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[SOLVED] WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

2916 Views 10 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  TheGift73, 
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I was having major problems with computer due to most likely bad partition or MBR.

Bought new hard drive, did a fresh install of Windows XP, things were working fine until a few days later, computer starts flashing, then there are artifacts around things like the mouse cursor, it's unresponsive, then blue screen of death.

I loaded the most up to date driver from the NVidia website (I have a GeForce 8500 NT).

Can't find much on this problem out there, some have suggested overheating, etc. Can anybody help diagnose? Willing to try anything including buy a new video card if need be.

I have the computer apart and fans seem to be running OK, blew out the dust a while back.
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TheGift73
Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

When you reinstalled XP, did you also install the chipset drivers first after the initial install of the OS? If so, were they the latest ones?

Had you recently updated your copy of XP to SP2/3 as this can sometimes (although not very common) cause issues with the chipset drivers (most important drivers on your machine)

Is your video card seated correctly in the slot?

Just want to check those things before moving on.
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Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Appreciate the support.

I updated the chipset drivers first thing after new install with the most up to date drivers from the Gigabyte website. I had slipstreamed XP SP3 using nlite and that's how I did the clean install, had worked fine in the past.

I removed each set of RAM, and video card, and reseated. I also blew out the fan in the video card as it was dusty, it's still a little noisy.

Are there any software tools you recommend to check the voltages and temp?
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TheGift73
Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Speccy is a great little free program to get most readings. You can also use Everest (also free)

You can also run a test on your RAM using memtest86+ It will require you to download the ISO and burn to disk. Then boot to the disk and run the tests. Best to run it on one stick at a time and in each slot, one by one. If there is an issue with your RAM, then you should see some errors after or during the 1st pass (best to run a couple though)

Leave the memtest86+ till last though as it can take some time to complete.
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Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Thanks, unfortunately the computer crashes before I can get to any of this info. Any other suggestions?
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TheGift73
Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Apart from the new hdd, have you installed any other new pieces of hardware?

Are you able to use the computer for extended periods whilst in Safe Mode? (with out networking) - I know it won't look right, but it may help to troubleshoot.

When you got the BSoD, can you remember what it said? If the BSoD stays on the screen (doesn't just reboot straight away) can you get a shot of the blue screen for us to look at?
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Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Unfortunately it happens too quickly. Only new hardware I can think of was a KVM switcher, but not sure that's even considered hardware.
It does say it created a crash error log, I can't remember how to find it those minidumps. Could you please guide me to where in the system files I can find those files? Maybe I could copy and paste the error report to you if I can work quickly enough?
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Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

I should also mention, I also added a USB Netgear Wireless N plus network card. Also - tried without the KVM switch, still crashed.
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TheGift73
Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

You might be better off letting the BSoD mods take a detailed look at the minidumps here This is the information they will require.
I admit that I really have no experience in reading minidumps though, so you will need the mods in that dept to read them.
It is beginning to sound like a hardware issue (I know the hdd is new, but it may be something else) which is why I suggest they take a look.
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Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Installed new video card, now working like a charm. Lucky guess, was going to work my way from the video card through the motherboard, ram and CPU. Cheapest fix too! Thanks for the help.
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TheGift73
Re: WinXP screen flashes, then fuzzy, then crashy

Cool, glad you have it sorted.

Can you mark the thread as Solved.
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