MAYDAY! GFX card death :(

General distress signal from USS Kaywinnet Lee:
MAYDAY: MAYDAY: MAYDAY

Computer core has gone offline - primary sensors and display readouts no longer functional. Emergency backup system allows comms and life support but we're frankly dead in the water. Request help from any Firefly techs or friendly SCE with specific knowledge.

Any idea what the key symptoms are that would tell me if the chip itself is fried or if something's fnarged my drivers?

Stuff I know:
- Was playing two days ago when game hung and sound started looping like crazy.

- Vulcan Death Grip (CTRL-ALT-DEL) didn't do anything, so hardbooted it.

- Everything fine on startup and Vista load, booted game.

- 10 mins in, same thing occurs. Hard boot again.

- This time, Vista has some odd visual artefacts on main screen load...

- And after about two minutes, hangs briefly. Tells me nvlddmkdm.sys crashed but recovered.

- 15 seconds later, machine BSODs.

- I can still boot in Safe Mode, with a fair few screen artefacts (blue lines behind boot logo etc)

- Trying a normal boot results in BSOD (STOP 0x0000007F)

- Tried the Vaio driver update kit but not a driver cleaner. Nvidia don't support it as it's OEM-specific.

Machine is VAIO VGN-AR31S:
- Intel Core2 Duo T7200
- 2GB DDR2 SDRAM
- NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 GT
Any ideas? Urgent distress - we're blind and paralysed out here.

I remember seeing something in the forums about some of the newer NVidia drivers causing the gfx card to overheat. I can't search for t now 'cause I'm at work and the game forums are blocked (guess I', lucky they havent blocked my access to this site yet).
Is your video card built onto your motherboard, or is it plugged in a slot?
If it's in the slot, is there one on the mother board you can plug up to to see if it works?
I hope I'm not insulting your intelligence by asking...went through something similar with my mother's computer.

I'm a web designer by trade - vid cards are a HARDWARE issue, darling, we don't sully ourselves with such earthbound ideas. (This is why we all use Macs or VAIOs. Might not have the power or features of other machines, but oooh, shinies... We're also not overclocker crazy like the guys on the old video edit and captioning machines. Seen one of them walk past with a GFX card in a pair of tongs, with the last licks of flame just going out.)

The only thing I do know is that the last listed vid card update for this system was mid-2008 (as prev mentioned, it's OEM so it's Sony's job to support it. Which, evidently, they haven't. But at least that means there's been no driver updates applied. Unless it's something in a new Windows update causing synergy with the NVIDIA drivers?)

My apologies. I was just spitballin'.

I'm a chemist, not a computer engineer.

Sounds like full-on hardware failure. Once you start getting those artifacts it's pretty much toast, either go through the manufacturer if you still have a warranty, or it's time for a new video card.

0x0000007F: UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP
One of three types of problems occurred in kernel-mode: (1) Hardware failures. (2) Software problems. (3) A bound trap (i.e., a condition that the kernel is not allowed to have or intercept). Hardware failures are the most common cause (many dozen KB articles exist for this error referencing specific hardware failures) and, of these, memory hardware failures are the most common.

So yeah, try running off of your onboard video and unplugging the NVIDIA card for now, sounds like hardware go poof.

EDIT: Looks like that NVIDIA is PCI-E, so here is a link to a comparable replacement if you are using DVI.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

Isnt VAIO a laptop?

Than i must inform you that it passed on.This laptop is no more. He has ceased to be. 'It expired and gone to meet its maker. its a stiff. Bereft of life he restests in peace. If you hadmnt keept him on your deskit would be pushing up the daisies! Its GFX processes are now history. Its off the twig. Its kicked the bucket, its shuffled off its mortal coil,run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile.This is an ex-laptop.

if its on warranty than run to exchange,... otherway... run in safemode, connect to something with harddrive, backup all data, and ;let it rest in pace ( or pieces, depending on yor temper).

If that make you feel better ist quite close o aht happened to mine recently ( but mine was bout 5 years old, and did his jobs, now he rests in pieces ( i salvaged parts for my sisters laptop ) in cupboard

Stop 0x0000007F or UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP

The
Stop 0x7F message indicates that one of three types of problems
occurred in kernel-mode:

• A condition that the kernel is not
allowed to have or intercept (also known as a bound trap).

•
Software problems.

• Hardware failures.

Possible Resolutions:

• Stop
0x7F messages are typically due to defective, malfunctioning, or failed
memory hardware. If you added new hardware recently, remove and replace
it to determine if it is causing or contributing to the problem. Run
diagnostics software supplied by the system manufacturer to determine if
the component has failed.

• Running the CPU beyond the rated
specification, known as "overclocking," can cause Stop 0x7F or other
error messages due to heat buildup. When diagnosing problems on
overclocked systems, first restore all clock and bus speed settings to
the manufacturer recommended values to determine if this resolves the
issues.

• The problem might also be due to cracks, scratched
traces, or defective components on the motherboard. If all else fails,
take the system motherboard to a repair facility for diagnostic testing.


• Stop 0x7F messages can occur after installing incompatible
applications, drivers, or system services. Contact the software
manufacturer about possible Windows Vista specific updates. Using updated
software is especially important for backup programs, multimedia
applications, antivirus scanners, and CD mastering tools.

But as said on a laptop if its hardware then its trash unless you can find out if the vid card on board is repairable but most ppl (best buy and the like) will charge 70 bucks just to look at it then add the cost of repairs. Other options is if it is software do a full format and reinstall that gives you a fresh start. but from the sound of it its the vid card that fried.

Yeah, didn't even see SDRAM up there... Yeah, time for a new lappy. Sony did make VIAO desktops for a while though.

Id recommend a gaming PC over a laptop, its more bang for the buck, unless its a travel issue or lack of space. I know it was a pain for me in the military though i did have both lapy and puter