Matty needs a hand!

[matty28carter]

Well... ever heard the phrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it" yeah? well i'm kinda wishing i listened to it but never mind. Now. My computer was making an odd squeeking noise which i can to the conclusion was one of the fans (not good.) I knew (because i've not opened the case in a good 4months that it was bound to be full of dust) that it needed a clean and i also had a USB2 card to put in for my external HDD. So i opened the case stuck the card in - ignoring the dust and put it back together. Switched the comp on all was well (as i expected). Had the card in a couple of hours then my mate wanted the HDD (its both of ours... don't ask. lol.) so i switches the computer off to remove the card. I thought, whilst i'm at it i'll sort the dust too. Switches the computer back on and 30min later "beep" computers reset itself. Back in windows "your computer has recovered from a serious error" yardy yardy yar... "driver isssue" and the thing it was moaning about was GUI or GPU (i think). Now its done this once before hand after i'd moved the computer and my guess is that it might be the graphics card has fudged itself. Today the computer has reset itself 4 or 5 times but not given any error message when its got back into windows. Now my guess is that its either: 1. Some dust i've missed and its causeing the problem. 2. Windows is being an arse and i need to re-install it (oh joy) or my graphics card is either dislodged or fudged (hoping either one or two here as i'm poor LMAO!). :cry:

My other problem is that somewhere along the line my BIOS has aquired a password, not from me. So i can't get in it. And i really don't wanna clear the CMOS if its not gonna clear the password coz if i do that it'll most likely go mental and not boot at all and i won't be able to get into the bios to sort it! Any ideas? Thanks for your help.

[Heigar]

Did you try to reseat you're graphics card?

I've had that happen with a soundcard and it had the same results as you mentioned (so i pulled it out and put it back in) and it seem to have cured the problem.(that was awhile ago)!

And for the password the only way I know how to get by that is to reset the cmos.
Or try here : http://labmice.techtarget.com/articles/BIOS_hack.htm

[matty28carter]

Did you try to reseat you're graphics card?

I've had that happen with a soundcard and it had the same results as you mentioned (so i pulled it out and put it back in) and it seem to have cured the problem.(that was awhile ago)!

And for the password the only way I know how to get by that is to reset the cmos.
Or try here : http://labmice.techtarget.com/articles/BIOS_hack.htm

Well i'll pull my Graphics card out and put it back in again, also i'll clear away any dust that i've left (coz i didn't do a brilliant job of getting rid of it!). So if i clear the CMOS that'll definatly clear the password (as i wasn't sure)? Thanks.

[Heigar]

Matty if you follow the link I put in my post it gives some passwords you might want want try before resetting your cmos.(NOT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)the password thing because some pc's will lock you out of you're pc if you type the wrong password 3 times.

[Heigar]

When you put in your usb2 card make sure you didn't unseat another pci card that would give you the same results as before also.

[cudelleirbag]

Sometime there is a jumper you can use to clear your BIOS password.
I've done that twice and it works.
You need to find what motherboard+BIOS you have.
Go to the motherboard site, get doc and follow instructions.

CL

[matty28carter]

When you put in your usb2 card make sure you didn't unseat another pci card that would give you the same results as before also.

Ya i saw the password link thingy. thanks for that. i only have two cards in my system a LAN card and my graphics card in the AGP port. i'm sure i didn't dislodge them - but u neva know i suppose. It is an ECS Elite Group mobo so anything could happen! they are the biggest load of... :dead:

[cudelleirbag]

As for you automatic reset:
right click 'My computer' ->
Properties ->
''Advanced' tab ->
'Startup & recovery' settings ->
clear 'Automatically restart'

When you have the problem, instead of rebooting, Windows will show the dreaded blue screen of death. :evil:
The faulty process/component will be listed.
Then you will be able to deal with this component.

CL

[matty28carter]

As for you automatic reset:
right click 'My computer' ->
Properties ->
''Advanced' tab ->
'Startup & recovery' settings ->
clear 'Automatically restart'

When you have the problem, instead of rebooting, Windows will show the dreaded blue screen of death. :evil:
The faulty process/component will be listed.
Then you will be able to deal with this component.

CL

now thats an idea. but do i really wanna see a BSOD ever again lol!
:bandit: . Hopefully it won't just be a usual winxp blue screen and a bunch of meaningless numbers! thanks

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Maybe its the sasser worm virus thingy. It's famous for resetting (ie restart) windows at the strangest moments. :grimreape

Also about the bios, if its password protected, remove the cmos battery and unplug the computer so its not getting any electricity. Leave the battery out for like 15 mins and put it back in. The bios will now have reset itself to the default settings which means that its no longer protected by a password.

[GildedSplinter]

Well... ever heard the phrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it" yeah? well i'm kinda wishing i listened to it but never mind. Now. My computer was making an odd squeeking noise which i can to the conclusion was one of the fans (not good.) I knew (because i've not opened the case in a good 4months that it was bound to be full of dust) that it needed a clean and i also had a USB2 card to put in for my external HDD. So i opened the case stuck the card in - ignoring the dust and put it back together. Switched the comp on all was well (as i expected). Had the card in a couple of hours then my mate wanted the HDD (its both of ours... don't ask. lol.) so i switches the computer off to remove the card. I thought, whilst i'm at it i'll sort the dust too. Switches the computer back on and 30min later "beep" computers reset itself. Back in windows "your computer has recovered from a serious error" yardy yardy yar... "driver isssue" and the thing it was moaning about was GUI or GPU (i think). Now its done this once before hand after i'd moved the computer and my guess is that it might be the graphics card has fudged itself. Today the computer has reset itself 4 or 5 times but not given any error message when its got back into windows. Now my guess is that its either: 1. Some dust i've missed and its causeing the problem. 2. Windows is being an arse and i need to re-install it (oh joy) or my graphics card is either dislodged or fudged (hoping either one or two here as i'm poor LMAO!). :cry:

My other problem is that somewhere along the line my BIOS has aquired a password, not from me. So i can't get in it. And i really don't wanna clear the CMOS if its not gonna clear the password coz if i do that it'll most likely go mental and not boot at all and i won't be able to get into the bios to sort it! Any ideas? Thanks for your help.

Just yesterday I came out of a miserable ordeal (I'll spare you the gory details). I told everybody I knew that had the slightest idea about computers about my problem... INCLUDING the IS/IT guys down at work. EVERYBODY said the same thing..."oh man... yer motherboard's FRIED". I was MISERABLE!!! I was trying to figure out how I was gonna get another computer, I was mourning the loss of my blood, sweat, 'n' tears and everything else... and then a guiding hand reached down from the heavens (or at least somewhere in Europe) and showed me the way. "Unplug the PC and remove the BIOS battery" it said. "Remove it and let it sit for no less than 15 minutes". I tentatively took the advice... and when I booted up I was miraculously saved!!! The only signs of having had any problems at all were, my clock and calender were innaccurate and my on-board video was turned off in BIOS!!! I quickly and easily took care of those issues, and now, the very same PC I was making funeral plans for, is being used to send you this longwinded well-wishing.
Though we don't always get along (just like a realfamily), the members of this forum are good and intelligent people. I have faith that you will not be left to twist in the wind. Who knows... maybe the afformentioned battery thing would work for you too. I cannot recommend it due to the fact that I know nothing of the potential repercussions, but perhaps the next passer-by will be able to offer some insight. Good luck, brother!!!

[rorythedog]

Hi Matty. Here's some insight from the next passer-by :-

Take the side aff an' wiggle a' the bits.

:carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

[Sheepeh]

GPU = Graphics Procssing Unit

Reseat the gfx card, double check all it's fan slots are ventilated (clean em out with a soft brush) and make sure the little white clip on the motherboard (if you have one) is holding it solid. Then, carefully remove all dust in the computer (this error can be caused by overheat, and if you moved dust around this could be the cause).

Download the newest drivers for the card, and install them.

If you have a newer card that takes an external power supply, you might want to check your power supply is up to the task (you'll tell it's the power supply cuz it'll normally give up when it's being asked to draw 3d stuff and use a lot of juice)

See where ya get from that, and then we can troubleshoot a bit further!

Feel the force!

[matty28carter]

GPU = Graphics Procssing Unit

Reseat the gfx card, double check all it's fan slots are ventilated (clean em out with a soft brush) and make sure the little white clip on the motherboard (if you have one) is holding it solid. Then, carefully remove all dust in the computer (this error can be caused by overheat, and if you moved dust around this could be the cause).

Download the newest drivers for the card, and install them.

If you have a newer card that takes an external power supply, you might want to check your power supply is up to the task (you'll tell it's the power supply cuz it'll normally give up when it's being asked to draw 3d stuff and use a lot of juice)

See where ya get from that, and then we can troubleshoot a bit further!

Feel the force!

thats what made me think it was the grapics card. its pritty old its a GeForce 2 MX400 so it don't have a power connector on it (it does have the most hilerious fan on it, it seems pointless even having it!). I'm using the latest Nvidia drivers, which it could be them i don't know. I'll sort the dust issue out, re-seat the card and see if it still plays up. I had a good idea of what it was and how to fix it before i asked, but i thought i'd ask just to see if u guys thought the same or had any other ideas. Cheers for your help, i'll post back (when i get round to doing it) with the news, good (hopefully) or bad (ahhh). :normal: ...untill then i'll just pretend that nothings wrong with it and forget about it... shhhh... (thank god i bought my laptop!) ...hides...

[Sheepeh]

Just as a side note, you might want to try running Driver Cleaner 3 (google for it) and then install the newest drivers again, it'll make sure theres no leftovers of anything going bad anywhere.

[matty28carter]

Just as a side note, you might want to try running Driver Cleaner 3 (google for it) and then install the newest drivers again, it'll make sure theres no leftovers of anything going bad anywhere.
might come in useful, nvidia drivers are very good at leaving things lying around. thanks