Fry's people -> <- Me

So I booted that bitch up in Safe mode. It still had the same blurring/shadowing. Any particiular ATI card I should buy?

Oh yeah, when in safe mod it also showed that "It is now safe to turn off the computer" after the shutdown. Mine NEVER does that anymore...ideas on what would cause this?

I know, I know I ask too much from you guys over a computer!

 

I'm not entirely certain you need a new card yet but ATI is definitely the way to go. Not sure which is the best for your needs but you can head over to thier website at http://www.ati.com and see what fits you best.

Did you change anything on your machine like setting changes or install new software prior to the display problem? You may want to try re-installing the video card drivers. As for the "safe to shut down windows" thing in safe mode, Windows pretty much disregards any drivers and some bios settings unless it's absolutely necessary to run. Your computer supports APM or Advanced Power Management, which allows Windows to shut the machine down automatically. Since in safe it's not a necessity, Windows doesn't load the APM drivers. That's probably why you got that message. It's cool asking for help, it's a little trickier to figure the problem over the internet but we'll give it a shot.

That Fry's place you guys mention sounds exactly like our Staples here in town. The employees are clueless about most of everything they talk about. Of course there are a few that think they know everything and make sure that you know they do too.

 

I can't remember any off the top of my head, but the ATI Radeon cards kick ***. Try in the 9000 series, like 9700 or 9800. I don't know how much you want to spend, but I think those are in the $100-$150 range, not sure though, could be more
The All-in-Wonder series kick ***...they have everything the regular ones have, but coaxial hookup to get a TV signal on there, S-video hookup...etc...

You play Unreal tourney? Hell yea...we should meet on there for a little
If you're down (to get your *** kicked ) then let's get a server going or just meet in one.
I go by "EL_CHINGON" (big surprise ) on there, but it might be my dad sometimes...
What's your AOL IM username?

 

I didn't change a thing, I just turned it on and it was no bueno. How would I go about reinstalling the drivers for the card? All I know it is an Nvidia 16megAGP card from Dec 2000.

 

Hehe, I've played online a few times...dial up SUCKS! That's what I get for living in the sticks.

You got PM...

 

Usually they come with a disk or CD with the driver on it to be installed after you put the card in. If not, or you don't have it anymore, go to the Nvidia website and do a search for drivers and find the closest one to yours. If you can't find it there, e-mail em first, but I think there are websites that keep shitloads of various drivers.
When/if you find the driver:
Oh yea, what OS do you have? The following instructions are for Windows XP:
On your desktop right-click on "My Computer" and click "Properties." The system properties window will come up, click on the "hardware" tab, then click the "device manager" button, then when that window pops up, find your video card in there somewhere, right-click on it, and choose "update driver"

 

Well I use the crappy Win ME, I know it sucks but eh. Can you do driver updates on ME like XP?

When I build a new computer in a year or so, be sure you will be getting called/PM'd/E-mailed!

 

Yea, Win ME sucks ***, but pretty much everything after Win 3.x
Seriously, if 3.1 had internet access capabilities, I would use that. I don't like all the crap in these new OS's, George Orwell wasn't that far off huh?

Sweet, what kind of computer do you want to build? I can help you with your computer build as the internet allows...

I just built a computer for my dad, 2.9GHz Pentium 4 Asus MB 800Mhz bus with all the trimmings. The only thing I can't figure out is that damn RAM. I used a 256DDR chip and it runs fine. I bought some more to bump it up to a gig, and whenever I put any kind of new ram into the motherboard, it won't work...i get some stupid error, so that is the only thing pissing me off about it. I haven't troubleshooted or done anything because it works fine as it is, oh well.

 

LOL, I still have my old 386 with 3.11 for Workgroups! hahahaha

I'd have to go do some researching on where to start, ideally I'd like something to last 3-4 years before an upgrade. I want to run dual HD's one for the OS the other for the rest of the ****. I'd like to have another DVD drive, faster CDRW, reuse my SB Live Platinum. Um, some kick *** video card like an 8X AGP. A 1392 FireWire port, etc.

I don't know much about that new DDR RAM, I'd assume 512DDR would be more powerful than 512PC133, stuff like this I need to take into consideration. But if I am going all out I'd go for 1 gig of RAM.

HEY, do you know how I can get Duke 3D to work on my machine? I LOVE that game and can't seem to get it to run correctly on it.

 

Heh, that was one of the first computers I started using.

If you're going to be building this in a year, then a Pentium 4 3.5 GHz should be "old" (out for several months, should be cheaper...amazing how quick new and faster processors come out and how fast the price drops) and should last you a good 3 to 4 years...
I have a shitty 750Hz computer..Sony Vaio...seriously, I hate it but it does the job. It used to be my dads until it **** on him...so he said fix it and its yours. So $150 (another HD and more RAM)later I had a "new" computer.
I run one 60 gig HD and only run Windows and not much else...I have an extra 120 gig HD for all my ****...I mean important files
All I use it for is email, internet, music, etc.
I use Photoshop a little because everytime I want to do a big project it craps on me
Same when I'm doing digital editing, special effects stuff...too damn slow...rendering time is a bitch...

If you're going to be building a new computer you want at least 256DDR...512 is fine, and 1 Gig or more if you want the best.

Duke Nukem? HAH...I used to play that game all the time with my buddies...we used to connect directly with our dialup connections...
As far as getting it to run correctly...sheesh...what happens when you try to load it up? Is it a driver problem? Direct X? Have you been able to run it before these video card problems or have you never run it before? Your card may be too outdated...I dunno man...
It could be many things, thats why I hate trying to troubleshoot over the internet...