Graphics card?

[Justin1121]

One day when I was playing a game my computer just shut off and then I turned it back on and tried to load windows but it just went to the loading windows screen and then went to a black screen and the graphics card fan spins fast. Also the bios screen is all distorted but the windows screens arent so maybe it could be the motherboard.

Anyone have any idea that could help me out to fix the problem?

[zburns]

Tell us what Oper System you are using. Also, can you be more specific about "bios screen is all distorted ...." . What exactly do you mean?

Last week I had terrible computer crashing problems but I attributed it to a unauthorized download that Microsoft said in a pop up menu, "not to do the download -- damage possible". I also had just had a bucket full of MS updates shortly before. But things are ok now!

[Justin1121]

I am using Windows 7 and the bios screen I can still see the letters but most of the letters will be cut in half and then moved up or down a few pixels.

[zburns]

Are the other problems you described in your first post above still occuring?
If they are occuring, is there a pattern to the way they occur and are you able to use the computer consistently for anything?

Is the BIOS letter pixel problem consistent thruout the BIOS as you go thru the BIOS; do all the BIOS pages have the same "broken up letter problem"?

Have you tried removing the video card, use the onboard video to see if that helps? If you do this, I am not sure, but I assume you would have to change a setting in the BIOS--your book will tell you.

[zburns]

Here is an adendum to my above post, a later thought. The closeness in time of your build and the use of Win 7, would lead me to assume there could be a small -- but not insignificant-- software glitch between your BIOS software and win 7.

A call to Tech Support for your mobo manufacturer might help; it the problem is BIOS software, Win 7 conflict, they should have already heard of it. However, the mobo mfg and BIOS developer have had plenty of time to wring out the BIOS software; "on the other side of the argument" that is what BIOS updates are for!

The company that supplied the BIOS for the mobo mfg could also have some ideas or could recoginize the problem.

If the problem is only the offset or weird look of the BIOS letters that is one problem that could be hardware only; but if your computer is also doing crazy things at the same time, you would have to assume a connection and that would lead to "software" interface between BIOS and OS.

My advice, whatever you do, is proceed slowly, talk to those people who know your mobo and BIOS; do not just start changing components for no real reason. If you do swap out a component and "nothing changes", put the old component back in. When the problem finally clears and goes away, you unequivocally want to know "what you last did before the problem disappeared".

If I am off base in any of my comments, someone say so, please; my comments reflect my approach as if I were having the problem.

[Justin1121]

I have tried removing my video card and my mother board doesn't have on board graphics. I was going to try putting a different graphics card on my computer to see if that fixes it.

I can't do anything with my computer I have both windows 7 and windows xp on my computer and neither will load. I also tried installing Ubuntu but that would freeze up after the first few steps.

Also the bios is messed up throughout the whole bios.

Thanks for the help I guess I will have to try calling tech support though.

[zburns]

I realize you are frustrated and disappointed but try to make some sense out the following:

I am going to try again. BIOS only conversation. Here is your second post about this problem: "I am using Windows 7 and the bios screen I can still see the letters but most of the letters will be cut in half and then moved up or down a few pixels."

I interpreted this post to mean that your "lettering" only was messed up on a specific BIOS page with sub menus -- and that you could still move from one BIOS page to the next, etc. -- and that the lettering on each of these pages was messed up or cut in half.

It seemed to me that even tho the lettering was messed up, you could still move from page to page in the BIOS; also, you could move up and down on a BIOS page from topic to topic. You just could not read it because the letters were cut in half and off by a few pixels.

Assuming what I just said above is correct or very close, your BIOS would still be showing up in an "organized" manner -- there would be "order" to the BIOS -- even tho the letters were chopped up, they were still in place, and the BIOS was "still organized".

If the last para was true, the cut in half letters, simplisticly (sp) is a monitor scan problem (a video problem) -- but the BIOS is "still organized" because you can see structure on a page and page to page.

Now if the BIOS is a jumble of "alphabet soup" and you cannot see any organization to any of the vertical menus and also page to page, just "alphabet soup" then that is software. BUT IF THE BIOS IS ALPHABET SOUP, HOW DO YOU MOVE PAGE TO PAGE?

So which is it? Alphabet soup thruout the whole BIOS or is there some observable "organization" or structure to the BIOS pages even tho you cannot read them? if you can see paragraphs or statements in outline form that you cannot read -- there is "organization" or "structure" to what you are looking at.

1. Alphabet Soup -- BIOS is messed up!!

2. Organization or Structure to the BIOS pages but cannot read it --probably not the BIOS software.

It is # 1 or # 2. The nature of the problem is very different depending on whether it is # 1 or # 2.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS (experienced or novice).
In many cases, troubleshooting can simply be spotting a "global" problem; more than likely, it is one detail at time until you get a "knowable" or firm clue.

It you do three entirely different things, one after the other, without throughly knowing cause and effect of each "single thing you did", you now have "nine" different possibilities or new problems to deal with.

[Justin1121]

Yes there is still structure to the bios and I can still move from page to page.

[zburns]

As a double check on what you just posted, can you match up a page in your BIOS to the identical page in your instruction manual? Should be the case on all BIOS pages. The letters on every page are screwed up in appearance, correct?

I assume you tried an install of Ubantu after the problems you first described in the first post occured. Is this correct? If yes, do you know how to "Uninstall Ubantu" and get it completely off your hard drive? Before you do this uninstall, you have to be certain of your process to uninstall. You will want it completely off the hard drive. Whatever the uninstall process is, write it down -- do not try to remember it or guess at anything.

Do not do the uninstall yet, just find out if you have actual instructions to uninstall it?

I assume win 7 and xP have been on the computer for a while and worked ok? Am I correct?

I want to look at your mobo manual before I say anymore. I will be out for 1 1/2 hours approx. About 4:15 EDT here right now!

One other thing is to look on Gigabyte for the latest BIOS update for your GB mobo, then check your mobo box or records to see the date or version of the existing BIOS software you have. Just see if an update is available; do not do anything with it. Your mobo could have been on the shelf for a while and have version 1 installed, when in fact their may have been one or two later versions between GB shipping your mobo and today.

I am asking you to do things I would do; above all, I would spend the time necessary to be very sure of what I am doing; I do not like mistakes, particularly when I do not know I just made one.

[The Wise Monkey]

Just a quick thought - what graphics card and power supply are you using?