the problem. While you are there, make sure the heatsinks aren't clogged with dust and that the fans are turning. Check the capacitors on the motherboard for bulging.

When the monitor shuts down, turn off the computer and carefully feel around for hot chips. It could be the video or motherboard chipsets that are overheating. The CPU can also overheat and shut down your system. Or another component may be the culprit.

Try to figure out if the PC is still working after the monitor goes off. Is the hard disk access light flashing, does music continue to play, will the PC try to read a CD that you insert, etc.?

And please post the specs of your system and your OS.

Welcome to the PC Guide forums!!

To test if this is a heat-related problem, take off one of the sides to your case and put a fan next to it blowing in (regular home fan). If you get more than 10 minutes of usable computer time, then heat is your culprit. You need a better cooling scheme (and we need more info about your system to help you out).

If it turns out to not be a cooling problem, it's most likely some deep dark arcane BIOS setting or something like that. :p

Let us know either way.

thanks for all the replies!

my system specs:

1.4 GHz AMD Athlon CPU
512 MB RAM
NVidia GeForce2 GTS
Windows XP
Asus A7A266 motherboard
SB Live 5.1

i also have a DVD and CDR drive.

i tried letting it run with the music playing, and the music also locks up. however, the computer does try to read a CD when inserted after the lockup. the video card is an AGP card, and i have heard it can be difficult to seat them properly. could this be the problem if the card was loosened?

ok, i don't think it's heat related anymore. i placed a giant box fan blowing into the open case, and i reseated the video card and cleared the dust from fans in the computer. i then let it run for a few minutes, and it still crashes with no warning. the computer still runs, but the sound and video both crash.

This sounds like a hardware problem. Try the following:

Bare bones boot to narrow search for malfunctioning hardware device:

Test takes only a few minutes. It sounds difficult, but in practice is quite easy. Take notes if necessary on the devices you disconnect so that you will have no difficulty putting everything back together:

1) When you open the case, make sure that all fans are working, that the heatsinks are not clogged with dust, and that the motherboard appears to be normal – no bulging, leaking or exploded capacitors.

2) Disconnect power and data connectors from all drives (CD, DVD, HD, floppy) leaving only your boot hard drive. Remove any cards from the expansion slots except your video card. Disconnect any devices attached to serial, parallel, firewire or USB ports

2) Try to boot. If the problem has gone away, add devices back one at a time until you discover the defective component.

3) If the problem still exists, you have narrowed your search to motherboard, memory, CPU, hard drive, video card and power supply.

Further Testing:

1) See if machine will boot or whether it still crashes in Safe Mode.
2) Try a different video card if possible.
3) Test memory if possible with DocMem or other software memory tester. If machine won’t boot, remove one memory stick then the other if you have two, or try another compatible memory stick.
4) If machine will boot but crashes randomly, the CPU is probably okay, otherwise try a different CPU.
5) Look at PSU voltages with voltmeter – (red is 5 volts, yellow is twelve volts, black is ground). Or enter bios setup and read the voltages. If machine won’t boot try different PSU.
6) If all other components test okay, motherboard may be the problem.