Video card issue or ???

Hello ...
An odd thing happened this afternoon to my husband's computer - out of nowhere, the resolution on the monitor went to 4-bit... (I can't remember ever SEEING 4-bit as an option before!) and we couldn't get it to change at all.
We re-started the computer, and it went back to the way is was before, but then it re-started itself again - and again. We had just rec'd a Windows update when shutting it down, so I booted into safe mode and did a rollback to yesterday (thinking the update was not a good one for this machine.)

I rebooted and it seemed ok, but once it got to the desktop, no icons appeared and it seemed to freeze. Never said the rollback was complete either.) I shut it down and let everything just 'chill' for a while (it's been really hot here, and he doesn't always keep it ventilated well.)
A few hours later, I turn it on, it seems to boot ok but then restarts itself before it can get to the desktop. This happened three + times.

I CAN boot in to safe mode (w/ networking) which, along with the original weird resolution-thing, makes me lean towards the video card going bad - since in safe mode, it's only 8 or 16 bit.... (I could be totally off-base, and I won't be offended to be wrong! ) BTW, when I booted into Safe mode, it did finally display that the rollback was successful.

Here's the specs: Sony VGC RB38G (oldie but goodie for hubby)
P4 3.4 GHz, 1GB RAM
Radeon X300
Windows XP MCE SP3

Thanks in advance -- you guys have NEVER let me down!

 

Is there information I haven't supplied that's keeping anyone from replying?
I'll be glad to provide more info if necessary... really need some input.

Thanks!

 

If it is an issue with your video card- and it sounds like it is, although I've never experienced the rebooting issue before related to a video problem- then you could try taking your card out and booting with onboard graphics, or swapping cards for another you have/can borrow and see if that fixes the problem.

Aside from that, if you can get it booted and stable, you might try updating or reinstalling your video drivers here. Tho it seems a long shot that that would be an issue, what you are describing sounds a lot like what I've seen with bad drivers. Hopefully that gives you something to work on until someone can give you a more definitive answer- that's the best I can think of at the moment.

Completely unrelated, but compulsory as I see the Steelers reference in your info- Go Browns! :-D

 

Thanks Scooby...

In my little warped mind, the rebooting thing almost makes sense since IF the video card is bad, and it's trying to load it, at that point it's having the issues (hence making it not completely load Windows).

I'm not sure there is onboard video.. this Sony came with that card and I don't see any other ports on the back that would indicate onboard graphics.
I'm thinking I just may have to go get an inexpensive video card since my poor husband is going through withdrawal (and with nothing else to do, he wants to CHAT! LOL )

BTW... your "completely unrelated" comment made my day! thanks! :-D

Maggie

 

If you don't have anywhere to hook your monitor into except for the video card then you're right, there's no onboard video.

If all your husband uses it for is day to day sort of stuff you can pick up a good utilitarian video card good and cheap online; Newegg and TigerDirect are my personal favorites for hardware, if you haven't heard of them already. If you need any help selecting, ask away.

 

Well, it's nice to know someone else thinks along the same lines as I do - I don't need a screaming video card for what he uses that computer for. I'm "all ears (eyes)" on what you'd recommend.

I love Newegg.com and there's another site I've bought OEM stuff from that seems pretty reliable too. I haven't surfed them yet but maybe we can compare notes if you don't mind.

Thanks again!

 

If he's not doing anything besides chatting and browsing, then here are a few cheap but good quality cards. You didn't specify whether you need agp, pci, or pci-e, so here is one for each. If you're not sure about the difference, there is a good picture of each- mouse over the little pics under the "Image Viewer" heading right beneath the picture to change viewing angle, click to enlarge- and compare the coupling of the new card to your old card to see what you need.

AGP

PCI

PCI-E