I've had this issue for almost six months now. It's usually not much of an issue, but it's been spiking up quite a bit recently and it's been pissing me off.
I haven't been able to find a solution.
When I start my computer up, it manages to load all the way to the login screen. However, once I type in my password and hit enter, the screen turns all sorts of random colored patterns covering the screen (sometimes they blink a bit), and then my monitor goes into power-saving mode and I'm forced to hard-shutdown my PC. Sometimes the colors are solid RGB or black. After several (varying) attempts at this, it eventually manages to load the desktop. It once took me 11 hard restarts to get it to load the desktop. However, sometimes within at least 5 minutes of getting the desktop up, it will crash again. After five minutes I never have problems until it goes back into sleep mode, where it sometimes crashes again at login.
In games it will often crash the moment I start it up. However, in some games, like TF2, it will run perfectly fine until I load a map. If I move the moment I spawn, it will crash. If I wait 15 or so seconds before I start moving, it doesn't crash.
It also seems to crash randomly during games.
I've replaced my monitor (it was having unrelated problems) - so it's not the issue.
It's not a cooling issue, the highest I've seen my GPU/CPU go is about 85C - usually idling at 55-65C.
It's unlikely to be caused by motherboard or BIOS problems. It gets all the way to the login screen - so the BIOS seems fine.
I've dusted the insides twice now - it was needed, and noticeable increased performance - but the issue persisted.
The only two things that I think could be causing it are the GPU or the PSU.
It seems like if I have my fan on and the temperature low in my room, and I try to get on my PC without first "warming up" the room, it will crash. Could it be an issue with the PSU not being able to get enough wattage to the GPU/CPU in time for startup? This happens vice versa - if my room warms up, which I tested by closing my AC vent, turning off the fan, closing the door, and playing TF2 - it'll crash too.
Sometimes, the "Windows has experienced an unexpected shutdown" will appear after I restart. It blamed it on BlueScreen.exe (which could be assumed, but it's not actually blue), and suggested I update my NVidia drivers. I did (again). No difference.
I've updated everything possible on Windows Update, updated my graphics drivers, defragmented, and done absolutely everything I could to fix it software-wise. I don't exactly have the cash for replacement parts yet, so I'm hoping it's not a hardware issue.
It's bizzare, and I haven't found a solution yet.
Specs:
OS: MS Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP2
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 @ 2.50GHz
RAM: 6.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 332MHz (5-5-5-15)
Mobo: Gateway G33M05G1 (Socket 775)
GPU: 1024MB GeForce GTX 280 (EVGA)
Monitor: W2240 (1920x1080@60Hz)
HDD: 625GB Western Digital WDC WD6400AAKS-22A7B0 ATA Device (SATA)
PSU: BFG GS-650 (BFGR650WGSPSU)
I've had the PC since 2008 with no hardware upgrades since then.
It sounds like the gpu is dying, not much you can do but try another one
Borrow a friends GPU and see if it works with that.
Gotta update this now:
I'm completely locked out of my PC.
I was attempting to start up as normal, got a few bluescreens, then I had to run a disk check in BIOS. It happens, so I hit enter. The screen went black for a second and reloaded. I went down to the only other option - Start Windows Normally. The screen goes black, my computer beeps, and it goes back to the BIOS splash screen.
I could access F2/F8/F10, but they don't help. I tried to access Safe Mode or even use a system restore point, but the same thing happens as when I try to start normally - the BIOS goes black and restarts.
Any ideas? I can't access safe mode, normal mode, or any other options in the F8 menu - just plain BIOS. I can't run the disk check either.
Edit:
Nothing under the F8 menu works.
I can't use the gateway default for system restore, ALT-F10, because it just brings me to the F10 menu where I designate startup order.
Edit: Got it fixed and upgraded to W7 for cheap.
The actual crashing is a GPU problem - I'll RMA it and hopefully my warranty won't be expired yet. If not, then I'll have to buy a new card.
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