Distorted pointer and desktop

[MoonMan]

Followup to this thread: http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=36849
But not required reading since I'll go over the basics.

Original problem: Video card (NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra bolded for those skimming) was overheating because the fan on it stopped working. I bought the fan that Dark Messenger linked me to in the other thread, and it came yesterday. I removed my win modem because it was useless to me and I needed space, and installed the fan. Plugged it in, and turned on my PC.

New problem: When I started my PC, the pointer icon was distorted along with the first logging in window. After a moment the monitor just shut down into "power saving mode". Fun. Continued turning the computer on and off and it was doing the same thing everytime.

My various attempts to figure out a solution have been:

- Removing the fan and fitting the win modem back in.
- Poking my video card in different areas.
- Blowing all the dust I could see away, in case that was some problem.
- Kicking the side of my tower.
- Screaming in anger.

Initially I thought it was some kind of power supply problem. I mean, it hasn't done this before so it would make sense that a device like a fan could be taking power where there was none.. or something. After taking out the fan and continue testing, I started to think otherwise. I was able to successfully boot into safe mode with networking in Windows 2000 (bolding my operating system for anyone skimming). Then I tried VGA mode (which I am currently in). Everything including sound, internet, all the different programs are working correctly.

In VGA mode, I turned the resolution down to 1024x768 and high color (from 1280x1024 and true color) and restarted to see if that helped. It did, to the point where I actually made it to the desktop this time before the "power saving mode" kicked in and shut the monitor off.. but even if it wouldn't have, everything was distorted to hell.

So yeah, to sum it up: I don't know what to do. A few theories I have on why this crap is happening are that either a) the screw driver I used to take out the win modem was fucking magnitized and I didn't realize it until I got the screw out, it hasn't touched my computer since.. but there is still that chance it was the cause, b) my video card was just ready to kick the bucket anyway :( in which case there was nothing I could do, or c) there is some problem I am not seeing and there is a chance I can fix this before going out and buying another card or throwing myself from a 10 story building because I am so frustrated.

As always, any help is appreciated greatly. If any info is needed that I may have left out, let me know. I'm very sorry for the long winded post, but I think it's better to have extra, useless details, rather than waste someones time helping me by leaving out a lot.

[Dark Messenger]

I've had this happen before my monitor died on me....'distorted' is too generic can you be more specific?
When my monitor died I would have open windows sort of flash a little at the side either edges or corners and its like a square windows would shrink a little andor distort and twist on the ediges or corners..also I'd see the equivalent of a lightning strike on my screen sort of like what you'd see in a thunderstorm with short lightening like flashes accompanied by a fizzling sound usually it looks like what you'd see as a small lightening bolt only about 3 or 4 inches long and half and inch wide usually in the center to upper left edge of my screen. When you monitor starts flickering like this your cathode ray tube is getting read to go out if you have one of the older larger monitors this may be getting read to happen to you.

I noticed when I got my dell and tried running an nvidia card with an older monitor it was like everything had a broken vhold (veriticle hold similiar to what you'd have on a tv...this is my other definition of distorted)

To correct the second problem I used a different monitor or if u have a card with vivo (video in out jacks) you could actually install or reinstall the correct video drivers for your card to fix the problem...after the correct drivers were installed and a supported resolution and refresh rate...the old pc monitor could use the card.

A safe resolution is 60mhz...a high one is 90mhz. Safe screen resolution is default 600x480 but 800x600 should also be possible. Try a lower bit mode like either 16 or 32 bit mode as some cards don't support 24bit very well for some reason.

Barring anything else I'd say it was just a random driver conflict and ask that you reinstall the video card driver....if you had an older inexpensive card like an 8mb ati u could take out the nvidia and try a different card to see if u still have problems.

Gaming may be important to you I think so I'll understand you wanting to go with a nicer card than a $40.00 8mb ati pci slot card with no video out or in.

And I give you my suggestions in the spirit that some help might be better than none.
edit:
It is possible that running it overheating for an extended period of time may have damaged it..even the damn magnetised screwdriver is possible too.

[Krell]

Unseat, then reseat the video card

Turn off ACPI in the BIOS

In Windows, right click the desktop and chose Properties.

Go to Screen Saver > Monitor > and Always On > Never Never Never

Install the latest CHIPSET and video card drivers


forget the magnetized screwdriver, it's the least plausible explanation, you have a greater chance of the video faeries going on smoke break as an explanation.

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[MoonMan]

I appreciate both responses, heading out to buy a new video card if this doesn't work.

The only thing I do not know how to do is install a new CHIPSET. Does that come with the new drivers or do I get that some other way?

[Krell]

Aida32 or Device Manager will tell you what chipset you have, then just run the setup from Intel or Via, Nvidia etc.


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[MoonMan]

Thanks for the quick reply on that, but have another question.. lol. (I'm helpless)

In the BIOS, there is no option that is a clear indicator of turning off AGPI. Only thing remotely close is a "PCI" tab, and clicking that has 5 things you can change (USB, PCI, etc) with the last one being [AGP Slot] VGA Controller and then gives me the option to change the IRQ (which is set at 3) to up to 11. Perhaps I missed something though.

Oh and my monitor should be working fine (as in not old and broken). It's only like 2 years old max.

[Krell]

http://www.acpi.info/

If you see anything that says Power Management turn it off

Also, video is usually set to a higher IRQ, like 11.

Another suggestion I was going to make, is to see if Plug and Play is enabled in the BIOS.

Try setting the BIOS to use Plug and Play, then make sure it is running as a Service in Windows.


Heres what I think . .or was thinking while taking a shower this morning . . . when you removed the modem, your IRQs were re assigned and now your video is on an IRQ that is being used by your mouse such as Port 3.

Again, you know, Aida32 is your friend.



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[MoonMan]

Getting aida32 as we speak, but I'm going to mess with the AGP thing again. Typically, do items share the same number IRQ? I think I saw some other items sharing.

[Krell]

Yes they do, but some require more time and resources than others, so some combinations are kosher.


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[MoonMan]

The PCI part I was talking about looks exactly like this:

[Slot 2] 16750 Modem IRQ10
[Slot 3] Ethernet Controller IRQ5
[Onboard]USB Controller IRQ11
[Onboard]USB Controller IRQ11
[Onboard] Audio Device IRQ10
[AGP Slot] VGA Controller IRQ3

I did switch things around.. put the 2 USB Controllers to 3 and put the VGA to 11, but it didn't seem to help at all so I put them back to the way they were before messing with them.. don't want to make any radical changes until I learn more.

As for aida32, here is a report. Not sure if it contains any sensetive info, as I just skimmed it. Let me know if you want me to give you a report of a specific area.

P.S. - This is really helpful. You don't get thanked enough for taking time and helping bums like me with their computers, so again thank you. :)

[Krell]

Problems & Suggestions:

Problem AGP is disabled. This may cause performance penalty.



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[MoonMan]

Aha I see that now, so how do I activate it ? Is it hidden somewhere in the BIOS and I am just completely blind? (looked up and down and just cannot find it)

[Krell]

Know what I would do? I would go buy another 3.3v CMOS battery, replace it, and set the BIOS to the "default" setting.

Also . .I dont like this:

IRQ 11 Shared SMC EZ Card 10/100 (SMC1211TX)
IRQ 11 Shared SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
IRQ 11 Shared VIA USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 11 Shared VIA USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 11 Shared NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra




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[MoonMan]

That is interesting indeed. OK this is the part where I need to be handheld a bit since some of this stuff is way past me.

First, in regards to the 3.3v CMOS Battery, I can probably find that on the motherboard? I'm going to check after this post. How much are they typically, can I buy it from a store or must it be bought online, and how easy is it to replace?

Second, aside from the battery, how can I fix those IRQ settings? Where else can I change that stuff in the settings besides the BIOS (which doesn't display it like that)? Also, what should/could I change it to?

[Krell]

You can get a cr3032 3.3v cell batt for a few bucks anywhere, its (usually) easy to replace

Lets do that, then make sure the BIOS is set to defaults, then see is we still have an IRQ prob



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[MoonMan]

k then I will get back to you later in the day (hopefully.. though if not, perhaps tomorrow). I'm hoping BestBuy carries it.

[Krell]

Walgreens . . Krogers . . many places carry it

You might want to see if theres a manual for your MB that you can download and read.



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[silentscream]

Walgreens . . Krogers . . many places carry it

You might want to see if theres a manual for your MB that you can download and read.



.
and an air duster

lol

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