Can My PC Be Saved?

Gramma · July 18th, 2006, 07:37 AM

Ok, I've read through the "for new users" section, and here is what I know about my computer (this is very long and detailed):

I purchased this PC in Feb 2002
PC: HP Pavillion 750n
Processor: Pentium (R) 4 1.6GHZ/400
Chipset: Intel 845 - w/Danube BIOS update from HP version 3.02
768 MB RAM - 256 came w/PC + 512 Ultra PC3200 DDR 400MHZ
Drives: A:/ is the original that came w/PC
D:/ is the original DVD that came w/PC
E:/ is a 16X DVD + R/RW Double Layer I purchased in June 2006
C:/ is the original that came w/PC
I have Altec Speakers
Keyboard: HP that came w/PC
Mouse: An intellipoint optical purchased in 2003
OS: Windows XP Home Edition w/all available updates and SP2

Other things I have added or replaced:
Video Card: Nvidia XFX GF6600GT purchased in Dec 2005 w/updated driver downloaded from Nvidia Jun 2006 when I was preparing for SP2 download.

My problem is:

After upgrading to Windows SP2, and updating my Nvidia driver, my monitor began acting peculiar...it would shut off (it would go black & the light would go from green to orange) and when I shut it off and turned it back on, I would hear a click and it would immediately turn back to orange.

I would restart my computer by pushing in and holding the PC power button until it shut off, wait a couple minutes to make sure it was completely down, then turn it back on.

Sometimes the whole system would come up normally, sometimes I would have to do this a several times to get the monitor to turn on.

A couple of weeks ago I got a Microsoft Online Crash Analysis Error that reads: Windows stop error (a message appears on a blue screen with error code information) Following is the crash analysis report I printed:

Solution available: yes

"You received this message because a device driver installed on your computer caused the Windows operating system to stop unexpectedly. This type of error is referred to as a "stop error". A stop error requires you to restart your computer."

Cause: A video adapter device driver

Computer Symptoms: A message appears on a blue screen with error code information: STOP 0x000000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER
-or-
STOP:0X100000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER_M

This is the end of that analysis.

I apologize because I can't remember which one of those two messages it actually was.

They recommended updating my driver - had done that before SP2 download.

They also recommended manually decreasing hardware acceleration for my video adapter. (I didn't do this)

I researched Nvidia, and ran the recommended memtest86 - let it do 3 passes and found no errors in the memory.

Then I tried to uninstall my nvidia driver, and my system wouldn't let me - said it may be needed to start computer.

So, I disabled it, and my monitor would turn on when I turned on PC.

I thought maybe I couldn't uninstall it because I updated it before I downloaded SP2, so (stupid as this may sound) I restored my system to a point before SP2, uninstalled Nvidia, and then redownloaded SP2, redownloaded Nvidia driver and things went crazy - monitor started acting up again - but I don't recall getting another stop error. (it's possible, but I was getting thoroughly frustrated by this time)

So, I decided to run the stress test, downloaded the Prime95 and was preparing to run the test and things went from bad to worse fast.

I wasn't able to run the test because I couldn't keep the monitor on.

I have spent hours online with HP (can provide transcript if necessary) and they had me tearing apart my PC. Then they jumped ship in the middle of a process, and I just put everything back together.

At one time I was able to get everything up (after they had me shut down, unhook everything, cut power supply, hold the power button for 30 seconds, hook everything back up, and reboot) but, they had me shutdown right away, and I wasn't able to disable the Nvidia driver. That was the last time I was able to see anything on my screen - I don't even get the HP Logo screen.

When I turn on the PC I can hear one long beep, 3 or 4 short beeps, then nothing - it doesn't even appear to read the A:/ drive any more.

Up until yesterday morning, I was able to see my computer over our network, and even see my files from my husband's PC, but my computer isn't even found on the network any more. I even tried to disable the Nvidia driver through my husband's PC but got a message "access denied".

I followed some other suggestions I read on here - unhooked the drives and reseated memory, video card, looked for any leakage, rehooked everything up making sure things were hooked up tight, and...nothing.

Is there anything else I can do, or is it dead?

I appreciate any and all suggestions any of you can provide.

From a frustrated and down-hearted Gramma

rockpile · July 18th, 2006, 07:59 AM

Welcome to TIMO

Nice find beemer Thanks for the info

Beemer · July 18th, 2006, 08:01 AM

It seems others are having this problem.
Try what is mentioned by "glenno" in the last post on this page:
http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windo...2-upgrade.html

Gramma · July 18th, 2006, 08:02 AM

Thank you Rockpile, I will put the original video card back in - I save everything. I'll get back to you this evening since I am now on my way to work...Once again, thanks for the suggestion

rockpile · July 18th, 2006, 08:03 AM

Try what beemer said first it seems more likely. I was not aware of that issue

Detritus · July 18th, 2006, 08:05 AM

Have you tried an alternate power supply? You have added quite a bit to that PC above stock. You may be stressing the cheap power supply that HP uses.

jokostel · July 18th, 2006, 10:12 AM

definietely have to go with det on this one.. Power supply...

Gramma · July 19th, 2006, 06:34 AM

hey everyone, thanks for all your help...

Here's the situation now...

First, I put the original video card back in and my pc started...

Got to a screen I have never seen...gave me options F1 to edit or F2 to continue (may have been the other way around), any way I went into the edit to look - it had all the settings for things like boot order, and things like that.

So I told just continued from there and then I followed the suggestions in the link provided by beemer - Removed Nvidia via add/remove programs, downloaded the drive cleaner, ran cab cleaner and driver cleaner.

I haven't tried to reinstall the nvidia drivers because I'm still using the original card which is Nvidia Tnt riva (similar to that).

I tried putting in my new card and my monitor doesn't turn on. So, as I read detritus & jokostels suggestions, they mention alternate power supply...

Don't mean to sound naive, but how do I do that?

I really want to be able to use the new card.

Thanks again for helping me get this far. You guys are great.

Gramma · July 19th, 2006, 06:43 AM

Never mind - I didn't read very first post until after I asked the power supply question.

I will follow what it says and get back to you.

Thanks for putting up with a newbie

DallasDon · July 19th, 2006, 06:59 AM

Check the dimensions of the power supply before buying. chances are your existing power supply is shorter than a new ATX power supply, and you have a LONG CD rom drive in the top slot.

there are "HP Replacement" size power supplys out there, but your goal is to get one that supplys more power.

A full size power supply will probably fit, but it will be a challenge.