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Question

Computer boots, but wont display. (Monitor is fine)

Sep 23, 2018 10:39AM PDT

So, I'm in a bit of a pickle here. I'll provide a full, in-depth explanation of what happened:

Problem:
My computer will boot and everything will work, however, a signal is not sent to my monitor, despite everything being connected just fine, and my monitor working perfectly well. I can press buttons and they will correspond to the correct actions, however, I cannot see what is happening. Ie. my computer will be on the Windows 8.1 sign in, I can sign in by pressing enter and entering my password, but I will not see the screen. It will usually (at this point in time) take about 10-15 minutes to display on my monitor. This also occurs when the computer falls asleep or I leave it idle (Even though I disabled sleep mode in the windows settings. Thats odd to me.)

Events that occurred:
So, a relative of mine who does not know much about technology and computers tried to watch movies online without consulting me first. They had gotten a pop-up ad, and clicked on an X INSIDE of the popup. At that point, they told me that the computer restarted. I found some general adware and removed it promptly. Basic stuff.

Since then, however, the computer has taken a long time to display, moreso than usual. It normally took upwards of 10-20 seconds, but it then turned into 2-5 minutes, to 8 minutes, to now 10-15 minutes. This also happens if I leave the computer unattended.

I removed and reinstalled windows, cleared all the dust from my pc, tried to hard reset the bios in case a virus got into my bios, but I couldn't find the pins labeled JP or JMP (there were many pins, but none of them labeled properly) . Even after doing all this the problem persists.

Any idea of what this is and how I can fix it? Are the events just a coincidence and my hardware is just garbage or died? My computer is an Acer from 2012, 4gb ram, I forget the rest of the specs. Not sure if its needed atm.

Thanks for the help

Edit: Another thing to add: When my computer finally displays, if I turn the computer off and on again, the display will come on instantly. It appears that this issue occurs when the computer is either left idle or off for a short period of time. Even if my mouse is moving constantly, it will eventually blackscreen again. I assume this means it looks for button inputs.

Post was last edited on September 23, 2018 10:53 AM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Since it's a clean install of Windows
Sep 23, 2018 10:53AM PDT

I won't expect this to be a software issue. I take it the BIOS and splash screen before Windows works fine along with getting to the BIOS.

This could be a mistake in the video settings or driver but given no PC details I have to go with most likely hardware related such as a failing GPU.

If you can, supply a Web Speccy report with age, make, model and details not in the report.
Read how at https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web

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Specs
Sep 23, 2018 11:31AM PDT

speccy.piriform.com/results/ZD4K8PQxnqxcGxoy23F6Bre

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Answer
A Speccy reading.
Sep 23, 2018 11:48AM PDT

1. Since this appears to be graphics related I scanned the report and landed at the IGP driver.
"This driver package contains the Intel® HD Graphics Driver version 15.28.24.64.4229 (9.17.10.4229) for Windows* 7 and Windows 8." from https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24971/Intel-HD-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-7-8-64-bit that is very old.

Given this looks older I'd either go to Acer and see if they have a newer W8 64 bit driver or try Intel at
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/80939/Graphics-Drivers

As noted by https://www.howtogeek.com/233115/the-only-way-to-safely-update-your-hardware-drivers-on-windows/ you could try Windows Update but I'm a bit old school and try the makers first.

2. The second thing is the old monitor. See if there is a monitor driver available.

3. The HDD reports good health and not much else shows anything I'd look over.

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Confusion
Sep 23, 2018 12:20PM PDT

I'm a bit confused with this. When checking using both the default windows tool and the Intel checking tool, it had read that all of my drivers (including monitor and graphics) are up-to-date. I do not know much about drivers and hardware, despite knowing a somewhat decent amount about computers (or at least how to get around with little to no issues).

What are some simple steps that I can do to remedy the issue?

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I don't know.
Sep 23, 2018 12:53PM PDT

I can only share it appears to be hardware or that driver. If this was mine I'd start with a test. Which is:

BOOT SAFE MODE. What happens?

I'd just go ahead with install the latest from Intel from their list or from Acer. I wish the model number of the PC was known as I would have checked acer.com for you.

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Igp
Sep 23, 2018 1:22PM PDT

Your igp drivers seem to be the latest that intel provides.

Do you have or can you borrow another monitor for a quick test.

That should show if you have a monitor problem or a pc problem.

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Pc issue
Sep 24, 2018 5:07PM PDT

Tried another monitor, and the same issue occurs. Something that I have no idea is wrong with my pc.

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Monitor
Sep 24, 2018 5:38PM PDT

If I understand correct the monitor displays correct up to a certain point in the boot process and then it freezes.

Some number of minutes later it unfreezes and displays correct.

Yes/no?

If yes test with safe mode.

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Incorrect
Sep 24, 2018 6:27PM PDT

The monitor does not display until 10-15 minutes after the pc is turned on/waken up. When the computer is turned on, there is no indication of the monitor displaying and it does not freeze.

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So
Sep 24, 2018 7:04PM PDT

You power on and the monitor does not display anything for some number of minutes.

Not even a bios splash screen.

Is that correct?

It does this with 2 monitors?

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Correct
Sep 24, 2018 7:38PM PDT

The bios splash screen is there, however I am unable to see it until that amount of minutes has passed. I also noticed that when it does display, if I turn the computer off and then back on right away, it will display instantly. It does this with both monitors.

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So
Sep 24, 2018 8:40PM PDT

The first screen you see is the windows login page?

It does this with 2 monitors.

Have you tried a different cable that connects the monitor to the pc?

Have you tried a different port on the pc and monitor?

Ie....if your using hdmi try dvi.

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Yes
Sep 25, 2018 3:44AM PDT

I have tried another cable, though the result was still the same

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Tried another cable
Sep 25, 2018 7:59AM PDT

Does that mean a cable of the same type?

If so did you try a different type cable?

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Maybe
Sep 23, 2018 1:52PM PDT

After your'e in Safe Mode , you can check out the Start Up menu and see what's going on there as well .

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Answer
Second idea. Install ANY GPU.
Sep 24, 2018 5:31PM PDT
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Idk
Sep 24, 2018 6:50PM PDT

This is my pc, however, I do not have any extra parts which I can install or switch out

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Also
Sep 24, 2018 6:52PM PDT

Also note that I've had this PC for at least 6 years and have had no issues like this one up till now

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Just trying to avoid a service or sales counter.
Sep 25, 2018 8:10AM PDT

You have some ideas here about different cables and more but you may be too short on gear to really sniff it out.

That is, if this hit the service counter we would try with another monitor and this monitor on another PC to be sure. Then we'd try drivers and then try a GPU. The idea is to find the cheapest fix.

If the motherboard video has failed, a GPU would be the cheap fix. But once in a while the owner will just buy a new PC.