HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startup??

Hello. I need your help. I'm stumpted!!!

For the past few days now, I am having an issue. I am 'now' using Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit. I was using Windows 7 Pro 32-Bit. This issue is with both.

This is what is happening:

Approximately 50% of the time (random) when I statup my desktop computer, immediately after the Windows 7 "Windows Starting" and animated Windows flag are finished, but BEFORE the Windows 7 Logon screen, I am getting 2 screens that are switching back and forth between a blank black screen with the pointer on it (pointer and the animated loop curser used by Windows Vista/7) and a blank screen with a so-called 'static' look on it with no curser at all (The 'static' screen looks like the old days that when you changed the analog channel on a TV and there was no TV channel there, you would get that black and white dotted static look). The switching back and forth lasts about a half a second each (very quick) and finally ending up at the blank black screen with no curser/pointer. I look at the HD LED on my tower, and it shows activity, but my screen remains blank and black. The compter never reboots or restarts on its own, it just stays at the blank and black screen. I have to manually reboot the system. Most of the time on the second reboot, I am able to get into my system successfully.

The other 50% of the time (When I am able to get logon into my system successfully.), after passing the "Windows Starting" screen, the blank black screen may hang for up to 3 seconds with the animated loop curser before I get to the Windows Logon screen successfully. When this happens, I never see the static screen and there is no flashing back and forth between these two screen as above. From past experience, going from the "Windows Starting" screen and the Windows Logon screen is only a very BRIEF half second of the typical blank black screen, not up to 3 seconds.

So there appears to be some issues happening at this percise momment each time when Windows 7 is starting. The only things I have done 'new' is update my BIOS (from the ASUS motherboard factory version of 1004 to the LATEST online download of 2209) and installed 2 more DIMM memory modules, so I went from approx. 4GB to approx. 8GB. NOTE: The BIOS settings are all set to "Auto" in terms of the "Advanced Settings" so the system auto corrects for the added memory. I contacted ASUS tech support, and they told me it would adjust itself automatically, nothing for me to do.

My desktop computer stats:

Operating System System Model
Windows 7 Professional (x64) (build 7600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)

Processor Main Circuit Board
2.85 gigahertz Intel Core2 Quad Q9550
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
12288 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Not hyper-threaded Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5Q Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 333 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 2209 03/11/2010

Drives
Total Physical Hard Drives:
750.15 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
335.24 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62L ATA Device [Optical drive]
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62L ATA Device [Optical drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Generic USB CF Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
Generic USB MS Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 5
Generic USB SD Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 2
Generic USB SM Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
WDC WD2500JD-22HBB0 ATA Device [Hard drive] (250.06 GB) -- drive 0, SMART Status: Healthy
WDC WD5000AAKS-00D2B0 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 1, rev 12.01C02, SMART Status: Healthy

Memory Modules
8192 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM3' has 2048 MB


Controllers Standard floppy disk controller
ATA Channel 0 [Controller] (3x)
ATA Channel 1 [Controller] (3x)
Intel(R) ICH10 Family 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 3A26
Intel(R) ICH10 Family 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 3A20
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller

Display
NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT [Display adapter]
Samsung SyncMaster [Monitor] (19.1"vis, July 2005)

Communications
Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller
Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Other Devices
LSI 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
HID-compliant consumer control device
USB Input Device (2x)
HID-compliant mouse
USB Composite Device
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub (8x)
Generic volume shadow copy
K:\
L:\
M:\
N:\

***Any ideas what is going on??

This is what I have done so far...

1. Assuming it was first a possible memory issue with the new memory, used Windows Memory Diagnostic tool & Memtest and there were no issues (passed) found from either test.

2. Checked Windows 7's Device Manager for possible driver issues. No issues listed in listing.

3. Ran System File Checker (sfc /scannow) to see if there were any Windows file issues and there were 'no integrity violations' at the end of the scan.

4. Ran Windows Startup Repair to think the boot.ini file was damaged or some other Startup issue, and it found no issues.

5. Ran CHKDSK with the repair option, it didn't repair anything.

6. I verified that I installed all Windows 7's Windows Updates. I did and nothing new to install.

7. I downloaded and installed the latest graphic/video drivers.


...and this issue still happens 50% of the time. :confused

I then reformatted my Windows 7 Pro (This was a 32-Bit version.), and then installed the Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit this time. I installed the latest video graphic drivers, the latest motherboard drivers, latest Windows Updates, and I performed both memory tests both passed), Device Manager (no issues), System File Checher (no issues), CHKDSK (no issues) -- this issue still appears. Of course, with a clean install of Windows, there 'should be' no issues.

What is going on??? Any ideas? ...and solutions? :confused

Is there a setting possbily in my BIOS that I need to modify or adjust that is not 'automatically' corrected by the BIOS??? Maybe??? :confused

Please reply.

Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Greetings, montecarlo1987.

The only question I can come up with at the moment is: Did the issues exist before the BIOS update and/or the addition of the new RAM?

By the way: that is a very good opening post, very informative. Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello Caliban!

Thanks for your reply.

Let me add..

The memory was installed first, however that was 2 weeks ago. The original installation of Windows 7 32-bit was acting strange after the memory was installed. For example, programs were not running properly, things were freezing up. I was not sure what was happening, and to this day I am not sure. I think it may have something to do with the pagefile since the system at that time got a jump in physical memory. By the way, I checked the pagefile now with my Windows 7 64-Bit with approx. 8 GB of RAM and the Virtual Memory is 8191 MB (Approx. 1:1). With my Windows 7 64-Bit beging installed AFTER the memory increase, I am sure the pagefile is accurate. It seems over time with the Windows 7 32-bit version I had installed, things started getting better and running better. However, I realized I better upgrade the BIOS and maybe things would get better too.

I first installed BIOS version 2208 (the previous BIOS version) before 2209 and I do not recall having any issues with that one and this particular issue. That was the latest BIOS version listed for the ASUS utility ASUS Update. However, the ASUS download page shows a newer version since (2209) that ASUS utility did not show. I did install that one and I recall shortly after this issue arose. Yes, I did attempt to downgrade the BIOS update back to 2208 to see if this issue would go away. This would make sense. Unfortunately, I still had this same issue. So, for argument sake, I decided there was no difference and I used the ASUS EZ Flash 2 Utility back to 2209 -- the latest.

So, I am wondering if the 2209 changed some parameters in my BIOS. I know when a new BIOS is flashed, the settings are set back to default. Hmmm... So now I am going though my motherboard manual and verifying the BIOS settings and seeing if I need to change any and see what happens -- for the better.

Yes, I cannot spell "stumpted". HA HA! I'm human!

Yet, I may be off and this issue could stem from something else?



Please reply.

Thanks!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello again. I forgot an important element to my system. I used a program to collect my system data, and of course it will obviously omit the power supply. I have the BFG 800W BFGR800WPSU ATX 12V Ver.2.2/ EPS 12V Ver.2.91 SLI Ready Power Supply. It is a couple of years old I believe.

Okay, since this issue has been happening, I have only been to safe mode a couple of time and in all cases I never had this same issue before I arrived
at the logon screen in safe mode. Now saying that, momments before writing this post, I rebooted into safe mode to check again. I was able to get
into safe mode without issues... ...however, when I rebooted to get back into normal mode again; following the "Windows Starting" screen, I received a blank black for good. Meaning, I received the animated Windows Vista/7 looped curser for about a second then the curser went away and the blank black screen remained indefinately. I mean I waited a few minutes and the Windows logon screen never appeared. Again the HD light on my tower was showing some activity as it was flashing at times. Even more interestingly, when I manually rebooted the system in hopes to get Windows normal mode again, I went though the same scenario with the blank black/static screen flashing back and forth on my screen until I ended up with the blank black screen again (Same as I stated in my first post -- animated curser and all.). Again, I rebooted my system in hopes again to get into normal mode of Windows 7 and this time after a 3 second wait at that blank black screen with the Windows Vista/7 animated curser, I did finally arrive at the Windows logon screen.

Here is something I will also add...

I have never had this issue happen to me so far while I was already logged into my system or anytime while I was running Windows 7 for that matter too -- this applies to my former Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit. It only happens between the "Windows Starting" screen and the logon screen.

Please reply.

Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello again.

Okay, I want to share with you some more information I have learned, maybe this can help you figure out what may be happening:

First I decided to see what would happen if I used a lower resolution. I learned that using a lower resolution, basically my issue still happened, but a little different. I would say out of every 10 Windows 7 reboots or system starts, I would get this issue about 3 times totally randomly. What I did is that I lowered the resolution form my native "1280 x 1024 (recommended)" (highest) to the lowest resolution which is "800 x 600". This resolution provides the Windows 7 desktop in a small rectangluar frame in the middle of the monitor screen surrounded by a black screen when set. This is of course normal. Now, for the first reboot I performed, what happened is this: Following the "Windows Starting" screen successfully finishing, I received a black screen followed by flashes of the Windows Logon screen. These flashes of the Windows Logon screen were flashing at different random rates or speeds. Some screen flashes were a half second in length and some were at approximately a full second in length -- while beging completely random in the length of how long the screen flashed. Let me add, of course with the lower resolution setting of 800 x 600, the screen size was naturally centered in my center of my monitor with a wide black boarder around it as the 800 x 600 screen that was flashing at different rates and speeds. I will note that when I was able to see the 800 x 600 Windows Logon screen for approximately a brief second, I saw dense white concentric circles (lines) against the Windows 7 blue background of the flashing Windows Logon screen. These dense white concentric circles (lines) appear to be spaced further apart at the outside than from the center of the 800 x 600 screen. Ther best way to explain this is if I were to drop a drop of water on a small body of water like a puddle, you would get rings of water moving outward -- very similar design on the flashing Windows 7 Logon screen. The only way for me to stop this random screen flashing is to manually reboot the system. At other system reboots, I was able to sucessfully get to the Windows Logon screen without the screen flashing or seeing dense white concentric circles (lines). However, I will say the wait time between the "Windows Starting" screen to the Windows Logon screen (This is when the screen is blank black.) can take up to 3 seconds before the Windows Logon screen appeared.

I also decided to check the event viewer to see if the system was reporting this issue and what it was exactly reporting related to my issue. This is what I found. Since the period I had the system up and running at Windows startup was rather short, I was able to see all the logs in a short time frame which the system is running under "Windows Logs" -> "System". I did not see any serious issues at all listed, just "Information" for the events and one "Warning". The "Warning" states, "Custom dynamic link libraries are being loaded for every application. The system administrator should review the list of libraries to ensure they are related to trusted applications." Obviously, this is not related to this issue. The only "Critical" event I saw was one that obviously makes sense. It states, "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly." Obviously, this is the manual reboot I performed to get out of my issue at the end.

I hope this can shed some light on my issue and maybe some member here can give a a really good idea what is going on with my system.

Please reply, one and all.

Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Since the error seems video related I would try removing the video card driver,first go to device manager in control panel find your video card and note down the driver that's install,version and date.Go to add remove programs and completely remove the Nvidia driver,clear custom settings and restart,if windows try's to install a new driver upon restart cancel out of it.At this point you may want to try and restart your computer a few times to see if the problem is still there.

Now download the latest driver from the Nvidia website and install.

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Yup - I was going to suggest a possible video issue also. A few years ago I also had an Nvidia 9600GT (from Asus) and the fan on it malfunctioned early in its life, like in less than 4 months. Had I not discovered it when I did, there's a very real chance that the card could have been permanently damaged by overheating. In addition to Rikky's suggestion, you might want to remove the card from the PC and make sure the fan is spinning freely, and blow it out with canned air or an air compressor (don't let the fan spin when blowing air though it!). Check all the chips and components on the video card for any obvious signs of damage: bulging capacitors, burn marks, discolored areas on a chip, discolored areas anywhere on the card, etc. Make sure the power connector to the card from your power supply is clean and that it makes good contact: it should be firm and solid when the power cord is plugged in to the card, NO wobble or slight loose wiggling is acceptable. Then make sure the card is firmly and completely re-inserted in the motherboard video slot. While you're in there, it's probably a good to clean all the dust out of everything (an air compressor is MUCH better than canned air for a job like this), and again make sure that any fans in the PC case and/or power supply do NOT spin as you blow air thru 'em. It's also a good idea to make sure everything is properly and firmly connected and seated in the individual slots and ports as needed. I live in the high desert of the US west and things get dusty VERY quickly. I completely blow out all my PC components every 3-4 months. Having a cat doesn't help either. I have removed MANY frightening wads of cat hair from my PC cooling fans!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

@ Rikky & dlb & ALL:

Hello. I appreciate your input.

I have done more research and testing after reading your posts. I have more information for you.

I am wondering if this is 'possibly' related to the driver. Not completely sure. I have removed the NVIDIA driver (I used the program Revo Uninstaller that does a great job really cleaning out the files.). I still notice after the uninstall and reboot, under Device Manager I still have the same driver installed as before. However the installed NVIDIA driver I downloaded and installed is no longer in the system. I have already done more than a dozen (12) system reboots/restarts and so far I am not getting any of the flashing back and forth as I have stated above, however I am still getting a couple second blank black screen between the "Windows Starting" screen and the Windows Logon screen. The animated looped curser appearing for a brief second on the blank black screen appears too. I guess this is normal???

I plan to give another full day with tests like doing several more reboots of my system to see if I ever get any more flashing screens as I outline above leaving things the way they are now.

I am just wondering if I leave my Windows 7 64-bit operating system "free" of installed NVIDIA drivers installed (Basically leaving things as they are right now is "a good thing" or not???)???

I will add that when I uninstalled the NVIDIA driver, it was called the "3D Vision Driver" "Version 260.99". This is the latest driver for my graphics card. Now, this "3D Vision Driver" is 'new' to me? I have never heard of this before. Have you??? Just maybe a possible incompatibility issue by chance with my graphics PCI-E card? I know they provide it for my graphics card (9600GT), but really... ...'could there be issues *STILL* here'???

Please reply one and all.

Thanks!!! I will be back!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

3D vision is just part of the Nvidia driver,if you have stereo goggles or a 3D vision ready monitor.

After re reading your initial post it does seem very unlikely that in two operating system installs "32+64bit" you have the same problem,unless of course you've installed the same 160.99 driver,I am as DLB said leaning toward a video hardware failure.


*

http://www.addictivetips.com/window...tomatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

If you would like to stop windows installing the default driver try this,once you have restarted after this method you may want to try installing the 16.99 driver again from scratch,revert to an older driver or try a beta driver.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/GeForce-Forceware-266.35-Win-7-|-Vista-(64)-download-2660.html

I wouldn't spend too much time trying lots of drivers though just one or two.

The black screen with cursor between password screen and desktop is normal,both my win7 computers do it while the desktop items are being loaded and devices are being initialised.

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

@ Rikky & ALL:

Thanks for your reply.

Well, the last system reboot I just did, I recieved one of those blank black screens flashing back and forth with the static screens again a few times before ending at an indefinite blank black screen after the "Windows Starting" screen. Again, another manual reboot and I was able to get back to this Windows Logon screen where I was able to get into the desktop again. Therefore, uninstalling the NVIDIA video driver does not fix it. So video drivers are out of the question. IT HAS TO BE THE VIDEO CARD IS FAILING!!! It is the only thing I can put my finger on!

Yes, out of say 15-20 system reboots, this issue happens only once or twice. I would guess in time, it 'may' get worse.

It is an EVGA 9600GT PCI-E graphics card. I have to get it replaced.

Your thoughts? (I think I know your thoughts. )

Please reply.

Thanks!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Well to test the video card you need to reinstall the driver get it working then run 3Dmark on loop to try and lock it up or cause errors.

Sandra has many video testing and stability tests you may want to try.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/SiSoftware_Sandra_Lite_d92.html

Errm?Next time its stuck switching screens try turning your monitor off then back on,then try unplugging your monitor,you could also try installing a monitor driver from Samsung,you could also try and different monitor or TV,switch from the VGA,DVI,s-video and HDMI 'if it has one' outputs.

At this point it I would try another video card and obviously it would be helpful if you could test the card in another computer.

Good luck

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello again. Well, I GUESS IT IS SOLVED!?!?!?!?! :-D (Only MORE time will tell!!! SO FAR SO GOOD!!!)

Okay, since last post, I have done a lot.

First, thanks for your help!!! I downloaded the British program Sandra Lite and installed it. WOW!!! :-D What a "COOL" program that one is!!! Geese, I could of used that dozens of times in the past -- where were you!?!?! A very detailed and comprehensive system tester for free for private and educational use! That is now DEFINATELY part of my arsenal for fixes. THANK YOU!!! THAT ONE IS A KEEPER!!!

Okay, I was starting to run out of options at last post to find the reason to my issue. I ran Sandra Lite and it takes several minutes to install and over a hour to update your Active X and the . So I ran it and it took several minutes to run a report. I used "Tools" -> "Analysis and Advice". I did get some minor issues with the graphics drivers listed. One stated that the BIOS of the graphics card needs to be upgraded. Well, that is not possible of course. But other than that, no real issues listed for the graphics card. But I learned some other things about my system I have to fix at some point that are not related to my issue.

So, the next thing I did is check the connection with the video cables and the PCI-E connection between the graphics card and the slot on the motherboard suggested by Rikky. I lightly shifted the card in the slot and unplugged and replugged the cables in again with a firmly threaded in the port on the back of the graphics card.

Throughout this whole time I never received any of my issues, of course I was not testing the reboots to try to recreate my issue again.
Then I decided to do something else, I thought I would run a upgrade install of Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. I did it believing it may or may not fix my issue, but I knew it Windows 7 startup was involved in part with my issue. I did that successfully. I then noticed 3 things that changed (Mind you I never received any of my issues in this process during its required rebooting.) following the Windows 7 64-bit upgrade repair install (When does an upgrade repair of Windows ever cause these things to happen??? :confused Hmmm...):

1. My Windows screen resolution was 800 x 600 (lowest). Before the upgrade repair install, I have the highest (1280 x 1024)

2. Windows 7 Aero theme was off, it was set to Windows Basic. Before the upgrade repair install, I had an Aero theme.

3. Even though the latest NVIDIA driver (260.99) was installed in my programs listing, in the Device Manager it shows an older version installed. Hmmm... I said. This does not make any sense?!?!? :confused It stated I have NVIDIA with a driver date of 7/9/2010. It was the previous NVIDIA driver to the one I installed. So the driver I installed before performing the upgrade repair was "installed" in my system but wasn't "part" of my system. Interesting??? Issues here?!?!? :confused

I first turned on a Aero theme of my choice. I rebooted the system several times to see if this may be the culprit for my issues. Thankfully, no issues.
I then increased the resolution back to the highest I liked. Again, I rebooted the system to see if this may be the issue. No issues.

Now, I uninstalled the latest NVIDIA driver I had installed in my system in the program listing. After successfully rebooting into my system without any issues, I see in Device Manager is stated I had even an earlier version of an NVIDIA driver installed this time dated 5/14/2009 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1). Then I reinstalled the latest NVIDIA driver again that I just uninstalled. I see now in Device Manager the latest NVIDIA driver is now showing. Again, I rebooted my system several times and I did not have any issues.

I have since had to reinstall all my Windows updates again since a upgrade install will erase them from the system. Following that, I rebooted my system several times without any issues. :-D

So I figure either the reason for my issue could of been a poor connection, the Windows 7 Pro 64 upgrade repair install, or the uninstalling and reinstalling the video graphics driver did something to fix this issue. I even wonder if the Sandra Lite's updating of the Active X and other features could of had some impact on my fix. Hmmm... :confused

What do you think???

Please reply.

Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Honestly, I didn't read every word of every post between here and my previous post.... but it is 100% normal to have some completely blank black screens during the boot-up process. I have seen blank screens as long as 20 seconds on completely healthy computers, so 5 seconds or less of blank blackness is nothing to worry about. Uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers is most likely reason the issue is gone. I had assumed you tried this first..... ActiveX is completely different than DirectX, and ActiveX has very little (if any) influence over the functionality of a video card and/or its driver. More info about ActiveX can be found here.

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello. Earlier today as a last ditch test since this issue has been happening sly-like with very little definitive guilt on the part of the graphics card, so not giving up feeling this issue may still appear at some point in time; I decided to try to eliminate if my installed Windows 7 has "any" involvement with this graphics issue. So I reinstalled Windows 7 once again as a clean install. During the install process I found this most interesting... ...there is a phase where the video performance is tested during the install process. During this testing phase, the same issue I am experiencing happened here too. I received the quick flashing back and forth of the blank black screen and the ‘static’ screen finally ending at the blank black screen indefinitely. Therefore I was unable to install Windows 7. With all the different Windows installs and this evidently clear same issue during the install process, I AM CONVINCED from this very instance it is the graphics card that is causing the issue here! :-D

I am now RMA-ing the graphics card and hope to get a replacement.

So I *FINALLY* *KNOW* the graphics card ***IS*** THE CAUSE!!! :-D

NO MORE PLAYING GAMES!!! :wave

Reply if you wish.

Thanks for all your help!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello. I'm back! Thanks for your help! I have recieved a few days ago an RMA replacement graphics/video card. They sent me the same model, but a different graphics/video graphics/video card. So I have given it a few days to see what is happening and see if this issue is gone before returning here. SO FAR, SO GOOD!!! NO ISSUES!!! I have rebooted the system many times with any problems at all. Lets hope this continues!!! I am going to have to assume it was the graphics card was starting to bite the dust and that was this issue.

Comment if you wish.

Thanks for your input!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Great glad you got it sorted,best of luck

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Copy Rikky's reply, montecarlo1987 - thanks for the feedback. :major

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Well, well, well... ...it is back!!! :cry

The same issue in my first post in this thread as I am still randomly experiencing.

THIS IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY!!! :mad

I'll share with ya. Let me fill you in...

As I left off, I received an RMA replacement for my EVGA 9600 GT graphics/video card. I installed it and after a few Windows 7 64-bit reboots to test to make sure this issue would not happen. It didn't. That is what I replied here in my last response. I was happy and believe that it was my graphics card was the issue. Issue fixed... ...well NO!

I then started to place back all my expansion cards back into the computer. The first one is an ATI TV Wonder 650 PCI (not "Express") card. This is a TV tuner card. After each hardware addition to my system, I rebooted Windows 7 64-bit. Like before I was horrified to see this issue appear again. WHAT!!! rolleyes I'll spare the details, please read my first post in this thread. After the screen flashing, the screen remained black. I rebooted and it did the same thing even again. Ah, MAYBE THIS IS THE ***REAL*** REASON why I am having this issue from the gecko! So I took it out of the slot and rebooted the system. The issue was gone on the first reboot (I was able to get to the Windows 7 logon screen without the flashing -- like normal.) So I called AMD (ATI) tech support and he concluded that it was the TV Tuner card. So I have to buy another one since it is out of warranty for replacement. Okay, I know the issue now. SO IT WASN'T THE VIDEO CARD!!! I have to get another TV Tuner card sometime that is new and compatible with my system.

So I decided at this point, I needed to install another Windows 7 64-bit. The issue I "think" is "NOW" resolved. I rebooted the system many times without the TV tuner card and no issues. The Windows 7 64-bit that I originally installed was not registered and I needed to properly put the programs back in the way I wanted them installed. I reinstalled a clean Windows 7 64-bit and installed all the compatible software (drivers) off the ASUS website. Let me say that throughout the install process of Windows 7 64-bit, I never had any issues of any kind -- my issue here or any other issue. However, after I installed the latest NVIDIA driver for the graphics card, then I rebooted the new Windows 7 64-bit. Then this same issue happened again with the screen flashing. (Now, I am thinking that it is NOT the TV tuner card at all.)

I called EVGA and told their tech rep. my case. I figured it was my best source to call for help in this issue -- somehow still graphics card related. They referenced my RMA and told me that my returned graphics card tested fine on the bench. The said it "may be" the motherboard that is the issue. It may be the chipset (P45) that is the issue (Southbridge) per the EVGA tech rep.. I was told to contact ASUS at this point. I did. I called ASUS tech rep. and explained my issue (The non-condensed version.). She said it is either one of two things:

1. My motherboard chipset is indeed faulty. She agreed to that.
2. There is "some" compatibility issue between the motherboard and the graphics card.

So, ASUS is going to RMA my motherboard for a replacement at this point. That is where I am now.

Your thoughts? Any ideas what you may think is happening?

Could a chipset on a motherboard is going?

Please reply.

Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

You sure are having your share of problems with this thing!

When you get the new motherboard, you might try running it barebones for a while, with only a minimal Windows install and no discrete devices or heavy programs. Once you're satisfied that everything's kosher, then start adding your other equipment and software.

Hang in there - to be sure, eventually you'll find the culprit.

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Thanks for your comments. I tend to REALLY & TRUTHFULLY think that this issue is either one of three things:

1. The motherboard itself that really makes the "most sense" per se based on what I have gone through and all my testing by process of elimination. A chipset issue maybe??? I do not know how chipsets effect

2. Still the graphics card may be having "SOME" sort of compatibility issues with Windows 7 "64-BIT". ***Yes, we never looked at the operating system as a potential cause, especially that it is 64-Bit***. Hey, it is happening when Windows 7 starts up -- that static flashing screen for some time!!! However, I had the issues with the 32-bit version of Windows 7, hmmm....

3. An issue with the graphics driver like some sort of conflicts with Windows 764-bit?

I would think it would be one of these three things.

I be in touch! RMA-ing the ASUS motherboard now.

Yes, I plan to take it to barebones and testing it like crazy like I have now before adding more hardware and software.

Thanks!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Hello.

I have not sent the P5Q motherboard in yet. I have time before my RMA expires. Instead I have tried some at night tests to try to still get to the bottom of this. I share what I have found:

First, I have a copy of the factory DVD of Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit with Service Pack 1 hanging around. I figured I would try this first for 2 reasons. One, try a legacy Windows operating system (similar to Windows 7 in some ways) and also a 32-bit version instead of a 64-bit version.

Now, I clean install Vista H.P. 32-bit on another clean hard drive as well. I do notice that during the install process of Vista, during the last phase called "completing installation", the screen flickers about 4-5 times, but returns fine back to the Vista install screen. I am not sure, but I "think" this is "normal". I do not install any other Windows Updates or even any drivers for the motherboard -- is this good or bad??? I figure I should have no issues if I just install the latest nVidia driver from the website since each driver is more or less independent of each other. So I only install my LAN driver so I can connect to the internet. I download the latest nVidia driver from the nVIdia website, but I do not install it yet. For curiosity, I do about 5 reboots of Vista to see if this possibly happens with that static/blank black screen happens after the animated Vista progress bar screen finishes. It does not. OKAY! GOOD! To let you know, I checked the Device Manager and it states I am using, "Standard Graphics Adapter" by Microsoft, dated: 6/21/2006.

After returning to Vista desktop, I install that nVidia driver. Sure enough on the FIRST reboot, I get that blank/black static screen flashing back and forth, ending with the black screen. I reboot again, and it does it again. The third time, however it does successfully get to Vista's Logon screen without any flickering. After a few more Vista reboots, I never got that screen issue again.

Following what I did above, I reformatted the same hard drive and reinstalled a clean Vista Home Premium 32-bit again. Did the same as above. Rebooted several times without the latest nVidia driver installed yet, and things were okay. I installed the nVidia driver and it did that same screen issue again at the first Vista reboot. I rebooted the system a second time and then I successfully got to the Vista logon screen without issue. I believe after the 4th or 5th Vista reboot, it did it again. So it is random. It seems as time goes on with the Vista reboots under the same Vista installation, the chance that it happens decreases, but it can still occur randomly.

Now, I decided to try to uninstall the latest nVidia driver to see what would happen when Vista reboots without the latest nVidia installed. It should be fine I figure without the latest nVidia installed. There are 3 components that are installed with the latest nVidia driver as seen under "Programs & Features" in Control Panel. They are (1) "NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver 266.58", (2) "NVIDIA Graphics Driver 266.58", and (3) "NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.10.0514". I uninstalled (3) first, then (1) without issues. When I uninstalled (2) last (The actual nVidia graphics driver itself.); at the immediate completion of the uninstallation, I was getting a very similar issue here too... ....with the desktop showing the nVidia uninstall dialog box somewhat distorted and sparkle-like flashing very quickly in contrast with a blank black screen!!! The only way I could get out of this is to reboot Vista. Sure enough, it was gone and I was able to logon with Vista without issues. I checked the Device Manager and the graphics driver that showed was the "Standard Graphics Adapter" again. I rebooted the Vista may times with the Standard Graphics Adapter and things were fine and no issues.

There are more tests I plan to conduct. It "seems it is pointing" to some issues between the latest nVidia driver and the 9600 GT. The motherboard involved in this somehow too?

I did try using my DVD drivers that originally came with the 9600GT just to see if the LATEST nVidia driver was causing the issue. I again did another clean install of Vista H.P. 32-bit on the same hard drive after a clean reformat again. Things were fine without any nvidia graphics drivers installed. Once I installed the driver from the DVD that came with the 9600GT, it did the same thing as well after my first reboot of Vista with that screen flashing issue. This is version 81.4 for Windows XP and Vista. So it shows that it may "not" be the "latest" driver.

The EVGA 9600 GT graphics card has been replaced and it is still doing it with this same series replacement too.

Any ideas or opinions you have?

Please reply.

Thank you!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

I keep going back to your original post, in which you stated that you performed a change in Windows architecture, a BIOS update, and a RAM upgrade. Possible relation between those tasks and your current issues?

If I were in your shoes, I'd start from scratch. Revert to the original BIOS version, revert to the original RAM, and start testing.

Seems like there are too many variables thrown in here to get a solid handle on what exactly is going on.

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

@ Caliban:

Hello. Thanks for your help!!! Still in the same situation.

You have a point. I may just do that -- what you said. t

A BIOS or RAM issue. Possibly. :confused

I will have to retest again with your suggestions and get back to you.

I have a question:

Just curious:

Doesn't the graphics card (EVGA 9600 GT) USE *its own* RAM, not needing the motherboard's RAM??? (Whether this is related or not.?.?.?) It is stated at 512 MB of RAM on the 9600GT.

Also just curious:

I have those timings and voltages in BIOS set to "AUTO". Could this be any cause of this issue??? Do they NEED to be adjusted marginally higher to compensate by chance or not???

***

@ Caliban & all:

I have always been confused about this: :confused I need a straight answer.

When the BIOS has its settings set to "AUTO", does this mean:

A. ...the motherboard *DECIDES* what the proper settings or configurations need to be *at the onset of turning on your computer* (at BIOS start) and then *KEEPS* them *PERMANENTLY* at those *SAME* settings while whole the computer is running... ...or...
B. ...the motherboard *DECIDES* what the proper settings or configurations need to be *at the onset of turning on your computer* (at BIOS start) and the motherboard *ADJUSTS* *AUTOMATICALLY* the proper settings or configurations as necessary THE WHOLE TIME *WHILE THE COMPUTER IS RUNNING*??? (For example, a setting or configuration is the voltage settings?)

I have always wanted to know that!!! :-D Please let me know.

Please reply.

Thanks!

 

Re: HELP! Can't figure this out! Sometimes I get black & static screen in Win7 startu

Good morning.

AFAIK, the graphics card is not going to use system memory, especially if any onboard video is disabled in BIOS.

And, also AFAIK, the BIOS 'Auto' settings are not going to change while the computer is in use - those configurations are set on startup.

As far as manual configurations, I'm sure that they may have some influence upon how a system performs - maybe someone else can chime in about them, but it's been my experience that, for the most part, it's best to leave them alone.