Windows 7 - New Nvidia Geforce GTX 460 1gb Freezing or BSODing on boot

Sorry that this is my first post guys! It's not good social protocol to post your first post asking for help but I'm at my wits end.

I've recently purchased a new SSD, GPU and PSU. I've installed the PSU and GPU. Still have to back up data so I've not done added the SSD yet. When it's all done I should have.


Windows 7 / Ubuntu
Antec 1200 Case
OCZ 125gb SSD
2tb 5400 rpm HDD ( pisses me off it's so slow )
Intel Core 2 Quad
Asus P5QL PRO
8GB Ram
Nvidia Geforce GTX 460 1gb
OCZ ModXStream Pro Power supply - 700 Watt.

So my issues are. When I try to boot it starts booting windows and it either flashes blue and restarts on the boot screen ( it's different from BSOD i think ) if it doesn't flash and restart it just freezes on the boot screen ( windows is loading with the floaty orbs. They just stop working ) Any suggestions?

Because it is a new PSU and GPU i'm not even sure which is causing the problems. Everything is definatley wired up correctly.

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

I'd be inclined to check which driver you're using for the GTX 460.

I recently tried their latest driver, but had to roll it back to the 275.33 because of freezing problems and the occasional BSOD.

You can also remove the graphics card, and then see if that cures the problem. At least that way you'll know what's causing the freeze.

I cannot boot to windows at all. I've never gotten past the loading screen so I don't have the driver disk installed. I don't have on board graphics either. Although I have my old card.

Are you able to boot in Safe mode?

Disable the onboard graphics adapter in BIOS also and check.

I can't boot to safe mode, only options are boot windows 7 normally or run windows diagnostic repair. The repair runs fine and completes ok. My ubuntu partition also wont boot.

what happens if you try and boot to safe mode?

It doesn't even give me the option to try.

when you first turn the computer hit the F8 key, it will boot into safemode, if it fails just hammer the key as i do

Since you have an old video card, which worked I assume, you need to plug that back in and see if it "BSODs" still. If it doesn't then you need to uninstall the drivers for your old card, and when you go to restart for that change to take effect, do a shutdown and install the new card.

If you still have problems, then maybe the card is dead, if you are out the money with no return option, try baking it in your kitchen oven (yes I'm serious go google it, you'll need to get the plastic stuff off and read up).

If normal starts fail, but gets into safemode, then maybe you can do a firmware upgrade to the card or a MB bios firmware update which may alleviate the symptoms (though in my experience I have never needed to do for display, but people talk up the firmware upgrade so Im just putting it out there).

When you go into BIOS, does it display ok? Press either F2, F10, Shift+delete, or whatever it says on boot splash screen to get into SETUP.

Speaking of BIOS, you'd be amazed what flashing your CMOS can do for the occasional system instability. Find how your motherboard wants to be flashed, some differ beyond just the jumper.

There are some PCIe settings that can be tampered with in bios, which I stay away from, but may be involved with your situation.

Can you get the code if it is a BSOD, that can help. (00x00000002B looking kind of code)

If its not a real BSOD, then maybe it is some kind of BIOS window that is flashing. This would make me think maybe the PSU could be the culprit rather than the card.

Bottom line, test the old card with the new PSU and see if there is the issue so the video card can be isolated as the cause. Is all your RAM seated, is the card seated, is the CPU fan plugged in and spinning? Does the Amp rating on your PSU's 12volt rails provide what the video card needs? Even though you may have shelled out some cash, go check. Are you overclocking the CPU, maybe you need to try factory default stuff to rule out extraneous variables.

Ubuntu not working makes me think it is hardware and not driver software, though since it is booting from HDD partion maybe it is still drivers. How does a live CD/DVD linux distro perform?

Who made your new Graphics card? I always buy EVGA, PNY, ASUS, or GALAXY in that order of preferrance.

Was your old graphics card for a PCI slot, and now you are using the PCIe slot? Maybe the PCIe slot on your MB was dead and you are just finding out

This is plenty to work with, the ball is back in your court

Ok wow long message! I'll try my old card but I was also going to try unplugging my current 2tb HDD and plugging in my new blank ssd and try installing new windows 7. Thanks! <3