Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - Hardware/Software - Display/Retrace Test Failed (resolved)
| User | Post |
Tarale
Posts: 2220/2720 |
Well, the problem is still occurring. Today I booted into Windows, and started poking around for a bit, and Windows just froze up. Mouse not moving, keyboard not responding, etc... then the reboot.
Rebooted and it went into Windows fine, but then the screen dropped out entirely....
EDIT: Okay, can't get a stable boot out of it again anymore. Will boot into Windows fairly consistently, but what happens next is usually one of two things.
Either the screen "freezes". Cursor won't move, you won't see things you enter with the keyboard. However I don't think the whole system freezes I was playing music to test my new Altec Lansing speakers, and the music continued despite the screen freezing -- I think this may simply be a frozen display, at least initially. The machine then rebooted however very shortly after, only to go back to the 1 long 8 short beeps.
OR there's the other piece of weird behaviour, where it will boot into Windows, and then the screen will black out entirely. This is sometimes followed by the reboot and 1 long, 8 short beeps; but sometimes it's not and the machine will just happily sit there forever displayless.
Another piece of weirdness is the fact that if you enter the BIOS, the keyboard will become unresponsive (or the display will freeze; which seems more likely).
The videocard and the rest of the system was stable before, when this was my housemate's machine, with a AMD 2000 processor. The only changes to the system have been a new case and the addition of a 3000+ processor.
We have tried changing power supply, to see if the 400W one was dodgy, this didn't help.
I have tried removing the video card and reseating it.
I have tried removing the video card and RAM and reseating both.
We have changed the apeture size on the AGP; it doesn't seem to do squat
We changed the um.... FSB speed (I think), to what it was with the other processor; it didn't do anything either.
Display freezes when I am using the VGA display, or when I am using the DVI display. It doesn't seem to matter what output I use.
I am getting fed up, I don't know what the problem could be anymore. We are starting to wonder if it's possible that the AGP itself is fucked...??
Bleh, my housemate is awaiting a different video card, we will test once we get it.
Does anybody have any other suggestions, this is giving me the irrits, and I am not exactly a hardware specialist; my housemate is better at this stuff and he's stumped too.
I want my computer to work  The other thing is, I don't get why it was so stable earlier, and so.... unstable again now. I don't understand why this is so inconsistent.
YESS!!
Kym borrowed the videocard to play Battlefield Vietnam. It had previously behaved perfectly in his machine, but THIS TIME IT DIED, SAME AS MY MACHINE!!
So, that solves that, I need a new video card.
Thank gawd that's over with. |
HyperLamer
Posts: 5449/8210 |
Yes, a bad power supply will cause some odd problems. My old computer wouldn't read any of its hard drives, and when it tried on some of them, the RAM would get corrupted (garbage on the screen and the BIOS crashed).  I tried changing disks, reseating RAM, everything... was about to give up when the LED display just shut off for no reason (which is connected directly to the power supply), that was a pretty big hint. 
That was an old system, like P233, but I imagine similar could happen to a newer one. |
Tarale
Posts: 2208/2720 |
I had a few cases when I was running a computer business where power supply has helped, but I've not come across this particular problem before. I do remember that every time I had an issue that was solved by a power supply, it was an AMD processor though oddly (thus making me slightly biased against AMD for some time)
As for the video, it's a Radeon 9700 |
Ailure
Posts: 10367/11162 |
I heard of cases where replacing the power supply actually made the computer more stable, but don't count on it. 
What exact Radeon card is it? You never mentioned... |
Tarale
Posts: 2206/2720 |
Video card is stable in other machines, and was stable with a slower processor.
This machine has recently been upgraded as far as processor and case goes. It now has an Athlon XP 3000+ in it. Case is very clean, it is brand new, all fans are very clean, they are either brand new or were cleaned before being installed. You could eat off the inside of my computer (but for fuck's sake, don't)
As for the fan I have on it, I meant "small" as far as personal fans (not computer fans) go. A desk fan. 
I am wondering if maybe the power supply isn't coping with the faster processor AND the Radeon card. :-/
It's been stable as hell today and most of yesterday though o.o |
neotransotaku
Posts: 3439/4016 |
hmm...i'd try exchanging it for another card--after all, not all hardware that is sold works without defects...it might be the case that your card is like that... what kind of v-card do you have? |
HyperLamer
Posts: 5414/8210 |
Having your case open makes for crappy airflow. Use a big fan, like the kind you'd cool the room with.
Cleaning the case and fans might help too. Can't hurt, unless you screw up. |
Tarale
Posts: 2202/2720 |
Well, it's still screwy.
It's happening less than before though.
We're not sure if it's a heating/cooling issue, or a power supply issue.
I have my case open now and a small fan blowing on the video card, and it is certainly more stable that way, although it doesn't seem to be enough as it still played silly buggers earlier. |
neotransotaku
Posts: 3401/4016 |
hmm...then it was probably an act of God that caused it to be screwy before. after all, you said it did work, then it didn't, a few swaps and it works again...
or maybe you just had to reset the ESCD (or whatever that four letter acronym is)... |
Tarale
Posts: 2190/2720 |
Hmm, but I did re-seat the card (and the RAM too, for good measure) and it didn't help.
However, when I switched video card with my housemate, then switched back, it was fine o.o
I think my videocard is evil |
mrmenz
Posts: 284/347 |
Meh who knows, ive had issues before where an AGP card wouldn't work properly due to bad ram. Maybe all you had to do was reseat the card. |
Tarale
Posts: 2187/2720 |
Tried the cable; didn't seem to do anything.
As for the card, I have to wait for housemate to come home to borrow a card, I don't have a spare without stealing somebody else's.
It worked fine yesterday.
I'll note that the monitor doesn't get any signal at all anymore. It did earlier, and it does on occasion (not sure why). Doesn't turn on, nothing. Computer beeps, but no signal to monitor.
EDIT: Okay, we switched video cards with my housemate, and it worked in his machine, and his in mine. We switched back and mine is working again, currently benchmarking.
Weird. |
HyperLamer
Posts: 5348/8210 |
Should be obvious, but did you check the monitor cable and try another monitor/card? |
Tarale
Posts: 2186/2720 |
Yes, those beeps mean what the Thread title says -- Display/Retrace Test Failed.
|
neotransotaku
Posts: 3396/4016 |
the beeps are related to the motherboard--have you translated what those beeps mean according to the motherboard manufacturer? |
Tarale
Posts: 2183/2720 |
1 big beep, 8 short beeps -- display/retrace test failed. 
My new compy was behaving till last night, then it started with this. Today, it doesn't even wanna boot, and wants to give me 1 big beep, 8 short beeps.
Video card? Videocard seems to be in the AGP fine, and everything.
Any hints? o.o Teh compy no liiike me |
|
