PC Guru's, help please

[adamsky27]

I have Windows Vista Home Premium, and I run dual Geforce 8800 GTS in SLI mode. I have this problem, where I think windows update automatically installed something because now my video cards aren't working. My screen is super low resolution, with some crazy vertical lines going up and down the screen. This has happened to me once before, and I fixed the problem... I just can't remember how I fixed it before. I ensured everything was connected properly, and I made sure all video cards and RAM were properly seated. This is a how the monitor looks. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled, rolled back the drivers and tried system restore and still have the problem. Any Ideas?

 

[Mitsuko]

What kind of monitor? I would try to get another monitor to see if that's the problem first instead of messing with your software. If it's a flat panel...they are known to go bad and the first sign is vertical lines. On another note...think about upgrading to Windows 7. You'd be amazed how much life it will bring to your computer as opposed to Vista.

 

[adamsky27]

Well I know its not the monitor, I've tested it. When I go to device manager it shows both NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS, and both have the yellow exclamation point on them. It says windows stopped the device because they weren't working properly.

I have the Windows 7 disc waiting, if I can ever get this problem fixed...

 

[Mitsuko]

If you have the Windows 7 disc just do it. Windows 7 will update everything automatically. It will find all drivers without even asking you for your opinion. I would recommend the clean install when upgrading. Back up everything to external hd or dvd then reboot the computer with the Windows 7 disc in. Choose custom install and format the existing partition. This will delete everything but leave you with a "new" computer. The first time the computer starts up, make sure it is connected to the internet, Windows update will run and find every new driver for the os and install it properly. Good luck

 

[jackTheReefer]

you need to see if this is a hardware issue or software issue. boot into safemode and see if you still get the lines on the screen. if you do, then you have a driver issue of some sort. try upgrading to the latest geforce driver. if you still get the lines on the screen after booting into safemode, then this is a hardware issue. one of your cards or both is broken. you can find out which one by removing one card and booting with only one, then the other.

 

[adamsky27]

Sounds good. Looks like tomorrow I'll be tearing the computer apart again. The only reason I don't think its a hardware issue is because this has happened before, and I fixed it. I just can't remember how. And in safe mode I still get the lines. Exactly the same.

 

[jackTheReefer]

try removing the cards and reinserting them. also, there's a cable that connects both cards together. re-seat those as well. also, check for loose cable to the monitor from the video cards. the only other suggestion is to try booting with one card only to see if you still get the same result. then try with the other card. this will tell you definitely if this is a driver/OS issue as both cards should function just fine individually if they are not damaged. i read some reports a few months back about nvidia having problems with their soldering material from the chip to to the chip package. the soldering material broke down after repeated heating and cooling and owners of laptops were mostly affected. there was a big recall and your card may have been affected. people reported video problems after some time running the cards.

 

[MentalDragon]

If you know the monitor is good (only way to know for sure is to test it on another computer).. .then it is a driver problem or conflict problem. Rarely you'll see a conflict with a monitor though.

Go into device manager and look at the driver properties of the displaly adapter. It will list all the files. Go to those files and delete them (be sure to have a copy of the LATEST drivers before you do this). Reboot computer and then reinstall the drivers.

You may also have to search for the files as windows keeps the driver files as a "backup". Delete those too.

But as someone else said... the first thing you should try is to test the monitor on another computer or try another monitor on your computer. Do this befor trying any software modifications.

If that doesn't work - get rid of Vista :)

 

[killingseed2000]

video is set to a low setting check and make sure the video setting a currect and it all else false i would update the videocard's drivers.

 

[Hahnmeister]

I used to have 8800 GTS 512's in SLi as well. Never saw that screen though. I would uninstall the GPU drivers from nvidia.com, and redo them. Then, I would redo the chipset drivers as well if that doesnt solve it.

 

[adamsky27]

Just a quick update. I installed Windows 7, same problem. I removed each card and tried each one by itself, same problem. Also note that my motherboard has this card in it that needs to be in one way or the other depending on if you are running 2 video cards. I did switch that to one video card before I tried running one video card at a time. Uninstalled and reinstalled drivers, same problem. When I go to device manager the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS has the little yellow caution sign (or whatever it is I can't see it clearly becase of the low resolution). When I right click and go to properties it says "Device status: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (code 43)."
I tried the monitor on another PC again, just to be sure. It's not the monitor.

How do I redo the chipset drivers?

 

[adamsky27]

Just another quick note, not only did I try my monitor on another computer, I also tried another monitor on my computer. Same problem.

 

[MikeB]

You need to install the latest driver for your graphics card.

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT

 

[adamsky27]

You need to install the latest driver for your graphics card.

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT

I can't even tell you how many times I've tried this already...

 

[MikeB]

First I would remove any nVidia drivers on the system, restart the machine then load the drivers again. Have you done this?

 

[adamsky27]

Yes, I did that before and after I installed Windows 7.

 

[MikeB]

So you went to the Device Manager -> Display Adapters -> nVidia GFOrce 8800 GT Right clicked and uninstall?

 

[MikeB]

Also right click and go to properties and let me know the Driver date and Driver version

 

[adamsky27]

Driver date: 9/27/2009
Driver Version: 8.16.11.9107

 

[jackTheReefer]

what's your motherboard manufacturer and model number. i don't believe this is a driver's issue as you saw the same thing in safemode which loads generic vga drivers. do you still see the yellow exclamation point under device manager in display drivers in safemode? also, check if you have a bad cable from the video card to the monitor. try your video cards on another pc and see if you get the same result.