I need some computer help

[sniper7]

my desktop, which is a Dell dimension 4600 took a crap...it always seems my computers end up with problems after my wife uses them, but that is neither here nor there

At first I thought the screen was going out but it is only a 2 month old flat screen so I am pretty sure that isn't it.
when I would move the mouse the screen would kind of pixelate on the horizontal axis (like 1/4'' thick lines going across), then it would just go black, then come back.

i thought it might have been the screen or the cable, I checked the cable and it was tight.

I had to leave on a trip, so now I am back and the computer won't really start and goes directly to a black screen, then a blue screen comes up.

the blue screen says the following:

caused by the following file NV4_disp

The device driver got stuck in an infinite loop. this usually indicates a problem with the device itself or with the device driver programming the hardware correctly

***stop: 0x000000EA
0x82cc4c18, 0x82cb3590, 0xba6f7cb4, 0x00000001


maybe it is my driver, or video card?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

I really like this computer, it does what i need, I don't really want to spend money on a new desktop but if this can't be fixed semi-cheaply I guess that is my only option.


my other question would be how do i get my documents and files off the hard drive if I need to get a new computer?


thanks for the help

[BigBear]

NV4 is a Nvidia display file... do you have a Nvidia graphics card? It may be bad...

Before you buy a new one, might want to try to update or install new driver if you can get it to cooperate long enough before it blue screens...

I don't know jack about comps though, I'm sure someone will be along shortly..

As far as getting your files off... just get a thumbdrive and put everything you want to keep on it. Back it up at least in two different areas.

[Gritty]

It doesn't sound like you need a new computer. Certain models of Nvidia graphics/video cards and their drivers have been having creating problems including the looping blue screen of death. On Windows it could be a driver or hardware problem. If you are running Windows or Linux with a 64bit processor, it could be a BIOS problem.

Try to troubleshoot your problem.

Depending on the specific problem, you may have to use a combination of the following steps:

1. Driver Problems:
Update the card's drivers.
(New updates can be found on Nvidia.com.)

2. Driver Problems:
Uninstall the card's drivers.
(Start --> control panel --> add or remove programs --> Nvidia drivers --> DISPLAY DRIVERS ONLY.)

3. BIOS Problem:
Deactivate APIC.
(Enter your BIOS on start up --> turn off APIC stuff in the BIOS --> reinstall Windows if needed.)

4. Hardware Problems:
Buy a new graphics/video card.

5. New Computer:
You could just buy a new computer if all else fails and you do not want to spend the time troubleshooting your computer or the money to have a technical service fix it. In this case, keep your old hard drive and files and connect it to your new computer as a second slave drive so that you have access to your old files.


These are only a few of the possible solutions. Be sure to checkout technical sites, blogs, and forums by simply searching for something along the lines of "NV4_disp" or "NV4_disp infinite loop" in Google.

Hope this helps!

[steveopia]

^^^ Listen to this guy.

[Hoosier]

Gritty is pretty much spot on. I'd add that preventative maintenance with opening the case and using compressed air to blow all the dust out of the fans can help extend the lifetime of computers. Make sure to prevent the fan from free-spinning when you clean it.

H.

[sniper7]

Gritty is pretty much spot on. I'd add that preventative maintenance with opening the case and using compressed air to blow all the dust out of the fans can help extend the lifetime of computers. Make sure to prevent the fan from free-spinning when you clean it.

H.

I have done that in the last 6 or 8 months so i know it was clean on the inside.
I just think the age of the computer is getting to it and things are starting to go.

does leaving it on all the time create an issue? at work those are on all the time and seem to be okay, but they are also new and have the support of an IT department.

[sniper7]

It doesn't sound like you need a new computer. Certain models of Nvidia graphics/video cards and their drivers have been having creating problems including the looping blue screen of death. On Windows it could be a driver or hardware problem. If you are running Windows or Linux with a 64bit processor, it could be a BIOS problem.

Try to troubleshoot your problem.

Depending on the specific problem, you may have to use a combination of the following steps:

1. Driver Problems:
Update the card's drivers.
(New updates can be found on Nvidia.com.)

2. Driver Problems:
Uninstall the card's drivers.
(Start --> control panel --> add or remove programs --> Nvidia drivers --> DISPLAY DRIVERS ONLY.)

3. BIOS Problem:
Deactivate APIC.
(Enter your BIOS on start up --> turn off APIC stuff in the BIOS --> reinstall Windows if needed.)

4. Hardware Problems:
Buy a new graphics/video card.

5. New Computer:
You could just buy a new computer if all else fails and you do not want to spend the time troubleshooting your computer or the money to have a technical service fix it. In this case, keep your old hard drive and files and connect it to your new computer as a second slave drive so that you have access to your old files.


These are only a few of the possible solutions. Be sure to checkout technical sites, blogs, and forums by simply searching for something along the lines of "NV4_disp" or "NV4_disp infinite loop" in Google.

Hope this helps!

how do i got about doing any of this without being able to see what I am doing? the screen is completely black other than when the blue screen comes up. even during startup nothing comes up.

will it run in safe mode? which F key is that? I thought it was F8 and tried that but the same thing happened and the screen is black then the blue screen comes up

[sniper7]

forgot to mention, I am running windows, I think it is windows 2000, but might be 98.

[Gritty]

The computer is most likely stuck in the loop because the graphics card still has power to it. If your computer fails to load Windows from a cold boot, try the following steps:

Turn off the computer --> unplug it --> hold the power button down for 30 secs --> then restart it. (This is typically used for laptops, but it also works with desktops).
That should remove any residual electricity from the power supply. You could also try removing the CMOS battery on the motherboard and repeating those steps if just clearing the power supply does not work. The battery should be a CR2032 visible on the motherboard.

If that does not work, try to remove and reset the graphics card in its slot on the motherboard.

Good thinking with safe mode. That should work well once the computer starts up. F8 will bring up the start up options and safe mode.

[BPTactical]

Computer problems suck for sure, I have been battling them for a week now. I was contemplating a new machine and if you go that route look at www.tigerdirect.com and www.newegg.com. Look at their refurbished machines, they are only 3-400 bucks and unless your machine is under a year old it more than likely will outperform what you have now.
I got a chance to play around a bit on an Emachine that my neighbor got a few months ago from tigerdirect as a refurb for 369.99. It seems like a great Pentium based machine and runs well from what I can tell.(What the hell do I know, I'm a gunsmith, not a compugeek but it runs better than what I have now) If I have to put more than 200.00 out to get mine running well I am seriously considering that route.