Problems Once Again...

[MR. HT]

Hey guys,

If you don't know my PC's past, I'll give you a brief synopsis.

Issues with the blue screen of death. Turned out to be memory errors. RMA. Back in a in working order (last checked).

Dual monitoring won't register on 9800 GX2. Card RMA. Back in and same issue. I was told by BFG to put the card in the other slot on my Rampage Formula, same issue...

And then, the major issue came with freezing in games. I never really tried games in the past but I decided to have some fun so I bought Crysis Warhead, Fallout 3, and Empire: Total War. The only one that works is Empire: Total War. The other two games freeze the PC up before they even get into the game (during launch).

I brought this issue to the forum and I was advised to install new drivers. I did this to the best of my knowledge and the issue still prevails.

Today, I installed AutoCAD 2010 to do a school project on (I'm designing a golf course). I tried to open a topo map in the program (it's made for AutoCAD) and the program froze the computer upon launch. I tried to open it multiple ways with the same result, freezing upon launch of AutoCAD 2010. Then, after about 3 trys, I reinstalled my Audio driver (trying to get all the newest drivers for my components). I restarted the PC like it said. Then, when I clicked on my account to log in the Welcome screen in Vista stayed up for an abnormally long time and then faded into a black screen. I could move the mouse, but there was no interface or anything.

So, I tried again with the same result. Then I tried logging on to a different account and it came up fine and here I am, typing this message.

It's frustrating that I spent all this money on a nice PC and nothing seems to work. I appreciate any help that can be offered. I need to get this fixed ASAP so that I can work on my project (required to graduate high school...)...

Thanks,

HT

[nuz]

Check your motherboard manual, what are the required specs for a graphics card? My Gigabyte GA-7VAX required a 4X/8X speed AGP card. When I installed a 2X/4X, it worked, but froze whenever a graphics intensive program was running-which was most of the time, since I used it either for circuit simulations or games. I upgraded to a 4X/8X, and haven't had that problem since.

[MR. HT]

I checked the manual but I didn't see anything related to this. Also, I highly doubt that this is the problem. I assume the Rampage Formula is fully compatible with the 9800 GX2. Am I correct?

Thanks for the response. I do appreciate all help.

Thanks,

HT

[MR. HT]

Could underpowering cause problems such as this. I don't know if anyone remembers, but a good while back a loud pop came from my PC. We never figured out where it came from and there was no smoke or burn marks. After some though, we came to the conclusion that it might be something in the power supply. I tried to contact Coolermaster (PSU manufacturer) but I hung up after two hours on hold. I never pursued the issue again and it hasn't had any more problems (that I have directly related to the PSU). Could this freezing and other issues be a result of this?

Just an idea. I truly have no clue what the problem is.

[MR. HT]

Bump.

Anyone? I just don't want this thread to fall away...

Thanks for any help.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

but a good while back a loud pop came from my PC. We never figured out where it came from and there was no smoke or burn marks.

Static electricity perhaps? Did the sound come from your speakers?

Burn marks are only acceptable done with classic cars... That's the rules! :p

[MR. HT]

Not sure what it was. I wasn't using the PC when it happened so I have to rely on a story of what happened.

But, after it happened, everything seemed to run fine.

It seems like this could be the culprit though (if it was the power supply). If my PC is being underpowered is it possible that it would freeze under high intensity programs and not be able to dual monitor. These just seem like power intensive uses and if my power supply is somewhat fried maybe it can't support the needs.

Does this sound like a solid analysis? I'm kind of winging it here but the more I think about it the more it sounds like a possibility...

[MR. HT]

Anyone?
*****

[classicsoftware]

You have several possibilities.

I would start with a fresh install of Windows.

Get the Dual monitors working first

Install Autocad

See what happens

[MR. HT]

Okay, so I have most everything backed up on discs. I'll save all my recent documents again though.

After I get everything saved, what is the next step?

Thanks for the response classic,

HT

[classicsoftware]

Get out your windows CD or restore CD, boot to the CD and reinstall windows....

[MR. HT]

Okay, reinstall is complete.

I haven't gotten around to installing AutoCAD again. I do notice that the internet is running faster (probably because all of the background programs are gone).

However, I still can't get the dual monitors to work. The bottom port on my graphics card has never registered that a monitor is hooked up, but the top port works. I don't know what the problem is, because I have RMA'd the card and still have the same problem. This is why I was wondering about the underpowering issue...

I'll reinstall AutoCAD and see if it works now.

[classicsoftware]

Download the most up to date drivers for the video card. Unzip them onto your drive and then remove the video card from the device manager. Uninstall all traces of the sotware. When you re-boot and it find's new hardware, point it to the latest drivers.

[MR. HT]

Wow man, that worked.

So now, the dual monitors are working. For some reason, AutoCAD recalled their 2010 x64 version (bugs) and it comes out in a few weeks now...

So, do I need to do anything else?

If not, what should I look for in the way of antivirus and firewall. I stuck with the Windows stuff last time and I think it may have contributed to the problems...

[MR. HT]

So, since I was in dire need of this program, I downloaded the Spanish version and it is working, so far...

[classicsoftware]

I would use Avast Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html) as an AV and the Sygate Personal Firewall (http://www.filehippo.com/download_sygate_personal_firewall/).

Re-boot and let us know what happens....

[MR. HT]

Okay, I'll install those in a few. I have noticed that, lately, my PC has wanted to update every time I cut it off. It always has one or two updates lined up...is this normal?

[classicsoftware]

Until you get fully updated,this will happen. One update leads to another. Keep running updates until there are no more to get.

[nuz]

It'll probably go a lot faster if you manually download any outstanding Service Packs from the MS website. Besides, they'll be useful if you ever have to reinstall XP again.

[Paul Komski]

Once you get fully setup with your must haves and all updates and drivers consider making an image file of your system onto an external drive or DVDs. You can then restore that image, probably in minutes, in the future and get back to that exact point in time without any rigmarole at all.