computer problem

My computer screen keeps blinking on and off ,and the computer stops responding just before it blinks. Then it comes back on as if nothing happened . I sent it in for repair two times and just got it back yesterday .The first time it came back it did this and crashed the next day.The repair man said it is not a virus ,so do any of you guys know what it could be? When typing this post on another board the screen blinked on and off about 20 times.I'm sick of sending it to the repair man just to get it back and have it crash the next day .They have had it for over one month now, and I figure that they should of had it fixed by now .I restarted the computer and it stopped doing it , but I still would like to know what could cause this problem just in case it happens again.I was thinking video card but I don't know much about computers so I need help because for all I know the store I got it from could be stalling saying it's fine because the warranty runs out in three months.

 

Have you updated the video card driver at all? If it is still under warrenty think I would take it back, and tell them to try fixing it this time. But before you do that try updateing the video driver, it maybe just that simple.

 

the driver is up to date ,I will have to phone the repair man I guess and see what he has to say about it if nobody here can help figure out what is causing this . I was hoping someone here knew what was wrong as I'm not sure I trust the store I got it from now.

 

I checked event viewer and found warnings .They were in application and had 8 different event numbers . The time of these warning are same same as when it crashed or acted up.These are the event numbers and the category/source that went with them if they mean anything.

(0)Event (1) Source (2) Category (3) User
(0)62 (1) WinMgmt (2) None (3) N/A
(0)1020 (1) ASP.NET 1.1.4322.0 (2) Setup (3) N/A
(0)1517 (1) Userenv (2) None (3) SYSTEM
(0)1001 (1) MsiInstaller (2) None (3) NETWORK/User
(0)1004 (1) MsiInstaller (2) None (3) NETWORK/User
(0)63 (1) WinMgmt (2) None (3) User
(0)4354 (1) EventSystem (2) (52) (3) N/A
(0)1005 (1) Windows Product Activation(2) None (3) N/A

I could not find hardware manager so I can't say if there is any X or ! or ?
I should of put that my computer has a windows xp home operating system which I figure you guessed that's what I had.

 

Did you send the monitor in as well? Maybe your monitor is broken and not the computer. Try another monitor to be sure. Also, check for any bent or broken pins on the monitor connector(s) and verify that it is securely connected to the graphics card. Use the screws on the connector to accomplish this.
If it's not the monitor, it could be caused by a variety of things, like TimW already said.

 

I tried a new monitor too and it still did it, but like I said it has been fine after the restart ,but I just want to know what caused it in the first place ,so I can get it fixed under warranty if need be,but thanks for your input.

 

I looked every where and did not find any cautions .
Thank you for helping

It just blinked off and on 3 times

 

This is driving me crazy

 

I checked the event viewer and there was no warning right after it happened does it take awhile to add them?

 

I was just about to hit post reply after typing a response when the computer froze up and then the monitor went off then on but with the words a little distorted. Then it just went off ,but not for good as it came back but the screen had vertical line that reminded me of plaid.I switched monitors to see if it was just the new one ,but it was the same on the old .So I restarted the computer and it seemed like the computer was working fine ,but when it came time for the screen to come on nothing happened. the monitor just stayed in standby with the light blinking on the power button.

 

I will try the computer in the morning to see if I can even get it to load up with the monitor working.I almost forgot there was a error that had something to do with video ,but I can not remember as it was only on the screen for 10 seconds .There were two place I could go to update the driver it said ,but when I clicked on windows update which was one of the two places to update the driver from it said they could not find any updates for that driver .that is when I came here to post what it said ,but as I said in the post above this the monitor just went to vertical lines that were plaid looking.

 

I meant to say I think there was two places I could update the driver ,but I'm not 100% sure about that.

 

Run this and find out what video driver we need,

http://www.majorgeeks.com/EVEREST_Free_Edition_d4181.html

 

I talked to the repair man and he figures the software/ driver needs to be installed again he said he would fix it right away if this is what is wrong.I should get it tomorrow if that's what is wrong he said.I still think the card is shot ,but I'm no expert. The onboard video started working this morning ,but the card would not work.I have not seen it blink yet ,but it did start after a day last time.He said try the video card driver disk so I tried the disk that says drivers and utilities for vga card ,but it said no hardware found. Then he said that it must be the wrong disk, so I checked again and thats the only disk that has anything to do with a vga card. If I don't have the right disk they better give me the right disk as I figure it should come with the computer. I want to know what that disk is for if it's not the vga card disk, and would it be for the onboard video ? If it is for the onboard or any other hardware would it not say it found the hardware but it already has the copy of this driver/file?or atleast try and install the driver from the disk?

 

I will try this after I get it back.Thanks

 

I just phoned the store that I sent it to and they now say it's the video card. They said they ordered a new one ,but we can pick up the computer because they put a new card in it.They said we will just have to bring it back so they can install the other card when it comes in. I thought it might be the video card ,but the repair man said oh it's fine .I just think they were hoping it would last another 3 months .

Thanks for all your help guys

 

Wow, this is the second post that has a similar problem as me.

My computer monitor would go black and then reappear at random times. It started about two months ago. Another thing that started happening is that my computer would at various times.

1) Shut down and restart on it's own.

2) Shut down and when it tries to restart, it doesn't. The on and off button shows a flashing yellow light, not the green light. What I have to do is unplug the computer for about 5 or 10 minutes, then it will reboot.

Today I decided to plug it into another surge protector thinking it might be a power problem.

I am running a Dell Dimension 8100, Pentium 4, Windows ME Edition.and a Nvidia 32MB Graphics Card.

I think I will go and try to update the video driver, but any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

aj
The Gambling Cowboy