Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Help with constant vista freezes/crashes.

Apr 27, 2011 12:28AM PDT

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 T6400 2.00 Gmz

I installed the Sims 3 on my dell computer. Everything was working fine until the frequent computer freezes. My screen will be covered in broken white or green lines, and I can't start it. so i have to manually turn my pc off and on again. I stop playing the Sims 3 game for a while. The thing is that it is not the Sims 3 game. This morning I was listening to a song on the ITunes storeon my laptop and it happen again!! A beeping sound and the plaid lines all over my screen. I am not sure how to describe this problem. Is it my graphic card? I did a complete system restore and nothing helps.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
While the video corruption is a GREAT CLUE.
Apr 27, 2011 4:40AM PDT

It would be best to supply the missing details about the machine. But give these clues I would first clean the insides of the machine and leave the case cover off to sniff out if there is a heat issue as well as letting me check if all the little fans are working.

My guess is the video card is failing but I don't have all the details so it may be a bad guess.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
A Couple Of Thoughts..
Apr 27, 2011 4:41AM PDT

1. Overheating can cause such issues when the computer is working hard.. Remove the case cover and use compressed air to blow out the dust from around the processor, the heatsink, the power supply, the graphics card, and all vents and fans. Point a house fan at the computer innards, while the cover is off and run the computer.. If things improve, it's heat related.. (In some case, the thermal grease between the heatsink and processor needs to be reapplied because it can dry up or become cracked.)

2. If the screen is the item faulting, it could be a couple of things.. Try updating the graphics card driver for your computer.. If the graphics card has a fan, be sure the fan is functioning by opening the case and checking while the machine is running.

If none of that helps, you might try swapping in a known good graphics card to see if that's the culprit.

Hope this helps.

Grif