Computer tech support

[brizzo]

Hmm, a chipset driver would cause an issue right from the start. If I had to take a stab in the dark, I would think its possible you installed the incorrect version... but a windows update came down and replaced the 'wrong' drivers with current 'wrong' ones maybe?

Reboot your system, on the BIOS post screen (showing install hds, memory test, etc), press 'pause/break' key, and depending on bios/mobo brand it should have a string with the correct model number...

Theres a number of ways to figure out your chipset.. the bios post screen, opening the case and physically looking on the motherboard for brand/model ... But if its a generic pc (ie; dell/hp/compaq/etc) you will have to goto their support site and enter your pc model found on the case somewhere...

[Aquattro]

Video or recent MS update....

[brizzo]

Hmm, why does everyone agree that it is a video card issue? Personally in my experience and opinion, I would think that would be the *last* thing. Random lock ups that cannot be reproduced are almost always bad ram, or a driver issue.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by nazerine

almost always bad ram, or a driver issue.

Never actually seen RAM go bad if it worked out of the box. Sure, it can happen, but not very often. By video, I mean driver for video. Only recent change (aside from unknown MS updates) is new monitor, with a different resolution. My guess the driver is having trouble with this setting. Hence, why it works in safe mode, different display properties. Simple.

[Jason McK]

Originally Posted by nazerine

Hmm, a chipset driver would cause an issue right from the start. If I had to take a stab in the dark, I would think its possible you installed the incorrect version... but a windows update came down and replaced the 'wrong' drivers with current 'wrong' ones maybe?

Reboot your system, on the BIOS post screen (showing install hds, memory test, etc), press 'pause/break' key, and depending on bios/mobo brand it should have a string with the correct model number...

Theres a number of ways to figure out your chipset.. the bios post screen, opening the case and physically looking on the motherboard for brand/model ... But if its a generic pc (ie; dell/hp/compaq/etc) you will have to goto their support site and enter your pc model found on the case somewhere...

Funny you say that because I ran Windows update the other day and there where a ton of fixes. I can't remember if that was before or after the problem started but I'm thinking it was before.


If i could ask. My MB is a Gigabit GA-81PE1000 could someone point me to where I would find the chipset drivers

J

[Delphinus]

Whatever update Microsoft pushed out this week wreaked havoc with my two XP machines. My PVR PC wouldn't shutdown tidily on it's own Windows Update reboot, and my desktop is only booting up properly about 1 time out of 10 attempts (and it's incredibly slow to boot up .. like .. 10 minutes of staring at the little blue bars move sideways under the XP logo).

Yay Microsoft!

[Delphinus]

But oh ya'. I kind of agree with the video driver card too as a potential culprit. 9 times out of 10 I've had hardware problems it's been a bad video card driver, a bad video card, or even sometimes it just wasn't seated properly in the slot (ie., needed a wiggle and thump to get it to shove in the last few microns and connect up properly).

Sometimes just moving the PC around with the cables plugged in, the cable can yank on the video card and that's all it takes. Anyhow, it's worth opening up the case and doing some gentle percussive maintenance on the card. Methinks anyhow..

[brizzo]

The gigabit mobo model is GA-8IPE1000 (8I not 81), but there is a couple different models and revisions. They all seem to use the same chipset (Intel 865PE), but none the less, lets get it right the first time!

How to identify revision:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...spx?FAQID=2234

Choose your board:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...tID=0&CPUType=

I hope it works!

[brizzo]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Never actually seen RAM go bad if it worked out of the box. Sure, it can happen, but not very often. By video, I mean driver for video. Only recent change (aside from unknown MS updates) is new monitor, with a different resolution. My guess the driver is having trouble with this setting. Hence, why it works in safe mode, different display properties. Simple.

You are right, I should have phrased it as "almost always a driver issue, or bad ram."

I love trial and error troubleshooting over the internet! haha

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by nazerine

I love trial and error troubleshooting over the internet! haha

Ya, nothing quite like it. Although getting a user on the phone that isn't sure which is the computer and which is the monitor is a bit tough too - lol