Arteryman

Problem description:
This morning I awoke to find my computer crashed. I restarted only to have it boot normally until the Windows logo, as soon as it passed the logo it restarted and continued this over and over until I turned the computer off again. I booted in safe mode which worked perfectly, backedup my data, and formatted. I got my computer from ABS and I was using a special backup disk that was supposed to install all the drivers and such. During windows installation it asked me where nv4_mini.sys was. I couldn't find it and hit cancel and it continued with installation.

Everything seemed to be working fine but when I first logged into to my fresh install it said "found VGA adapter" then "found 6800 series card" and then asked me to install the drivers, I installed the latest one and halfway through it asked me yet again where "nv4_mini.sys" was, canceling it yet again canceled the whole install, while directing it to it caused it to continue, then ask me for a .exe which was also nvidia related, directed it to that and my system crashed to a BSOD with yellow bars running down the screen distorting the BSOD. I tried multiple drivers, old ones, Omega, the latest and all cause my computer to crash exactly like this. I did a full harddrive error scan which found nothing wrong with it, I took everything out of my computer and reseated it after spraying it with compressed air, I'm at a loss here now.

Attempted fixes:
Multiple formats
Multiple driver options
Reseating everything
Cleaning everything with compressed air

Recent changes: I didn't install anything new or change anything the night before.

--

Operating system: Windows XP Pro

System specs: ABS computer
AMD 64 3500+ 939
2 gigs, (4x512mb) Corsair XL-3200 ram
Nvidia 6800 GT

dai

download the latest drivers from nvidia and save them to the desktop
in the device manager uninstall the card
reboot tapping f8 and choose vga mode
when windows finishes booting
disable a/virus
install the drivers
reboot the computer

Arteryman

Rebooting with F8 only brings me to the bootmenu which didn't have a VGA mode. Would you like me to enter Setup by hitting Delete during reboot?

dai

no that will take you into the bios
if the boot menu is the one that lists the drives hit f8 a bit later into the post screens you want the boot menu with
safe mode
last known good config
vga
and a few others

Arteryman

Alright I followed your instructions, went to install the drivers again and it BSOD'ed even earlier. I could try to make out the stop code if you'd like but it's really distorted.


Edit: looks like *** STOP: 0x0000007E 00C0000000, 0x804++29B, 0x++8D2204++xF78D1++0

+ = unreadable character

dai

what power supply do you have in it
can you get a friend to try the card in their computer to check if it is the card itself that is the problem

Arteryman

I have an Antec 550w power supply. I don't think any of my friends have a PCI-E slot on the mobo but I'll search around. Is there a chance this is my hard-drive or is the prime suspect the video card itself?

dai

ask your local computer shop to check it
you can run
chkdsk /r
but i would lean towards faulty ram on the card

Arteryman

Alright, I'm not sure I have a local computer shop but I'll search around. I'll probably end up buying an X1590 Pro or something. Thanks a ton for all your help man. =)

dai

x1590?
if you mean the x1950 you will need a new psu to go with it probably they pull between 65-125w depending on which one

Arteryman

Er yea meant the x1950, you sure the 550w won't be enough?

dai

it depends on which version of the card you plan on the 6600 only pulls 27w
check before you buy
put your specs into here
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp
based on a quality supply and add 30% to the end result
in the box near bottom right for capacitor ageing set it at 25%

Arteryman

Hmm, plugged them all in, added 30% to it and it came about 479w, think I'll be alright?

dai

not much leeway but it should be enough