Do I need a new video card?

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm on the internet for several days at a time without rebooting.
By the end of the 2nd day, my graphics start to go where there are beige
areas where text should be and by the end of the 3rd day, only the outline of
a pop-up box can be seen. There is no info inside of the box, but I see
through the box to what is behind the box. I stay on my computer this long
because I will lose much time and info when I stop to reboot. I periodically
do a disc clean-up, empty temporary folders, etc, during the 2 or 3 days but
it doesn't help.

I'm a complete newbie in regards to hardware. I have Windows XP
Pro, an AMD Duron Processor, 945 MHz, 256 MB Ram. In System Properties >
Hardware Tab > Device Manager > Sound, Video and Capture Devides, it says
that I have "Legacy Video Capture Devices." Also in Device Manger > System
Devices, the list is:

- ACPI Fixed Feature Button
- ACPI Sleep button
- Direct memory access constroller
- ISAPNP Read Data Port
- Microcode Update Device
- Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
- Numeric data processor
- PCI bus
- Plug and Play Software Devide Enumerator
- SIS PCI to ISA bridge
- SIS Processor to AGP Controller
- Sis736/733 Host CPU Bridge
- System CMOS/real time clock
- System speaker
- System timer
-Terminal Server Devide Redirector

In System Properties > Advanced Tab > Performance (Visual effects, processor
scheduling, memory usage and virtual memory > Settings Button > Advanced Tab

Virtual Memory, total paging file size for all drives: 983.

My computer was made for me 4 years ago and the person who made it
is no longer with us so I can't find out the specifics of what is inside my
PC.

I've read some of the other posts here about video cards, BIOS,
whether the video card is part of the motherboard or separate, and raising
the AGP aperture size.

I don't know how to raise the AGE aperature size (nor do I know
what it is or how to do it), I don't know how to find out whether my video
card is part of my motherboard, and I don't know what BIOS is or how to find
it. Every page that I read about BIOS states what BIOS is and how to tweak
it but it doesn't state how to get to it. I don't know what type of video
card I presently have. I don't even know if I need a new video card but
since I lose my graphics, I'm assuming it has something to do with my video
card. I don't do gaming so I don't need a video card that's fast but I need
one that can work for days on end without the need to reboot. Someone
suggested that the size should be at least 1G. I have no other problems
with my computer when I stay on line for 2 or 3 days without rebooting except
that I lose my graphics.

As I said, I know next to nothing about hardware but I'm pretty
good at following step by step instructions so please provide step by step
instructions for any queries or suggestions, i.e., don't tell me to open
BIOS, tell me how to open BIOS first (sorry about this).

 

[M and D]

Sounds like your video card is overheating. Open the computer and clean out dust and debris. Make sure all the fans are working.

Steven

 

[Guest]

Thanks for responding Steven. I clean my computer internals about every 8
months with a "computer brush" and a vacuum cleaner hose to collect the dust
as I brush it off. The fan is clean. I took the panel off the side and I'll
let it stay open to let out the heat. I won't know if this works for about 3
or 4 days but I'll let you know.

Thanks again . . . Denise

 

[Ted Zieglar]

That's not the way to clean inside the case. Nothing other than air - not a
brush - should touch the inside of your computer, and a vaccuum cleaner's
suction is much too powerful. Blow through a handkerchief or use a can of
compressed air.

Your computer has been carefully designed for optimal cooling with the case
closed. Leaving the case open can actually reduce the airflow.

The way you treat your hardware, I'm not surprised it's failing.

 

[Guest]

Ted, nobody comes here to be criticized. We come here for help and it's very
bad form to write remarks that are derogatory and insulting.

The brush is sold by Staples specifically to dust the fan and other areas
inside the pc. As I softly brush the dust off, the vacuum cleaner hose is
held about an inch away so that it will pick up the flying dust. I use a can
of air to clean the DVD burner drive, the A drive, and the zip drive, along
with a cleaning disc that is specifically made to insert into the drives and
run for about 20 seconds. These methods were taught to me by a computer
tech and have worked very well for the past 4 years. The fact that my
computer gets almost constant use and the only problem I have with after 4
years is that it loses graphics when it hasn't had a reboot in 3 or 4 days is
a testament to the care I give my computer. Since dust is obviously not the
culprit and, as you stated, the case was designed for optimal cooling, then
my original questions still need to be answered.

Would a new video card solve the problem that I'm having with my graphics
and, if so, what type of video card would be needed? If the information that
I supplied in my first post is insufficient to determine the type of video
card that I would need, I would be happy to supply additional information
upon request.

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