Blue "snow" and computer locks up

[Ellis]

Hey everyone, hopefully I'll be able to find some help here as I've been getting conflicting solutions from friends as to what my problem is.

Basically I loaded into a game the other day (bear with me) having been on the PC at the desktop for best part of the day working. As soon as I loaded into the game it crashed out locking up and I was unable to do anything but shut the computer down via the mains. I started up the computer again and I got the same problem as I entered the game, this time getting all this "blue snow". I hit the mains again as I had no choice.

Now a 3rd time I logged into my computer and after a 2 minutes of being on my desktop, the computer locked up yet again and the blue snow appeared and I then received a blue screen with loads of white text which I didn't have time to copy or take a picture of as the system shut it's self down. I put the system back on and it took me to the screen where I can choose safe mode, normal mode etc and here I had some yellow lines vertically displaying down my screen and once again a lock out. Since then I've not put the PC on for fear of it taking off and rejoining it's brothers and sisters in space!

Now I've spoken to friends and they reckon it's my graphics card on it's last legs (I'll post specs at the end) and another friend thinks it has nothing to do with my graphics card and now it's left me in quite the quandary as I'm pretty much computerless and it's my livelihood as I'm a graphic designer!!

Below are the specs of my computer:

Vista Home Premium 32 bit (legal)
WFD Intel E8200 CPU (Motherboard?! I don't know)
Nvidia  Geforce 8800GT 512MB PCI-E
AVC Pentium 4 Dual Core
750 Watt OEM ATX PSU
4GB Ram (from Crucial, 2x 2GB sticks)

I think that's everything you'll need? I can supply whatever is asked if it'll help me! Thanks for your time and support!

I'll also mention that when working close up/zoomed in, in Photoshop I notice I get lag/stuttering when moving my mouse. I have also attached an image of the screen with the blue snow on, if that helps!

[patio]

I would power down...unplug the mains and remove a side panel...
Remove the vid card and clean the contacts off with rubbing alcohol and re-seat it.
Leave the side panel off for now.
Plug everything back in and make sure the fan on the card is working ...check all other case fans as well.

[Ellis]

Thanks mate, going to give that a go now and hope for the best!!

[Ellis]

Oh dear  I just cleaned out the computer, getting rid of all the dust...a lot of dust and all the fans are working 100% including the graphics card one too. I made sure everything was seated properly and put back the way it was too. I started up and straight away black screen with blue snow then the eventual blue screen. Managed to get a picture this time round though...



(Sorry a bit on the right has been cut off where I took the picture on my mobile phone)
Oo-er? Am I norked? 

[Broni]

Same thing in Safe Mode?
If not, most likely, video card driver.
If yes, most likely, you need new video card.

[Ellis]

Hi, thanks for replying!

Sadly I didn't even get the option to set the computer to safe mode. It was literally a black screen and the blue snow and I think I saw some blue lines going across it, but it happened so fast. Then after the blue snow had done it's thing it brought me to the blue screen with white text.

[Broni]

You could try different monitor, but judging from the BSOD error, I'd say, your video card went south.

[Ellis]

Thanks mate, you've quashed my fears somewhat! I've had another mate confirm that it's probably my graphics card that's packing it in, but I wanted to check with people who have a bit more knowledge about this kind of thing like yourself and others.

Many thanks for giving up your time to help me mate. Much appreciated. 

[Broni]

You're very welcome

[Ellis]

Hey all again,

Brought a new graphics card today, ATI Radeon 5870 and installed it fine, no problems at all. Loaded up a game and had a quick go too and it worked perfectly fine and smooth. However, I've noticed on my desktop mainly along the task bar and start menu where it's black and any site I go to that is dark in colour, I get random green pixel dots. I'm not sure if it's dead pixels or not, because it appears to be random. When I scroll the page, they seem to disappear. I've triple checked all the connections to and from my computer and they're all nice and tight and secure. The guts of the computer are as free from dust as I can humanely get them and theres plenty of ventilation too. I've got all the latest drivers for my monitor and graphics card, from the manufactures websites. Does anyone have any other suggestions? 

Thanks

PS It might be worth me mentioning that it's on anything with gradients I get the pixel dots, if that makes a difference. Single colours are fine. I also don't get the dots in game, only when on the desktop/websites/start menu/taskbar. My monitor is a Dell 2407WFP (Analog) and is updated with the latest drivers too.

[Broni]

Is the card brand new?

[Ellis]

Yeah, brand new.

[Broni]

Did you try another monitor?

[Ellis]

Sadly, I don't have a spare monitor around the house - unless there's a way I can hook up my desktop to my laptop, if that's even possible?
I'm actually wondering if the slot is shot. I think I have another slot on the motherboard I can test it in, if all else fails?

[Broni]

Trying another slot is definitely a good idea.