GeForce 4200 problem.

[Gruns]

Hey all.
Looking for some insight as to what's wrong with my old card. It's worked just fine for the past few years, but all of the sudden I can't run anything higher than 640x480 in 8bit mode. If I try to switch to a higher res, or to 16 (or 32) bit colors, the screen goes black every 3 seconds or so, then returns all washed out. It will do this for a few minutes, then go completely black and not return.
I did absolutley nothing to bring this on. Didn't load new software or hardware, or change any settings. It just "started happening". Since then I've tried downloading the latest nVidia drivers, I've tried reseating the video card, I hooked up a different monitor to see if my monitor was possibly going out. Nothing's worked, obviously.
So has this happenend to anyone else before? Any known fixes? The card is a few years old, and has been running some draining applications. I have a feeling it may just be dead. Just looking for any last advice before I go get a new one. Thanks!
Gruns

[Gidan]

I would say goto nvidia's site and try downloading some of the not so recent drivers. You may have beter luck with some of the older ones. It is also very possible your card is just getting old and needs to be replaced. You can get a new one that will probably put that one to shame for very little money. Definatly try the older drivers though and make sure you completely remove any drives you have form your computer if possible.

[Gruns]

I tried some older drivers already with the same results. I finally decided it just died, and found a decent upgrade for about $50 bucks on Pricewatch. Ordered it yesterday, so it should be here in oh, 8 weeks. I <3 the interweb. Thanks!
Later
Gruns

[kaharthemad]

looks like you might have smoked out the higher refresh rates on the card
try going in and forcing a different refresh rate.

if that dont work, odds on bet imho is the card has done had the green weenie.