need computer help really bad

[ksinao]

so yesterday i was on my computer. all of a sudden the moniter went black (not off) and after 15-20 secs it said 'the moniter is going to sleep'. then i left and came back 7-8 hours later, and it was still doing that. so i plugged another moniter into my computer, and that didnt work either. then i plugged the first moniter into my laptop and it worked fine. now i am stuck, because that is the only computer in the house that has all my shit on it. not to mention the only one that isn't bogged down with virus's? any suggestions or anything like that?

i called HP help and geek squad, and they both wanted like 70-100$ or something like that. and i dont have that kind of money.

[sirkus]

Get a cheap replacement video card. Or find another one for the time being. Sounds like it may have crapped out. Is it an onboard (on the mother board) video card?

[ksinao]

yeah. my brother was saying it might be the video card too. but i dont want to spend all that money then find out, thats not what was wrong. anywhere to check exactly what it is?

[sirkus]

If it isnt bad, then it could be something seriously wrong with the computer. Does the whole computer sound like it's in power saving mode? or more quiet than usual?

[Wurm]

its the video card... IF its not onboard video then pull the card out and put it back in. It just might need to be reseated... If its onboard then you need a new video card

[ksinao]

If it isnt bad, then it could be something seriously wrong with the computer. Does the whole computer sound like it's in power saving mode? or more quiet than usual?

if it isnt bad?

[Wurm]

if it isnt bad?
pay him no attention its the video card

[ksinao]

its the video card... IF its not onboard video then pull the card out and put it back in. It just might need to be reseated... If its onboard then you need a new video card

is that the ONLY thing it could be? im just wondering because i dont know much about computers. it is onboard. and if i get a new video card do i just plug it in? will it automatically go over the other one? and how much would a cheap replacement be?

[sirkus]

If the video card isn't bad. It could be something like the power supply.. Or the whole motherboard crapped out.

[ksinao]

and how do i tell what happened?

[Wurm]

when you start the computer up does ot make a long beep

[sirkus]

But... check the video card and all possible problems with the video card first.

[ksinao]

no. it just makes the normal sounds. except the moniter is black because its sleeping.

[sirkus]

is that the ONLY thing it could be? im just wondering because i dont know much about computers. it is onboard. and if i get a new video card do i just plug it in? will it automatically go over the other one? and how much would a cheap replacement be?

It should override the old one. You can pick one up for like 40 bucks.

[Wurm]

well you need to find out which kind of video card you need PCI,AGP,PCI-E

if you open up the case you pci are the white slots the agp would be the brown slot that is set back a little further then the pci slots

[ksinao]

so i open the case, its pci if the slots are white, if its agp the slots are brown and set back further?

and where can i get a decent but not good video card and how would i install it?

[Wurm]

well you can have both slots. I know you have pci everyone does and you may have agp slot also. If you have the brown slot then get a agp card if you dont then get a pci card

[ksinao]

is agp better than pci? and if i post a picture of the inside of my computer will you tell me what i have? because i really have no idea what to look for.

[Wurm]

yeah agp is better yeah u can post a pic

[ksinao]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/sexandglue/comp4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/sexandglue/comp3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/sexandglue/comp2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/sexandglue/comp1.jpg

oh yeah, and thanks for the help. reps will be given.

[CRXDX]

here you go

[Wurm]

yeah get a agp card

[ksinao]

ok.... ago... how much do those run, and would i install it? would i just plug it in? or do i have to install it?

[CRXDX]

i ll sell you a geforce fx5500 for $40 dollars my number is 678 794 5694

[puregroove]

Microcenter FTW for the video card...I don't go anywhere else:::plus you can get a warranty for it.

[puregroove]

You might want to buy some canned air, too while you're in there. :D :goodjob:

[ksinao]

yeah i know, its really dusty

[ksinao]

i ll sell you a geforce fx5500 for $40 dollars my number is 678 794 5694

would that work with my computer? and is it agp or pci?

[sirkus]

That's a decent video card... I think they all were pretty much AGP.

Just remember that it is a whole lot easier than you think to install one of these too.

[CRXDX]

would that work with my computer? and is it agp or pci?

yeah itll work, its agp 256mb

[GIXXERDK]

Could it be your mobo taking a crap?

[ksinao]

i ll sell you a geforce fx5500 for $40 dollars my number is 678 794 5694

i will buy it if you can meet me somewhere, and show me how to install it...

[ksinao]

ok. well i just found an old graphics card in my house. and put it in. and nothing happened. the computer did the same shit it had been. now im worried that if i buy one the same thing is going to happen. should it just see the video card, or will i have to do something so my computer will recognize it. or was it just because that one was old? will a newer one work differently than an older one?

[Wurm]

look go buy one from best buy or somewhere if the shit doesnt fix it then return it

[ksinao]

would that be more expensive?

and is this a good deal
geforce fx5500 - 40$

[ksinao]

and what happens if i get a REALLY cheap video card? is it possible to be worse than the integrated one? all i want is to get my computer running.

[osiriskidd]

don't worry about a really nice video card if you're not an avid gamer. just get a decent 64mb PCI which is like, 20-30 bucks. it's enough to play videos and whatnot.

when you buy a PCI it's just plug and play. turn off computer, plug it into the corrospoding slot (agp,pci) and then clean out the inside while you're at it.

turn on the computer, then install drivers on cd and you're set.

[AtifSajid]

hahahahaaa...wtf is this....

[CRXDX]

hahahahaaa...wtf is this....


tif my middle finger is crippled....so F U :)

[ksinao]

hey, crxdx. im taking it too geek squad tomorrow to make sure it is the video card, if it is, i will def. buy it. i want to make sure i dont spend 40$ if thats not the problem.

[osiriskidd]

i'll bet alotta people on IA know more about comps then geeksquad.

[Wurm]

so you are gonna waste money for geek squad to make sure instead of just buying a card and testing it? lol geeksquad aint cheap your $30 test just turned into $130

GL with that

[ksinao]

update. my 30$ turned into 60 and i dont have to buy a video card. it had nothing to do with that. its because my computer was too dusty and it was clogging up too much shit. they cleaned it out and it works fine now,