Black Screen After Startup

by PrideOfTheseus Mar 20, 2015 6:52AM PDT

Hello, My problem is (to me) complex. When I start up it seems normal, everything runs straight through the boot screen, windows starts up clean. About 1-2 minutes into Windows booting, the display jerks to the side, resolution changes (oddly) as evidenced by the mouse icon magnifying 3-5 times it's normal size, then the screen freezes, turns black, and sometimes comes back (PARTIALLY) to the start menu but nothing can be done. The screen is frozen completely. No buttons on the mouse or keyboard have any effect. No sounds emit from the computer or speakers. I have let it sit for a little (10 minutes or so) and nothing happens, typically the only way to fix it is with a hard reset power cycle (>_&lt. Often times, resetting and starting windows normally resolves the problem. The problem SEEMS to happen only when starting the PC from a cold boot and not a restart or reset.
I have updated all drivers and checked that the BIOS (v.1001) doesn't SEEM to need to be updated. I'm kind of stuck here. I'm hoping there isn't a faulty piece of hardware, but I'm starting to think there may be.

I haven't added any new hardware since the computer was built with all parts below. I have reinstalled Windows twice, thinking perhaps that would fix the problem, but it persists! I've run the computer as normal and in safe mode for malware and found nothing using Malware Bytes, Microsoft Security Essentials, and AVG. I didn't see any issues with the driver's installation, particularly with the GPU.

Finally, installing a hotfix from Windows for black screens, I saw no change (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2590550).
______________________________________________
PC Specs:
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (up to date)

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor

Cooler Master Seidon 120M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler

GPU: MSI Radeon R9 290X 4GB TWIN ROZR Video Card

MOBO: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATC LGA1155 Motherboard (v.1001)

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

SSD: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive

HHD 1: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive

HHD 2: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive

Chassis: NZXT Phantom (White) Mid Tower

Pioneer BDR-209DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer x 2

Wi-Fi: Rosewill N900 PCE 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi-Adapter

THANK YOU so much for reading all that, and for any help you may offer!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -

The cold boot as a symptom would have be looking for 2 areas

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Mar 20, 2015 7:04AM PDT

1. BAD CAPS (so much on the web I'll stop here!)
2. A just barely big enough PSU. PSUs can, do to the issue in BAD CAPS need a little warmup time.

In parting I take it that all clocking is stock. Overclocking is not supportable.
Bob

- Collapse -

Thanks!

by PrideOfTheseus Mar 20, 2015 8:59AM PDT

1. So it sounds like you're suggesting that a solution would be to replace the PSU? I estimated the consumption of this PC at 505W, I would have thought 750W PSU would be more than enough.

2. Do you have any recommendations? (I don't want to waste your time, so no worries if you don't feel like answering)

3. In the short term, do you think it would be safe to start up the computer, run it in the BIOS menu screen for a few minutes, then continue to boot? I would think it would help with the warmup time you're talking about, but I don't know.

- Collapse -

I can't guess about the PSU.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Mar 20, 2015 9:43AM PDT

Without an exact model I can't see if it's multi or single rail. It's not the total Watts sometimes. I don't mind answering but some areas like BAD CAPS is so well done that I just highlight it (all caps) and move to the next area.

How about a full model number on the PSU? Or link.

If item 3 in your reply works, it does give more credance to bad caps or just barely there PSU. Both are not good news as if the PSU blows then you can lose all the machine boards and parts. If it's the old BAD CAPS issue you may lose the PSU or the rest of the machine.
Bob

- Collapse -

Probably not the PSU

by PrideOfTheseus Mar 21, 2015 11:44AM PDT

Well, I switched out the PSU to a Corsair RM Series 1000 Watt ATX/EPS 80PLUS Gold-Certified Power Supply - CP-9020062-NA RM1000

Very first time starting it up, she loaded Windows fine and within about 30 seconds the screen froze, went black, both monitors shut off, then turned back on to a blue screen. Computer shut down, restarted and was fine.

That's kind of a pattern with it, it will freeze up once, MAYBE twice, then it will start up fine and not have a single problem the entire time I'm using it (sometimes hours of writing, sometimes hours of gaming). It only EVER has problems on a cold start. I'm worried it's the MOBO or the video card, but that's just a guess here.

Thank you so much for your suggestions so far

- Collapse -

Probably not the PSU

by PrideOfTheseus Mar 21, 2015 12:30PM PDT

In addition, this problem does not happen when starting the system from standby. It starts perfectly fine from standby, in fact

- Collapse -

(NT) Next suspect is the motherboard.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Mar 21, 2015 7:21PM PDT

- Collapse -

Air?

by theNetnest Mar 20, 2015 11:25AM PDT

Weird things can happen with overheating.
Just when you think it should go whacky, turn a big room fan on it with the cover off.
If time increases, its something heat related. Give it a good blow out with some compressed air and make sure there are no loose heat-sinks.
Then start thinking about a new PS, monitor or display card.
Does sound hardware though.

- Collapse -

Air flow

by PrideOfTheseus Mar 21, 2015 11:46AM PDT

It has never overheated and the hardware is kept pretty darn clean. It's a pretty recent build, too, so it hasn't had a lot of time to collect dust, even if I didn't clean it :-\

- Collapse -

A last thought

by theNetnest Mar 20, 2015 11:32AM PDT

Forgot something.
Actually anything plugged into the MB can cause the screen and everything to freeze.
Second thing I would try is to find a live CD that can boot a different operating system.
If you are worried about your data then just unplug the drive. Live CDs need no drive.
It still freezes?
Yep its hardware.

- Collapse -

Live CD

by PrideOfTheseus Mar 21, 2015 11:47AM PDT

I don't have a live CD, sadly.. I guess I'll have to get one!

Black Screen After Startup

CNET Forums

Other Forums

Forum Info