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Video Card?
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Posted by: kyle_katarn3
Ok, i am about to just say screw it with my chopiness problem. I've ruled out my ram, and the video card tech support doesn't speak fluent english, so they really aren't much help.
What is the probability that this is a video card problem. As i'm still in my warranty, i can probably get it replaced or repaired without an issue.
Posted by: kyle_katarn3
Any help people?
Posted by: Sandman1278
System Specs???
I would try downloading new video drivers if you haven't already. www.nvidia.com or www.ati.com I don't know what video card or your other system specs, so can't help much more then that.
Posted by: gmackay1
How about finding a spare hard drive and installing a fresh copy of Windows XP to see if it clears up the problem. That way if the problem still occurs you can put your original hard drive back in and not lose any data.
Posted by: kyle_katarn3
Ok, sorry, i assumed that you people have read my other posts. Here is a history of the problem and the system specs.
Bought NHL 2005 over the holidays, it was very choppy, so I decided to up my RAM. That didn't seem to help the problem, and as i tried various fixes - drivers, spyware etc - i began to notice that other games had started to run very badly. I tested my ram, and that didn't seem to be the problem, so i think it may be the video card. I am currently having graphical/chopiness problems with: Simpsons Hit and Run, Splinter Cell, KOTOR, NHL 2005 among others, and all but NHL 2005 ran perfectly before I started trying to fix my computer.
Windows XP
Pentium 4 1.8 Ghz
768 ddr ram
Radeon 9600 Pro Powercolor 256mb
Integrated Audio
With regards to reinstalling windows, i dont have an extra drive to do that with. As well, i can't see that being the problem - the only things affected are my games. Windows apps, my system startup and internet stuff run fine.
Posted by: gmackay1
The reason I suggested that you try a fresh install is to isolate the problem to see if it's either a hardware problem or a software problem. If the new install fixes the problem then you know it's a software problem. IMO it sounds like a software problem but who knows what the problem could be. These days with the mishmash of multiple software it's difficult to pinpoint when some glitch pops up.
I once had a similar problem, using trial and error, trying a number of different things like removing software and changing settings I solved the problem. After uninstalling and reinstalling networking the chopiness disappeared. I suspect the networking was trying to poll something a regular intervals which caused the regular chopiness. Probably some unwanted setting that was reset when I reinstalled the networking.
Posted by: kyle_katarn3
Okee Dokee
So, i can trace the start of this problem back to when i upgraded my norton (from regular anti-virus to full internet security.) Eddybody know what else norton does that could be causing the sort of problem gmackay1 descrbed?
As well, i've noticed that something in my computer (probably one of the hard drives) is making a lovely grinding sort of sound. It's very faint, the sort of thing you only hear with absolute silence in the room. It sortof sounds like the noise my cdroms make when they spin up. Normal, Problem or Miraculous Help to the Computer? :P
Posted by: gmackay1
A dying hard drive could be causing this behaviour. Remove it if you can to see if it helps.
Posted by: kyle_katarn3
Whats the lifespan of harddrives, my computers only 2 and a half? Anyway, i'm gonna talk to one of my tech teachers, to see if he has a spare drive with windows xp on it, or a video card i could use to check mine. I'll see what happens tomorrow.
PS. If the harddrive is dying, does it need a reformat or do i buy a completely new drive.
BTW, i have a second, much larger drive for my games. If i need a clean format, can i copy the files i wanna save onto the second drive. Is this safe? (i dont have a burner)
Posted by: taco_fox
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Originally Posted by kyle_katarn3
Whats the lifespan of harddrives, my computers only 2 and a half?
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I've had hard drives last 7 or 8 years. I would think the average would be longer than 2.5 years.
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PS. If the harddrive is dying, does it need a reformat or do i buy a completely new drive.
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formatting won't help the drive if it is dying. In fact, if the drive is on its way out, you might just break it faster
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BTW, i have a second, much larger drive for my games. If i need a clean format, can i copy the files i wanna save onto the second drive. Is this safe? (i dont have a burner)
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Yes, it's safe and probably the best idea. It's always good to have redundant backups
Posted by: Ocean
my 9600 pro developed the same problem with some open gl things about 2 months ago after a driver update.
ive reinstalled windows since then. didnt fix it. i think its just a permanent driver glitch. i just gave up on everything that doesnt work, and moved onto newer better things.
no more ATI products for me.
Posted by: kyle_katarn3
Geez, i had the exact same problem in the summer.
If your interested, here's the fix, quite simple actually
Go into Windows search, type in openGL, and delete everything that comes up. It sounds totally stupid and pointless, but it worked. Turns out that when the drivers were updated, they somehow rolled over the old ones without deleting them, the two became intertwined and corrupted. I stopped asking questions at that point, and just was grateful to have my card back.
BTW, was your radeon a powercolor?
Posted by: Ocean
bba.
Posted by: Superfly3176
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formatting won't help the drive if it is dying. In fact, if the drive is on its way out, you might just break it faster
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Formatting a hard drive does nothing to break it. Its not going to "Go out" any faster. It just my be harder to reinstall the OS.
Posted by: taco_fox
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Originally Posted by Superfly3176
Formatting a hard drive does nothing to break it. Its not going to "Go out" any faster. It just my be harder to reinstall the OS.
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if there's something mechanically wrong with the drive, such as the heads hitting the platter, then yes, formatting will accelerate its death/
Posted by: Ocean
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Originally Posted by taco_fox
if there's something mechanically wrong with the drive, such as the heads hitting the platter, then yes, formatting will accelerate its death/
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QFT
formatting puts alot of strain and wear and tear on a drive.
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