Immediate Help Requested - Random pixels, sound skip, then blue screen

[MegaScientifical]

I started up my computer about an hour ago, and after the Welcome screen, all I got was a black screen with my cursor on it. I couldn't appear to open up Task Manager. After restarting and confirming the problem, I went into Safe Mode with Networking and looked up the problem. There are reports of this having to do with graphics card connections and such, so I disconnected my computer and pulled out clobs of dust built up over about one year. I couldn't get out a lot and the problem is still occurring. I'm typing this via Safe Mode on the computer, I need to know if there are any other causes. Some pages listed some commands I could do in Repair Mode which might fix it, but I'm not sure.

In any case, I'm taking in this computer tomorrow to be cleaned out professionally (since the dust has built up to a point I can't clean out myself without risking components). I'm seriously hoping my graphics card isn't plain shot. They'll tell me if it is, though.

Edit: Also, I tried AMD Driver Autodetect, and it says I have the most recent drivers. But when the main window pops up, it says I have "0x1002 - 0x68BF UNKNOWN"

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[MegaScientifical]

I tried downloading the correct version of Catalyst manually, and when the installer gets to brown townyze, I get a popup saying "Failed to load detection driver." Help?

[Trymos]

gpu is most likely shot.
reconnect the gpu and try, what CPU do you have?

[MegaScientifical]

Part	Price
Case	$29.99 ($4.99 Shipping)
Motherboard	$59.99 ($4.99 Shipping)
RAM	$40.99 ($30.99 After Rebate)
Power Supply	$39.99 ($4.99 Shipping)
Processor	$104.99
Harddrive	$54.99 ($5 off with code by 7/14)
Video Card	$105.99 ($6.98 Shipping)
OS	$99.99
Card Reader	$8.99 ($1.99 Shipping)
USB Wireless Adapter	$11.99

Unless anyone says otherwise, this is my final decision. All credit to Ethan and Inv3rted.

Edit: Would doing this make a difference, or make it worse? http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=356550

Edit2: Also, first thing I tried was reconnecting the GPU. I took it out to pull out as much dust as possible. It's really bad in there, which is why I'm taking it to be cleaned in any case. If the problem is deeper, they can take care of that, too. But I'm hoping to correct the graphics card part without their intervention.

[steve5451]

Reinstall OS or try a restore. It might not have to do with the GPU.

[Visage]

Same thing happened to my sisters computer so I just booted in safe mode and restored to a week ago and it fixed it

[MegaScientifical]

There is such a range of causes, specifying problems from minor to severe... I hate these kinds of problems where the actual cause is hard to detect. I'd rather not do a restore if I don't have to - I've had bad experiences with system restores in the past, and some areas say this problem might not be solved by that since it can be caused by something else.

Edit: I shouldn't be getting this error if it just needs a system restore, should I? It should still be able to detect:



Edit: Trying a system restore now.

[MegaScientifical]

I did a System Restore to August 2nd when Windows updated and that seemed to fix it. However, I'm still taking this in to be cleaned, and furthermore wish to understand the exact cause.

[TheChaosCarrier]

when in doubt, system restore.

[steve5451]

when in doubt, system restore.

[MegaScientifical]

I mainly did not want to do a System Restore because of a bad experience I had with it back when I shared a Windows XP computer with my family. In Blockland v0002, I took several days coding an ingame screenshot viewer that did some special things I no longer remember. After finishing it, I went on the next day to find it not working. Upon checking the file, I discovered there was barely any coding it it. It turned out my sister did a System Restore without asking me and it undid almost all of my coding which I did in-the-moment and therefore couldn't remember offhand to recompose.

Although Steve told me Windows 7 System Restore won't forget up my files like that, and indeed it didn't.

[MegaScientifical]

A few hours ago while using YouTube, my sound suddenly started buzzing. The next second, the screen's pixels jumbled in lines across the screen. The next second after that, I got a blue screen. I didn't catch the message before it tried to restart. I did not get to take it in and must wait until Monday. I assume the graphics card is gone, but I will get confirmation from them. I have started this in safe mode, but to preserve the computer, I will not keep it plugged in all weekend. Not sure I can promise that, but I can dust off the Xbox to keep my scatterbrained mind distracted.

My question is: Can anyone give possible causes? I'm only assuming here.

[Alyx Vance]

A few hours ago while using YouTube, my sound suddenly started buzzing. The next second, the screen's pixels jumbled in lines across the screen. The next second after that, I got a blue screen. I didn't catch the message before it tried to restart. I did not get to take it in and must wait until Monday. I assume the graphics card is gone, but I will get confirmation from them. I have started this in safe mode, but to preserve the computer, I will not keep it plugged in all weekend. Not sure I can promise that, but I can dust off the Xbox to keep my scatterbrained mind distracted.

My question is: Can anyone give possible causes? I'm only assuming here.

I can answer you.
Graphics is shot, I had the same exact issue as you did.

[MegaScientifical]

Well... forget... I'm getting off now. Even in safe mode, my computer is kicking it's ass to run. I'll see you sometime next week,

[Alyx Vance]

By Mega.
See you next week.