Graphics card going crazy

[Nyriel]

Hello all.
To begin with, I work on a PC, Windows 7. I don't know what "version" (?) of BIOS I have, but the layout seems to be different from many that are on the internet.

A while ago my graphics card went crazy, displaying colourful squares and whatnot instead of a normal screen. I discovered that after experimenting a bit with what was wrong. At that time, I could run the computer in safe mode and sometimes in normal mode even, and after a while the screen went all colourful again.

I then managed to switch to an onboard card and used it for a while, but now I decided to switch again, and the computer doesn't even want to run properly in safe mode - the screen is either black, or all colourful.

My question is - since I can't see the BIOS setup, how can I switch back to the onboard graphics card? Is that possible?
I can understand the graphics card might be broken since it's about 7 years old.
So the case is with switching the cable to a different socket in the computer, but in order to do that, I first need to change my primary graphics adapter in BIOS. Is it a lost cause, do I just need to take it to some computer service?

I tried finding a BIOS layout on the internet and doing it by pressing the right keys by memorising how many times i have to press to get to a correct setting, but each BIOS layout is different and I don't know if it's even worth trying, since I can mess something up.

I'd be grateful for any answers.

 

[Unolocogringo]

The easiest option is a CMOS reset.
Some boards have a button.
Some boards have a 3 pin jumper. 1-2 is normal and 2-3 is reset. Switch the jumper to 2-3 for 15- to 30 seconds ,and then back to 1-2 before you restart the computer.
Then some boards have 2 solder points that you have to connect using a flat or standard screwdriver.
The reset is usually located near the battery and needs to be done with the computer and power off.
If you can not find this ,shut down the computer and remove the battery for 15-30 minutes.

 

[potpolima]

best solution is to update bios and reset CMOS...look up the manual for proper procedures...your gpu also might be faulty

 

[Nyriel]

The easiest option is a CMOS reset.
Some boards have a button.
Some boards have a 3 pin jumper. 1-2 is normal and 2-3 is reset. Switch the jumper to 2-3 for 15- to 30 seconds ,and then back to 1-2 before you restart the computer.
Then some boards have 2 solder points that you have to connect using a flat or standard screwdriver.
The reset is usually located near the battery and needs to be done with the computer and power off.
If you can not find this ,shut down the computer and remove the battery for 15-30 minutes.

Would you be able to provide more information about this? I can find neither, since I don't particularly know where to look... Where are all of the things you listed located?

 

[Unolocogringo]

Usually near the CMOS battery.
If you can list what motherboard you have ,I can be more specific.

 

[Nyriel]

Usually near the CMOS battery.
If you can list what motherboard you have ,I can be more specific.

My motherboard is ASRock g41m-s3.
I found the CLRCMOS1, but there's no jumper (sorry for the name confusion - I read that I have to put something on the CLRCMOS1 to make it "short"). I figured which one is the battery, though. WOuld taking it out for 30 minutes do its job? Do I have to do something afterwards?

 

[Unolocogringo]

Best practices for Clear CMOS. Shut down computer.
Turn off power supply.
Push the power button. Fans and lights should start for 1/10 of a second. This clears out the remaining charge of the power supply.
Remove the battery or use a paper clip or screwdriver to connect the 2 solder points for 15 seconds.
Either method will reset the bios to set up defaults.
If you have made changes to boot order ,memory timings, SATA mode etc.. These will need to be reset in bios. But the bios reset shoud allow you to boot to onboard video if you remove your video card.