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System instability problems, probably hardware (mo |
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From: Jared on 07/01/2002
The problem I'm having is system instability during games (all kinds), as well as random crashes when running windows. I get black screens, frozen screens with a strip of vertical green lines accross the top, crashes to desktop, blue screens of death involving errors with VXD drivers, etc.Windows 98 has been pretty unstable, I get blue screens involving errors like: "Unable to write to disk on drive C, files or data may be missing," "Exception OE has occured at 0028:C003B370 in VxD IOS(01) + 00000D9C. This was called from 0028:C003B331 in VxD IOS(01) + 00000DSD," as well as other blue screens involving fatal errors that I havn't written down. When I tried installing Windows XP the system would constantly restart itself and give me error messages stating that the system has recovered from a serious error. Several times Windows XP named my video card as the cause of the system instability. I have reformatted several times along the course of my problems, and it has helped temporarily, but after trying Windows XP and reformatting again and installing Windows 98 (current OS), I had problems immediately. I'm thinking this is a hardware issue, possibly my motherboard? The system I'm running is a 1.4 Athlon, 512mb DDR ram, 40gig Maxtor HD, Biostar M7MIA motherboard (http://www.biostar-usa.com/products/socketA/m7mia/m7mia_specs.htm), Soundblaster Audigy, Visiontek GeForce4 Ti 4600 128 meg (recently upgraded from a GeForce2 64 meg, which I also had the same problems with) with an ATX 350 watt power supply. I have tried running games without my soundcard, all the tests I've run on my hard drive have shown no errors, my GeForce 4 is brand new, and I had the same problems with my old GeForce 2, so that pretty much narrows it down to my motherboard, some unseen problem with my hard drive, or I'm installing the wrong drivers. I've tried using the drivers right off the VisionTek site, as well as the latest Detonator drivers from Nvidia's site (My system seems to be more instable with the Detonator ones). The motherboard drivers I'm using are the 4 in 1 VIA drivers from their site (http://www.viaarena.com/), with the exception of the AGP miniport driver, which I got from AMD's site (http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/bin). And I'm using Direct X 8.1, of course. I have also tried going to the GeForce FAQ site (http://www.tweak3d.net/faq/faq.cgi) and have tried alot of the tips listed there, including changing BIOS settings, none of which have made much difference. I have also tried the GeForce tweak utility, and a program which manually sets the refresh rates on your monitor, and I also tried turing down the graphics exceleration tab in Windows down a notch. I don't have access to extra computer parts to try to single out the device which is causing the problem, and I don't want to buy a new motherboard unless I'm pretty sure it will fix my problem, since it would just be a waste of money. If you think you know what my problem is, it
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From: James on 07/13/2003
Ive had more or less the same problems you all have been having, i managed to fix almost all of them by deleting the windows directory and reinstalling windows 98. I've found that a lot of the problems stem from trying to install Nvidia drivers, and then the drivers supplied by the Card Manufacturer for the Geforce4. Ive tried switching out to an ati card, and all the problems went away, if you search on pricewatch, you can find a nice cheap 64 MB ati card for about 40-50 dollars. But its really a let down from 128 MB, so, i went to Nvidia, and did all of the increase reliability stuff in their faq, and now it can run for about a 2 days and a half with no problems. Strangely, almost the only time i get the vertical green lines now, is when im running Kazaa...
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From: SHODAN_X on 03/17/2003
I would add the arguement VIA+AMD=INSTABILITY.
Unless you Wipe windows and re-install and install the VIA 4 in 1 hyperion driver pack BEFORE ANY OTHER DRIVERS, you'll get video related problems with these chipsets. The AGP drivers contained in the pack are REQUIRED to get the AGP slot functioning properly, as the ones that come with windows98 and XP for that matter, are buggy to hell, although the XP ones are alot more stable being newer and all.
Beleive me, I've had that trouble with the machine that I'm on now.
After insalling the 4 in 1's, get straight to microsoft update and do a scan (also grab Service Pack 1 for XP) and grab all relevant updates, install them all.
Grab DX9.0 from somewhere and also the 42.82 (or higher) detonators.
Install DX9.0, then the detonators.
Hope this helps a bit, some ideas to toss around anyway...:)
Good luck
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From: SHODAN_X on 03/17/2003
The 'unable to write to disk C, files or data may be missing' sounds ominious. AMD's run hot.Very hot. Combine a hot running CPU with a hot running video card will seriously heat your case, in turn overheating your IDE controller chip, causing data loss. Add the heat from any drives, and you may see a pattern in the crashing issues people have with AMD chips combined with geforce cards, or ANY OTHER high end cards for that fact. Some of the newer m\boards will only accept 1.5v cards (g-force, radeon, parheliah ect.) Any card using a higher voltage on these boards damage the AGP slot and sometimes the mainboard.
Your not alone, my problem is similar, but I know the problem is not my card, but it is heat related. I suspect your AGP slot, mainboard chipset or your ram.
Good luck
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From: Caleb on 03/17/2003
I also have a gainward geforce 4 ti 4200 and i got the same vertical lines that you get that don't go away when you restart. I have tested this card in other another computer and it does the same thing. I think that this chain of video cards must be crap or something... i would suggest going to www.pricewatch.com and buying a radeon 9500 pro... that card is so worth the money when you compare the availaible geforce options... non can touch it. Plus the radeon is directx 9 compatible!!! well just like to let you know that you are not alone.
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From: Computerpilot on 01/08/2003
GeForce. Hmmm. I guess you can read the board to get my opinion on this card...Get a new video card. It sounds like it has failed. Computerpilot
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From: Jake on 01/07/2003
I am having the same problem as he is. But when I play games I get like Lines of squares that flicker, then my PC crash's and then the blocks dont go away, and i am forced to shut off the PC and turn it back on. I am currently running a P3 933 @ 1ghz, 512 sdram, 60 gig Hd and a 20 gig HD. and i have a Gainward GF4 Ti 4200 and Sound Blaster Live!. and i have a Shuttle OEM MB i bought for 60 bucks, which I think could be the problem. I do have another MB but its a tad bit older, but it isnt a OEM board. Windows XP keeps telling my that my card caused the crash. and i just got it waranteed because i thought it was my card, but its not. and i dont have money to upgrade MB and CPU and ram. and this is crap because i cant seem to get this fixed.
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From: Computerpilot on 07/02/2002
Thank you for a detailed description. I think you have done quite a bit of work here!!!I really am under the impression that the classic AMD vs GeForce argument is occuring. There is just the right combination of hardware that creates the perfect conflict! I would not think that it would be a motherboard situation. Windows 98 is not suited to give the detailed error messages that Windows XP is designed to give. I would rely on what Windows XP is trying to tell you. I know that you are uninsterested in spending money to buy another video card, but I would go to your local computer shop and buy a little 8mb ATI card for 30 bucks. Something with another chipset than the GeForce cards you had. I bet that it works. This would be the perfect test for you. Another option is to go to a place like Best Buy or Circut City and buy another card with a AMD compatible chipset (again, different from your current card) and simply return it after your test run. Borrow a friend's video card for the test! Either way, this is the only method to throw out the possiblity that it is your motherboard creating the problems. By the way, the Biostar Motherboards are not the best on the market... When you are getting 'a strip of vertical green lines accross the top', that would indicate to me that you have a video problem. Another thing to take a look at is to be sure you have your BIOS and Video card set to do the same transfer rate. For example, both should be set at 4X. Did you check for IRQ conflicts? Try changing the IRQ of the video card to see if maybe another device sharing the IRQ is conflicting with it. Sorry I was not much help. However, it sounds like you have solved your own problem. I would really suspect that it is the combination of the chipset on the video card, the motherboard, and your Athlon Processor. I have heard of a lot of lockups assocated with Athlon chips and the GeForce video cards. I do not personally work with the GeForce cards, I can still see a potential for conflict. I have had very good performance with ATI cards and my Athlon Thunderbird 1000Mhz processor. I run an FIC motherboard with an ATI 64mb All-in-Wonder card at home and have been happy with it for several years that I have built it. Don't replace the motherboard (even though you may get the motherboard cheaper than the video card). The GeForce will conflict with other motherboards as well. Computerpilot@hotmail.com
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