PC Won't Boot with Graphics Card

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
W

Word Of Madness

Honorable
Dec 1, 2012
7
0
10,510
Hi. Up until a few days ago, my PC has been running just fine. I started getting lag and lock ups frequently, but it's now proceeded to the point where it will POST, go to the Windows 8 spinning circle and logo, then the screen will go black. It must be sending some sort of signal, as my monitor automatically goes into standby if it doesn't get anything.

The PC works fine if I use the 3570K's iGPU. The PC does not work if I use a GTX560 that I know works in another rig instead of the GTX770. It will boot into safe-mode with either card connected. I've tried removing the NVidia drivers using the provided uninstaller as well as a third party display driver uninstaller. Neither card works on any of the PCIe slots.

I'm really at a loss as to what the issue might be, since my troubleshooting didn't really allow me to come to any conclusions. It seems like something driver/software/OS related, but I don't think any of my tests rules out some sort of issues with the motherboard either.
 
Solution
meat_loaf


I don't think there is any more test you can do since you pretty much switched out all the parts and tested it and this already exempts the fact of PSU failing. So send it back tot he shop and get a full replacement. I think when you rebuilt your computer you didn't do static discharge and some components got damaged.
Sort by date Sort by votes
meat_loaf

meat_loaf

Distinguished
Oct 20, 2011
650
0
19,360
The common possible reason could be because something you've installed previously crashed the windows MBR that caused it to crash while its loading. It happens to me quite often enough using Windows 7 that once it finishes loading the "starting windows" screen, it crashes and reboots. Normally this is a cause of issue with installed files that corrupted your system for some random stuff that Windows sometimes do.

GPU's will not cause your computer to crash like this since you can see the display. Motherboard failures will just mean your computer won't turn on (since it either works or don't for Mobos), and isnce you are getting lock ups and lags there are only 2 additional reasons that can happen.

1. RAM failure - often enough system ram that is failing will cause random freezing, BSOD, crashes, slow performance. Run memtest and see if your memory is the culprit.
2. PSU failing - if your PSU is failing it will have trouble providing stable power to the CPU and other components and this will cause crashes, lags, and lock ups when it needs to power. You can check your psu with a digital meter or bring it to a store to check it for you. But since new psu aren't that expensive I would rather get a new one when the other hardware isn't of the problem.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
W

Word Of Madness

Honorable
Dec 1, 2012
7
0
10,510
The solution to the first part would be to re-install windows right?

It could be the motherboard, I'm not suggesting a total failure, but something like the PCIe interface being borked may explain why it won't run a graphics card, but will run on the iGPU. It seems very unlikely though.

I doubt it would be the memory if it works fine with the iGPU.

The PSU is certainly a possibility, I've got a good unit from my other rig than I can switch over and see if that fixes the issue. An idle GPU doesn't use that much power, but it might be enough to tip the PSU over the edge if it was on the point of failure. The one I'm using at the moment is getting on for age now.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
meat_loaf

meat_loaf

Distinguished
Oct 20, 2011
650
0
19,360


PCIe slots rarely breaks unless when you remove or install graphics card on them you pulled them out like a hulk and damaged the pins. Usually PCIe slots aren the problem. Then i can only offer a solution of using ur gpu on a different pcie slot like 2.0 x4 or 8x and try if its that slot that went kaput.

Yup as for the first problem a hard reformat is the only solution. Don't bother trying to install the new copy and hope to replace the existing version because some registry files of the old would still be there (unless you partitioned your HDD before hand and install it there). A hard reformat guarentees a clean install.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
W

Word Of Madness

Honorable
Dec 1, 2012
7
0
10,510
Yeh I've tried another card I know to be working, as well as other PCIe slots and I get nothing. I did a soft refresh of the Windows OS and that didn't help either. Next step is to try a complete reformat and re-install.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
W

Word Of Madness

Honorable
Dec 1, 2012
7
0
10,510
Ok, I've done a hard format and reinstall of windows and managed to get it to boot, it locked up after a few minutes. Restarting gave the same results as earlier where it'd reach the Windows loading screen with the spinning circle, then go black.

I grabbed another SSD with a known working Windows 8 install and put it in place of the old one, and I get the same failure to load into Windows. That leads me to believe it isn't related to the OS or the drive.

What else can I test try? I've pretty much got enough parts for 2 complete systems here, so I can swap parts in and out to troubleshoot.

Basically the at the moment I'm leaning towards it being a motherboard issue (Does the CPU handle some of the PCIe stuff? I guess It's a possibility if so), since I think I've managed to rule out most of the other components.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
W

Word Of Madness

Honorable
Dec 1, 2012
7
0
10,510
Ok so I think it's the motherboard. I've got down to swapping the CPUs out, and when testing a known working CPU, it wouldn't boot, I tried again, and the second time it froze while loading the BIOS. Are there any last things to test, check or try before I call up the shop and sort out the warranty?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
meat_loaf

meat_loaf

Distinguished
Oct 20, 2011
650
0
19,360


I don't think there is any more test you can do since you pretty much switched out all the parts and tested it and this already exempts the fact of PSU failing. So send it back tot he shop and get a full replacement. I think when you rebuilt your computer you didn't do static discharge and some components got damaged.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
W

Word Of Madness

Honorable
Dec 1, 2012
7
0
10,510
Will do. Cheers for the tips, just wanted to check if I overlooked anything before I send it back.

I doubt static caused the issue. I ground myself by tapping the PSU every couple of minutes. Regardless, I hadn't done anything with the internals of the PC since I added the GTX770 a year ago, and it's been running sweet as from then until a few days ago.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom