Win 7 - Monitor blanks during recovery/chkdsk, but processes still run

Zarathud · 05 Jul 2014

Dell XPS 435T/9000 with Win 7 64-Bit

I was having all kinds of BSOD and system freezing issues so I decided to do a clean install from my system recovery disks to return to a factory image. After inserting the 2nd recovery disk, the screen went blank and I could not get it to come back on (turning monitor off and on, unplug/plug power cord, etc.). I let the process run as the computer was still on and eventually the DVD drive opened. I assumed this meant the process was done so I manually rebooted the system with the power button and the system booted into Win 7 normal with the factory image installed. I immediately ran a chkdsk and during phase 5 the screen blanked again. I let it run again and a few hours later the machine booted into windows normally. I checked the event viewer and chkdsk completed normally.

What could be causing the screen blank to occur?

What additional info can I provide to help diagnose this?

ICIT2LOL · 06 Jul 2014

Hello Zarathud mate if you want to just do a reinstall then you could follow this
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
Hopefully you have all the data you need backed up and the advantage of this way is that you will lose all the bloatware that came with the machine.
Anything off the disks you need after you can go to and get but I am guessing if you just want 7 up and running then this is your best bet.

Just make sure you pick the correct version of Windows see pic

Zarathud · 06 Jul 2014

I may try a Clean Install without the recovery disks at some point, but I am concerned this is a BIOS or hardware issue as it occurred outside of the WIN 7 GUI (e.g. during the recovery process and during chkdsk).

ICIT2LOL · 06 Jul 2014

Well I doubt it would be a BIOS problem as the thing would not get to boot anything - I stand to be corrected of course but the BIOS has to make the decision for example on what device to boot from.

If you have took for drivers then they are here Product Support | Dell US

But there are two things as in checking the hard drive and RAM

the drive you could check with say Seatools SeaTools for Windows | Seagate

and RAM

MEMTEST

Download thisone Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool you will need to make a bootable disk setthe BIOS to optical (or USB if preferred) boot the machine and let it run forat LEAST 8passes unless the errors come up straight away. Takesfair time to complete and some leave it running overnight.

Ifyou do get errors then you will need to redo the memtest with eachseparate stick to find the culprit. Having said the it could be a slot problem
But please make sure at least 8 passes unless errors are thrown straight away.

Ranger4 · 06 Jul 2014

@ zarathud. How is your monitor connected to the computer. Is by DVI, VGA, or HDMI.

Zarathud · 08 Jul 2014

Ranger4 said:

@ zarathud. How is your monitor connected to the computer. Is by DVI, VGA, or HDMI.

DVI

Although now I encountered a BSOD so have started another thread in that forum:
BSOD 0x1000007e for ntoskrnl.exe after Sys Recovery Disks reinstall