Video Card Issue or something else?

For the past three days, my computer screen has either been doing a brief flash or weird movement and then locks itself up. Everything is running but the screen, which is frozen in place (the mouse icon is also frozen). I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to fix this. I thought it was an overheating problem, but it's sitting at 53•C and still does it. It started doing this when I was playing WoW (only while playing), but that was 3-4 weeks ago and until now the computer worked fine.

EDIT: It will also no longer restart itself; it goes through the shut down process but then basically powers off as if I just turned it off versus shutting down turned off (this laptop has distinctive sounds for both which is how I can tell). Normally I can wait a minute or two and then turn it back on and it boots up (if I try to turn it on right after it cuts off after a second). Now however, it gets to the first logo then cuts off. I have used compressed air to blow in the vents to get rid of dust if that might be a factor.

 

What's your GPU temperature? HWMonitor will tell you. It's possible that the heatsink isn't making good contact with the GPU and it's overheating... not likely, but I can't think of much else.

Run MemTest86+ and the HD diagnostic in the BIOS just to be thorough.

 

Definately a GPU issue, you state the system seems to be running but the screen locks ... it could be memory too, but I'd lay odds on video first.

Off hand, can you try and external monitor? I bet it still occurs.

 

I cannot use it long enough before it locks up. Today I let it run a full virus scan bc I had downloaded a new program, which took three hours. But as soon as I brought up Firefox, the darn thing locked up again. I so not have an external monitor to try out unfortunately.

 

You can use GPU-Z to monitor your HD4650 temps.
Also, when you game with this, make sure you use a decent laptop cooler, not one of those cheapie Targus ones like I did (look in sig, got the same computer almost).

 

You should send it to HP if you're still in warranty it sounds like something wrong in the motherboard but before you send it in back up all of the stuff first

 

I can't get it to stay on long enough to back up anything but I'm so breoke couldn't afford an external since my last got stolen. Any other remedies I can try? Gonna reinstall the old vid drivers too see if that helps cuz I put ones that aren't supposed to be on there apparently, ie desktop ones

 

Sounds like you answered your question yourself here! This is probably the cause of your issues.
NEVER try to install regular Catalyst drivers on a mobile chip. When you'll get rid of your issue and get your system back in shape, you'll have to check on this:
http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool.php

Now, check this out.
Option ONE: Control panel>device manager>display adapter> right-click on properties>driver tab> ROLL BACK DRIVER (It'll revert to last driver)

Option two: System restore, if you're lucky enough to get it to run completely.

Option three: If You made your Windows recovery disks when you first ran your computer, try that!

 

Hello Gaebrieal.

If you dont have time to try and run GPUz and HWMonitor, I suggest you plug the laptop to an external display.
If it doesnt show any image, the GPU is not working.
If it does, the GPU is working, you can test it then and find out what is going on.
Check the temps, the drivers, the BIOS.

 

Thanks for all the assistance. Is there any way to stabilize the system long enough to get to the desktop? Now it is shutting off right after it cuts on; sometimes it allows me to choose safe mode or not and sometimes it gives only two choices but then cuts off.

 

If you press ESC at the first boot logo, you'll get into the BIOS menu.
Then, you have F11 as system recovery, hopefully that might do the trick.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00608578&product=18703