Custom built PC black screens on first boot(s)

wisecraker1 · 04 Oct 2013

Hello,

I have a custom built PC that I put together about 3 1/2 months ago (the specs are up-to-date).
The problem is that after restarting, or shutting down the first time I try to boot is a black screen with a flashing white underscore _ that continues on endlessly (the most I waited before holding the power button was ~5 minutes).

Possibly unrelated, but who knows, on the Windows Log-on screen nearly 90% of the time when resuming from sleep or turning on, repeats a letter I press around 10 times or so. This also happens when typing normally in applications such as Safari (twice so far while typing this up) and Office.

Any help is much appreciated!

ascomputers · 05 Oct 2013

so can you log into windows? have you tried a windows restore?

Mellon Head · 05 Oct 2013

You could try going into BIOS and lowering your memory speed, or increasing your timings (specifically CAS, tRCD, TRP and tRAS) temporarily. It sounds like a memory issue to me. I had a similar problem using 12 GB in my rig. I had to lower the RAM speed and adjust the timings to have it boot reliably.

Can you post the RAM timings from your sticks and what you have them set to in BIOS?

wisecraker1 · 05 Oct 2013

Yes, and I performed Windows restore to the farthest date back, with no success. I will look into the RAM settings on the BIOS once I get home, but I haven't manually over-clocked anything as far as I know.

Viscon · 05 Oct 2013

Mellon Head said:

You could try going into BIOS and lowering your memory speed, or increasing your timings (specifically CAS, tRCD, TRP and tRAS) temporarily. It sounds like a memory issue to me. I had a similar problem using 12 GB in my rig. I had to lower the RAM speed and adjust the timings to have it boot reliably.

This and you may also check RAM volatge if it's set as recommended in BIOS.
Very often BIOS sets RAM voltage a bit too conservative.
Another thing is SATA cable could get loose. Unplug and plug again or try another one.
Make sure PSU cables are plugged firmly too, although if they were not you'd probably experience random reboots.

Mellon Head · 06 Oct 2013

wisecraker1 said:

Yes, and I performed Windows restore to the farthest date back, with no success. I will look into the RAM settings on the BIOS once I get home, but I haven't manually over-clocked anything as far as I know.

I'm not talking about overclocking. You may have to relax your RAM timings slightly to get the machine to boot reliably. Sometimes having large amounts of RAM or large capacity RAM sticks can cause problems with the memory controller in your PC. Sometimes large RAM sticks will not run properly at their rated speed without some adjustments.

Post your RAM settings when you get to them, please. We need to have someplace to start.

wisecraker1 · 06 Oct 2013

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 2x8GB 240-pin DDR3 Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM
All settings in BIOS:
Voltage: 1.5
System Agent Voltage: 0.925
Memory Multiplier Speed: 12
DIMM Reference Voltage Training: Automatic
Host Clock Frequency: 100
Memory Speed: 1600Mhz

tCl: 9
tRCD: 9
tRP: 9
tRAS min: 24
tRFC: 208
tRRD: 5
tWTR: 6
tRTP: 6
tWR: 12
tRC: 33
tFAW: 24
Command Rate: 27

I have no idea what these mean :P

gregrocker · 06 Oct 2013

Please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
so we can check your disk configuration.

Try another keyboard.

wisecraker1 · 07 Oct 2013

Here is the Disk Management screenshot.

I tried another keyboard (on the same USB port and another) with the same issue.

gregrocker · 07 Oct 2013

Looks correct.

Reset the BIOS to defaults after taking note of SATA controller setting. What is it?
Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Is there a BIOS update? Is there an SSD firmware update?