problem on WinXP boot

[Ruff]

When I start up my computer, it goes through the POST stuff, beeps, the motherboard says it's little "life is good, now booting from operating system" thing. Then one of three things happens (last two might be really the same thing, not sure)

1) computer boots up from WinXP normally, runs perfectly fine (temperature is fine). That's how I'm talking to you now.

2) Windows XP loading screen shows up, and then the monitor goes blank. The monitor power light flashes green/orange to show that it's not getting signals from the computer or whatever. The only thing I can do at that point is to turn the computer off and then back on.

3) Same as 2, but before the WinXP loading screen gets a chance to start up

This problem first showed up a couple weeks ago, but it worked fine after turning the computer off and then back on again. Since then it's happened several times, and then yesterday and today it took quite a few tries (turning computer off and then on again) before it worked ok.

If it never gets worse than this I'll survive, but I'm not liking the trend...

I ran CHKDSK, which found no problems, and I just ran norton AV (no problems), because someone in an earlier thread mentioned that as a possibility for a slightly similar problem.

Now I'm going to be a pain in the butt, and say that I don't have a working floppy drive (I've never needed to use it before, and I found out it's broken). If at all possible, I'd like to try anything that doesn't require restarting my computer first, in case it won't come back on. I'm hoping I won't have to order new parts, because finals are coming up next week... but I guess I've gotta do whatever I've gotta do.

I have:
Athlon XP 2000 on an AsusA7V333
Gainward Geforce4 Ti4200
512mb corsair RAM (forget exact type, can find out)

Thanks A LOT,
Tim

 

[WarCon]

Have you tried changing drivers for your video card? (Maybe go back to an earlier one like 29.42 - make sure you uninstall the other one first though)

Made sure your video card was fully seated?

Tried a different powersupply?

Any pins broke off from the monitor plug?

Just some thoughts......Good luck.

 

[Ruff]

Thanks for the suggestions WarCon.

video card seems fully seated
pins on the monitor plug is a little weird, since at first glance it looks like there's a couple missing, but on closer inspection I don't think they were ever there. Anyway, wouldn't that be a problem at times other than just startup?

I'll try a different powersupply if I can get my hands on one. When I finish backing up my stuff I'll try different video drivers.

Thanks again

 

[Looney]

Yeah, i suggest trying a different powersupply... or unconnecting some of the unneeded stuff like 2nd hdd, cdrom, and whatever else, and see if you can boot normal. If so, then it's probably the PS.

 

[ukiro]

I get the exact same thing as in scenario #3, but only after the computer has been turned off for about 10 hours or more. I hit the reset switch and then it powers up just fine. The main suspect in my system is the sound card, I have reason to believe that it's not in tip-top shape so I'll take it out tonight and see if the machine boots up properly tomorrow.

 

[Ruff]

I'm still having problems, although they changed a bit. Now if I try to start a game like Wolfenstein II or Unreal Tournament II (demo), I get the same thing: monitor goes blank and flashes green/orange to show it's not getting any signals, computer still running, only option is to turn the computer off and then back on. This is in addition to start-up problems, which are the same as before. Usually it takes me 3-4 restarts in the morning before I can get it to run successfully.

The game thing makes me think it is a video card problem, no?

So I downloaded the new 44.03 nvidia drivers (I had really old ones that came with my card), but that hasn't helped. Power supply didn't seem to do anything (besides, I don't have any "extraneous" parts plugged into my power supply, which is an Antec 350W or so).

Any other suggestions? =[

-Tim

 

[Ruff]

In case anyone is interested:

My graphics card was causing the problem. Gainward's gonna send me a replacement.

Thanks for the help everyone,
Tim