Video Card Error?

rsocks · TweakNOOB Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Brussels

I've recently been having some issues with my laptop and from what I can tell they are video card related. At first I thought it might be a driver error but I've uninstalled and reinstalled the correct graphic driver three times. The error I keep getting is as follows:

"Your system has experienced and recovered from a device failure. Please save and reboot your computer."

It will give me this error message, I'll reboot and a few minutes later it happens again. If I keep trying to reboot it, eventually it gets mad at me and won't even boot. This is the situation I find myself in presently. When I turn on the power button all I get is the sound of the fan starting and then two loud beeps. I tried Ctrl+Alt+Del and a few times that has allowed me to bypass the error and log in. Unfortunately none of my tricks seem to be working now.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Have any of you experience this problem before? It's a first for me and I must say I'm a bit stumped.
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JayDubya · Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 9:13 pm Post subject:

please try and post all of your system stats, hardware, model, and maker so that we may better help you.
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Troy · SirTweaksabit Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 497

Check with the manual and see if there is a list for the beeping codes.
This might give a clue at whats causing the problem.
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rsocks · TweakNOOB Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Brussels

sorry for not posting this sooner...my stats are as follows...

I am using a Gateway Solo 9500 with XP. The part that I feel is giving me my error is the video card. From what I gather it is an ATI Mobility 128 AGP 4x. I hope this is enough information to explain what system I'm using, but if more is needed please let me know. Additionally, I have been through my manual and it makes no reference to beeping codes. When I spoke with a tech support genlteman at my work he said it was the video card when I mentioned the two brief beeps just as I was trying to boot.

I guess my more specific question now would be if it is the video card that is giving up, is it possible to replace myself or is it more cost effective to get a new machine (given the obvious hassle of learning the necessary technical skills to replace it)? Finally, what kind of cost is likely if I was to replace the video card? I did some Google searching and was only able to come up with desktop replacements and thus couldn't find an accurate price quote.
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[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sun May 23, 2004 10:31 am Post subject:

For a laptop the way of having the video card replaced is by sending it back to the company that built it. The only laptops that I know of at the time that you can replace the video card by yourself is Alienware. But in the very near future laptops are going to be using PCI-express video cards utilizing MXM, which allows for easy video card upgrading/replacement.
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Open up your laptop and make sure if it is a card and if so if you can reattach it.

I could have wiggled out a bit. Also, it could be overheating.
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galleon · TweakNOOB Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 7

I have a question.....why are you posting this question to the tweaknews board? You bought a gateway....meaning you spent around an extra 500$ so that if anything goes wrong you can call them up any time you want and have them fix it for you. You'd be foolish to fix this yourself, and I strongly recommend NOT opening up your laptop because you'll probably void your warranty and then that extra 500$ is useless

[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:57 am Post subject:

^^^good point
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

rsocks · TweakNOOB Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Brussels

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help.

I did call them and they didn't have a clue what was going on and as it is the warranty expired while was on vacation anyway. Looks like I'm stuck with the sucker until I can save the $ to get a new one. In response the questions I'm sure I would receive otherwise, the laptop is three years old and is slower than an old lady crossing the street. It's time it was retired.

again...thanks for all you help and suggestions :)
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JayDubya · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:06 pm Post subject:

wait, the laptop could be reformatted and that may increase the speed dramatically
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Yes, you dont need a 3.0Ghz for a laptop.

COME BBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

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rsocks · TweakNOOB Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Brussels

I'm here!!!!

I realize that a 3.0Ghz is totally not necessary and I thought about formatting the sucker, but that wouldn't fix the video card problem. Besides looking at 12 bit color kinda makes you loopy after a while...time to upgrade laptops.
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

So you haven't tried the reformat and reinstall yet?
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rsocks · TweakNOOB Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Brussels

I formatted and reinstalled XP about a week ago and all the windows install menus looked normal but after I had been logged in for less than 15 minutes the problems started all over again.
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