Suddenly get blank/dark W7 Pro screens only ?

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  1. Posts : 477
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
       #1

    Suddenly get blank/dark W7 Pro screens only ?


    Hi Guys...I know this is probably not a OS problem...but can use any help available. came home from work today and my two led monitors were blanked out....were working this morning at 4:00 am.

    Turned off and started both monitors...turned off and restarted computer...get both start-up lights on my DVDs briefly...and single post beep....but no bios start up messages...and then the monitors quickly turn blank again ?

    Back in the back of my mind the words "HD failure" are flashing through...but I hope not !!

    Anything else anyone can suggest that may be happening other than my main drive has failed...?

    All attached usb devices are on with there little green/amber lights on...just nothing happens after initial post beep ?

    Have a cumulative Windows backup from Sunday night ( and I think a image from the same operation )...and a previously cloned drive from about a month ago.

    thanks so much....

    Tim
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,939
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Steve Ballmer Signature Edition
       #2

    trinaz said:
    Hi Guys...I know this is probably not a OS problem...but can use any help available. came home from work today and my two led monitors were blanked out....were working this morning at 4:00 am.

    Turned off and started both monitors...turned off and restarted computer...get both start-up lights on my DVDs briefly...and single post beep....but no bios start up messages...and then the monitors quickly turn blank again ?

    Back in the back of my mind the words "HD failure" are flashing through...but I hope not !!

    Anything else anyone can suggest that may be happening other than my main drive has failed...?

    All attached usb devices are on with there little green/amber lights on...just nothing happens after initial post beep ?

    Have a cumulative Windows backup from Sunday night ( and I think a image from the same operation )...and a previously cloned drive from about a month ago.

    thanks so much....

    Tim
    Good BIOS report with that single beep... try just one monitor and see what happens.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #3

    Sounds like a video card problem to me. I agree with Darryl; try just one monitor.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 477
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Jonathan_King said:
    Sounds like a video card problem to me. I agree with Darryl; try just one monitor.
    Thanks guys...does this mean the single post beep indicates the HHD is functioning ok ? I have an extra video card...I think...so I will go with one monitor on the existing card and then try the old card if needed later this afternoon.

    New card is only a few months old...

    Thanks again, Tim
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 477
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    trinaz said:
    Jonathan_King said:
    Sounds like a video card problem to me. I agree with Darryl; try just one monitor.
    Thanks guys...does this mean the single post beep indicates the HHD is functioning ok ? I have an extra video card...I think...so I will go with one monitor on the existing card and then try the old card if needed later this afternoon.

    New card is only a few months old...

    Thanks again, Tim
    Hmmm....used existing new video card with only one monitor attached and no go...tried each monitor separately in both dvi outlets and nothing worked.

    Removed and reseated card...and no change....removed and replaced card with the previous card in the PC and still nothing from either monitor....one at a time or dual ?

    Any further suggestions will be appreciated....still get the usb lights on and a single post beep...but nothing else ?

    Tim
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #6

    Try testing the hard drive in another machine, with one of these tools.

    HD Diagnostic
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 477
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Jonathan_King said:
    Try testing the hard drive in another machine, with one of these tools.

    HD Diagnostic
    Thanks Jonathon...here's a little more (non)progress. I cleared the cmos after getting nothing from the video card changes...and now still get the single beeb...but after a few seconds then a quick double beeb. Am checking now on what that means ?

    Please give a little more details on your suggestion...won't I screw things up if I put the drive in another PC that has a different component setup ? I know when I switched to Win 7 I lost everything in my old XP pro system because of the new motherboard and/or other components.

    Do I just add the existing troubled drive to another box as a secondary drive...with the primary XP Pro drive as the startup drive and the potential trouble drive further down in the drive order in the bios ?

    If so...how do I verify that the drive is OK if I can access it...?...is that what HD Diagontics will do for the question drive installed as a "secondary drive" (sata 2) in my workling XP Pro computer ?

    Have attached PDF bios beep info for my AMI motherboard/system.

    On the beep codes...I do not understand the "Boot Block Beep Codes" and/or "Post Bios Beep Codes" ? I am getting the initial single post beep on power on...but no on screen bios info as usually...the I am now getting 2 quick beeps after about 20-25 seconds of black screen after initial single beep.



    Thanks...
    Suddenly get blank/dark W7 Pro screens only ? Attached Files
    Last edited by trinaz; 01 May 2010 at 11:55. Reason: add pdf info files
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #8

    Add the drive as a secondary drive; don't try to boot from it.

    The Diagnostic will test the drive; it really doesn't matter whether the drive is the boot drive or not.

    If the diagnostic you run is run from a bootable CD or floppy, it won't matter either.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 183
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64
       #9

    Is your computer on a reboot loop when starting up or does it restart at random times ?

    When diagnosing hardware issues we need to make sure your system is as simple as possible first. Take out all but one stick of ram (use first slot), unplug all but 1 video card or use onbaord video and hook up only one monitor. Also unplug all accessory items except keyboard and mouse.

    If it still does not boot try another stick of ram on the first slot after that try that stick in another slot. I have seen issues like this before when it seems like a RAM issue at first because it will boot with one only stick. But after loading the OS then restarting it, it loads when putting the rest of them back in. This issue is usually related to a hardware change when it loads with all sticks of RAM after starting with one stick, but doing these steps will help eliminate a bad stick of RAM or a bad DIMM slot.

    RAM is the culprit lots of the time, but you may want to try the hard drive in another system to make sure it is working as well. Usually if it is the hard drive it will post but give you an error that the OS was not found or something similar.

    If it boots now you can start plugging items in until you find the culprit.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,939
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Steve Ballmer Signature Edition
       #10

    trinaz said:
    Jonathan_King said:
    Try testing the hard drive in another machine, with one of these tools.

    HD Diagnostic
    Thanks Jonathon...here's a little more (non)progress. I cleared the cmos after getting nothing from the video card changes...and now still get the single beeb...but after a few seconds then a quick double beeb. Am checking now on what that means ?

    Please give a little more details on your suggestion...won't I screw things up if I put the drive in another PC that has a different component setup ? I know when I switched to Win 7 I lost everything in my old XP pro system because of the new motherboard and/or other components.

    Do I just add the existing troubled drive to another box as a secondary drive...with the primary XP Pro drive as the startup drive and the potential trouble drive further down in the drive order in the bios ?

    If so...how do I verify that the drive is OK if I can access it...?...is that what HD Diagontics will do for the question drive installed as a "secondary drive" (sata 2) in my workling XP Pro computer ?

    Have attached PDF bios beep info for my AMI motherboard/system.

    On the beep codes...I do not understand the "Boot Block Beep Codes" and/or "Post Bios Beep Codes" ? I am getting the initial single post beep on power on...but no on screen bios info as usually...the I am now getting 2 quick beeps after about 20-25 seconds of black screen after initial single beep.



    Thanks...
    A few thoughts/suggestions... According to Asus's support site I believe you have a M4A785-M mobo... Your specs list as M4785M.

    I see that your mobo has an integrated video card... perhaps a recent BIOS update or reset has set your BIOS to the integrated card. Try a monitor on that video output to give you a working screen to set back to other card.

    It may also be RAM that isnt fully seated.

    ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-
      My Computer


 
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