PC screen pixelated on boot-up and won't load past Windows Splash.

Dragoonman

Honorable
Jul 22, 2013
12
0
10,510
I am not sure if this is a software or a hardware problem, though I'm leaning towards hardware problem. My computer hasn't been able to boot-up for the past week and a half due. I suppose I'll tell you guys everything that I've done so far and the specs of my new system build.

Nearly two years ago, I bought a system pre-built by Gateway. The system can be viewed here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=83-113-175&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=2&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=2#scrollFullInfo

If you go to the details tab you can find all of the specs and hardware included with that build.

Skip to two weeks ago. While browsing the internet my computer shuts off completely without making a sound. Attempts to reboot it were unsuccessful and I took what limit knowledge I had about PCs and tried to go through one piece of hardware at a time to see what was wrong. When trying to start the PC, I noticed the fans would turn for a moment before stopping, letting me know that the power supply was fine. After that I tried placing one RAM card in at a time to make sure it wasn't the RAM and that was fine as well. My computer had a built in video card, so I couldn't really test that. In the end I believed that my motherboard was the culprit. I wasn't using the PC for gaming, so I doubted that the CPU would have overheated or whatnot.

After searching online for a compatible motherboard I found that a reliable one was pretty much out of reach (I think Foxconn is a no-no). So I decided that I would go with an ATX motherboard and buy a new mid-ATX case to fit that.

New Motherboard: [ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 - AM3 - AMD 880G - DDR3 - USB 3.0 SATA 6 Gb/s - ATX Motherboard] http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-M4A88TD-V-EVO-USB3-Motherboard/dp/B003ICWAVE/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373319426&sr=1-3&keywords=gigabyte+am3+880g

New Case: [Rosewill Blackbone Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case] http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-M4A88TD-V-EVO-USB3-Motherboard/dp/B003ICWAVE/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373319426&sr=1-3&keywords=gigabyte+am3+880g

I made sure the parts were compatible with the CPU and such and the new ASUS motherboard came with the same on-board video card.

After all of the parts arrived I transferred everything into the new case and connected everything together. I then proceeded to boot-up my PC but, to my dismay, instantly realized that something had to be wrong. The ASUS screen was completely pixelated and nearly unreadable as were the screens following. The black boot screen is also pixelated and what would normally be lines telling me what is booting, in what order, are garbled gibberish behind a strange pixelating black and white pattern. The next screen asked how I wanted to load up my BIOS, so I went with F2 which loaded defaults. I was able to get to the screen telling me to either Launch Startup Repair (recommended) or Launch Windows Normally, but even this screen was nearly unreadable. I decided to see if the BIOS screen was the same, and it was.

After this I tried to launch startup repair. This took me to the classic repair screen with the loading bar, but even this screen was pixelated. I was barely able to make out that it told me that it was unable to automatically repair startup. I once again tried to restart my PC, but this time it would make it to the windows launch screen. I tried switching out RAM cards and found that my computer was now unable to start with more than one card in at a time. I once again booted my computer and got to the Start Windows Normally screen and chose that option, only to see the splash logo (pixelated of course) slowly come in before my computer restarted. This occurred every time I tried launching windows thereafter.

So, I tried to restore my system image using my Windows 7 CD, but that did not work. I even tried start up repair with the disk in to no avail. Finally, I decided to go with the last option available on the start up options screen and chose the last option available, which was to reinstall windows without removing all of my files from my PC (It explained that all of my files would be placed in C:/backup). After waiting for a few minutes, I received an error message telling me that Gateway was incompatible with the hardware before my PC restarted once again.

I now have no idea what I need to do. Is my only option to reinstall Windows 7 cleanly? Or do I need to get a new video card? RAM perhaps? I know it is a lot to ask, but does anyone have any idea on how I can save my desktop?
 
Solution
if you have a pixelated display out try a different video card or use the integrated video (if available)

if you only have on board video reseat or try different ram (or one stick at a time if you have multiple sticks)

what are your system specs as current (cpu mobo video ram psu)
if you have a pixelated display out try a different video card or use the integrated video (if available)

if you only have on board video reseat or try different ram (or one stick at a time if you have multiple sticks)

what are your system specs as current (cpu mobo video ram psu)
 
Solution

Dragoonman

Honorable
Jul 22, 2013
12
0
10,510
My specs are available on the Gateway page excluding the case and motherboard which I listed in the post. I've tried switching out RAM to no avail. How do I video reseat?