my UT/Unreal days may be behind me: MAJOR ERROR

[EvilGrins]

Not gonna be online much until Friday, and not home again until Sunday, so leave me lots of info I can get to by then.

Played UT yesterday with no difficulties. This morning I tried and it froze, and I couldn't get out. Rebooted 3 times, then thought to try a different game: Unreal 2. Same thing, but this time I managed to Alt+Enter and to see my desktop (which was also frozen) and there's an error message.

Couldn't screengrab it, system needed to be rebooted again.

It said my nv4_disp driver had gone bad. It wasn't on the screen long before my system crapped out.

Computer seems to work fine so long as I don't go into Unreal Anthology, what I launch all my UT/Unreal games from, but this is annoying.

Anybody got a clue what's going on and/or how to fix it?

[Higor]

Try the Software renderer in windowed mode.
Your problem is either:
- Your GPU reached it's expiration date.
- Your PSU has a leaking capacitor and isn't delivering enough power for a full load system.
- A virus/installation f'ed up your drivers.

[EvilGrins]

According to AVG & AntiMalware Bytes I'm virus free. Run those day & night.

Guess I need to check that other stuff.

[Carbon]

Driver corruption is caused by a failing hard drive, power loss or graphics/memory hardware failure. Heat would be the simplest solution; is your system clean inside?

Test all of your hardware, replace what not working then re-install Windows. Tough stuff mate but hardly the end of UT for you.

[Dr.Flay]

Good advice so far.
The only thing I can add is possibly old fashioned "chip-creepage"
Try reseating the card in it's slot.

I think the nVidia uninstaller has the option to repair the current driver install.
To check the drive for errors do an extended scan with your favourite SMART tool (SMART must be enabled in the BIOS)

[Red_Fist]

It played "die bitch" too many times.

I would just reseat all the boards. and RAM, push move connecters, clean it out first. I get a Qtip and alcohol clean off all the edge connectors.
And inside the power supply.

consider if you do have to buy something, it will be all cleaned out and ready to go, for that new G-900,000,000XL nividia has out. That you always never wanted.

[rjmno1]

Try the Software renderer in windowed mode.
Your problem is either:
- Your GPU reached it's expiration date.
- Your PSU has a leaking capacitor and isn't delivering enough power for a full load system.
- A virus/installation f'ed up your drivers.

yes i think your hardware is ripped maby a cpu or videocard error.
Wich system do you have .i mean the specs?
Or just like above dude is saying maby a virus also.

http://www.herdprotect.com/

rebooting:1 mem bank 1 harddisk does he boot?
reset bios maby this will help?

[EvilGrins]

I've scanned my system with 3 different things, no viruses or malware.

Problem has extended to other things, didn't realize Nvidia going bad would impact more than just games. While strangely Google Chrome has less issues than anything else, I can barely use any programs at all without my system freezing for a few seconds or completely.

My computer is a custom job, can't really give specs for it. Also the part of the computer that I could bring up specs on it might crash the system if I were to look. Guy who set it up for me isn't readily available so it may be a bit before I can get this fixed.

Downloaded a new nv4_disp.dll but I can't get the system to accept it. Say what you will for older versions of Windows but it used to be you could right click a driver and install it like that, but apparently that doesn't work anymore.

[Dr.Flay]

Was any of those scans a SMART disk check to validate your drive and show the failure rate ?
It will tell you out of 100% how healthy it is.
Windows will not tell you anything until it cannot read blocks at all, then it is often too late.

Rather than trying to update the file which may or may not be at fault (another DLL used by that one can be the actually problem). Use the nVidia installer to repair your install.
It will replace any corrupt files for you.

However if your drive is failing, or overheating you may still end up with errors.

[AlCapowned]

You should get hard disk sentinel (http://www.hdsentinel.com/). It will tell you the general health of your hard drive.

[Higor]

Remove GPU, use the integrated display (i guess you have a dedicated GPU).

[Carbon]

The problem is deeper than corrupt display drivers; that is just where the evidence appeared. Hard drive corruption simply indicates hardware problems.

You need to test all of your hardware one-by-one. First, get inside and see if it is dusty or dirty. Heat can cause these problems and is the easiest solution.

Then check RAM, GPU, HDD and finally the mainboard.

Hate to say it, but this will probably end with some new hardware being bought.

[Dr.Flay]

You can bypass any drive and driver issues by testing with the tools on the "Ultimate Boot CD"
https://www.ultimatebootcd.com

Not sure I would rate HDSentinal as you can get the same functions in free software such as HDD Guardian (which also detects cabling errors)
https://hddguardian.codeplex.com

[rjmno1]

take your computer from you workspace.
Open your computer mostly a metal sheet wich connect with some screws on the case.
Take a vacuum cleaner, and remove all the dust wich will come worse with the years ,and clean everything.
When you harddrive did fail set you importend files on a usb stick for save keeping, if you can boot propperly.
after this disconnect all features wich are connected on the motherboard.
Install 1 memmory bank 1 harddisk,and reset you bios, and make sure your motherboard is clean from dusk.

trouble shoot further from there if nothing happens buy yourself a new computer.

[Carbon]

Take a vacuum cleaner, and remove all the dust wich will come worse with the years ,and clean everything.

Vacuums and computers don't mix well...too much potential for trouble. Canned air is a much safer and effective solution.