Suddenly get blank/dark W7 Pro screens only ?

[trinaz]

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

 

[Darryl Licht]

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.

 

[Jonathan_King]

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

 

[trinaz]

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

 

[trinaz]

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

 

[Jonathan_King]

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

HD Diagnostic

 

[trinaz]

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...

 

[Jonathan_King]

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.

 

[K3VL4R]

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.

 

[Darryl Licht]

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-

 

[trinaz]

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.

Thanks..have pretty much done most above but will redo in a systematic order and try again. Did put the drive in another system in the house and HD Diagnostics did say there were errors...but also said it repaired the errors ?

Best I can tell on the on-board video from the manual...that has to be enabled/disable through bios...which I can not get to upon power on...only black screen ?

However....what's confusing me is that when starting up without the drive in the problem box...I still get the same result....single beep followed thereafter by double beep and black screen.

Would the bios not still load the system (ie...normal 2 screen bios/system readout on the screen ) and then stop the problem was the HDD ?

My problem now is I can not even get to the 1st screen of the bios in order to hit delete to enter the bios...only get a blank/dark screen.

Will pickup a couple more sticks this morning and run thru everything again...and post back.

Thanks again....Tim

 

[Darryl Licht]

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.

Thanks..have pretty much done most above but will redo in a systematic order and try again. Did put the drive in another system in the house and HD Diagnostics did say there were errors...but also said it repaired the errors ?

Best I can tell on the on-board video from the manual...that has to be enabled/disable through bios...which I can not get to upon power on...only black screen ?

However....what's confusing me is that when starting up without the drive in the problem box...I still get the same result....single beep followed thereafter by double beep and black screen.

Would the bios not still load the system (ie...normal 2 screen bios/system readout on the screen ) and then stop the problem was the HDD ?

My problem now is I can not even get to the 1st screen of the bios in order to hit delete to enter the bios...only get a blank/dark screen.

Will pickup a couple more sticks this morning and run thru everything again...and post back.

Thanks again....Tim

Dont go out and buy RAM to troubleshoot! Do what you can first....

Remove video card(s) and try plugging in a monitor to the on board video... see if you get different results.

 

[trinaz]

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-

Thanks so much...I had thought about the onboard video but it's only accessible via bios and I couldn't get to bios screens...didn't consider it could have phantomly be switched. Attached one monitor to the onboard port and voila...system bios screens booted and Windows 7 started !!!

That's the good news...

Restarted the PC and entered bios to change the bios settings back to external PCIE video....left the bios screen at the onboard video screen to go down stairs to my XP machine with manual in PDF to be sure of which of the four options was for PCIE...when I went back upstairs...the system was off....tried to restart but now ONLY my fans (including power supply fan) start for about 3 seconds and then everything shuts down...don't even get a single post beep now ?

Checked and rechecked all power supply line connections...all are tight and secure...including the main MB 24 pin connection and ATX 12V connection.

Just tried a brand new power unit...but no change (same line checks as above).

The little green led on the board is on...but now only results of power-on is fan motions briefly.

Any ideas on what's now happening here ?

Tim

 

[K3VL4R]

Dont go out and buy RAM to troubleshoot! Do what you can first....

Remove video card(s) and try plugging in a monitor to the on board video... see if you get different results.

Sure, I did not ask the OP if the system had more than one stick of RAM so they could try them one at a time in different slots to troubleshoot, but nowhere in there did I mention buying anything.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Sure, I did not ask the OP if the system had more than one stick of RAM so they could try them one at a time in different slots to troubleshoot, but nowhere in there did I mention buying anything.

Dont get your panties in a wad... OP said in that post (near end)...

Will pickup a couple more sticks this morning and run thru everything again...and post back.

I was suggesting he not.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Thanks so much...I had thought about the onboard video but it's only accessible via bios and I couldn't get to bios screens...didn't consider it could have phantomly be switched. Attached one monitor to the onboard port and voila...system bios screens booted and Windows 7 started !!!

That's the good news...

Restarted the PC and entered bios to change the bios settings back to external PCIE video....left the bios screen at the onboard video screen to go down stairs to my XP machine with manual in PDF to be sure of which of the four options was for PCIE...when I went back upstairs...the system was off....tried to restart but now ONLY my fans (including power supply fan) start for about 3 seconds and then everything shuts down...don't even get a single post beep now ?

Checked and rechecked all power supply line connections...all are tight and secure...including the main MB 24 pin connection and ATX 12V connection.

Just tried a brand new power unit...but no change (same line checks as above).

The little green led on the board is on...but now only results of power-on is fan motions briefly.

Any ideas on what's now happening here ?

Tim

Well I was gonna say congratulation... but hmmm! Any unique smells in the room when you got back? Got ghosts? Gremlins?

All kidding aside, you did try a different PSU and no change?

 

[K3VL4R]

Dont get your panties in a wad... OP said in that post (near end)...


I was suggesting he not.

There might be some torn ones around here, but none in wad.

Anyway, sorry for the confusion. Still not sure why I quoted you, maybe because I thought the OP was gonna buy RAM because of something in my post and was feeling bad about it. I got to start using smileys so people can understand me better.

:cheers: <--- BTW: We should have one of those smileys on this site for times like this.

 

[K3VL4R]

Restarted the PC and entered bios to change the bios settings back to external PCIE video....left the bios screen at the onboard video screen to go down stairs to my XP machine with manual in PDF to be sure of which of the four options was for PCIE...when I went back upstairs...the system was off....tried to restart but now ONLY my fans (including power supply fan) start for about 3 seconds and then everything shuts down...don't even get a single post beep now ?

Checked and rechecked all power supply line connections...all are tight and secure...including the main MB 24 pin connection and ATX 12V connection.

Just tried a brand new power unit...but no change (same line checks as above).

The little green led on the board is on...but now only results of power-on is fan motions briefly.

Any ideas on what's now happening here ?

Tim

Things just seem to be getting worse for you. What you should try now if you have not got it working yet is to start off fresh.

   Note

This will reset settings in your BIOS to default so make sure to get in, if you can, and write down your settings first
.
.

-shut down the computer
-turn off PSU switch (if there is one) and unplug the power cable from the PSU
-hold down the power button on your computer to drain any residual power from the computer (MB light will turn on then die out)
-Check this page here and follow the directions for resetting the CMOS via the jumpers and take out battery for about 10 mins or so (just to be sure)
-return jumper to original position and replace the battery.
-take out all RAM dimms but one (leave in first slot)
-you have on board video, so remove your video card(s) and plug in monitor to on board
-remove any other non essential item like pci(e) cards (sound cards etc) and usb devices.

This is basically the same as my other post except your doing a hard reset on the CMOS this time. As stated before if it gets working, install devices one by one and reboot between each to find out which one is the culprit.

 

[trinaz]

Restarted the PC and entered bios to change the bios settings back to external PCIE video....left the bios screen at the onboard video screen to go down stairs to my XP machine with manual in PDF to be sure of which of the four options was for PCIE...when I went back upstairs...the system was off....tried to restart but now ONLY my fans (including power supply fan) start for about 3 seconds and then everything shuts down...don't even get a single post beep now ?

Checked and rechecked all power supply line connections...all are tight and secure...including the main MB 24 pin connection and ATX 12V connection.

Just tried a brand new power unit...but no change (same line checks as above).

The little green led on the board is on...but now only results of power-on is fan motions briefly.

Any ideas on what's now happening here ?

Tim

Things just seem to be getting worse for you. What you should try now if you have not got it working yet is to start off fresh.

   Note

This will reset settings in your BIOS to default so make sure to get in, if you can, and write down your settings first
.
.

-shut down the computer
-turn off PSU switch (if there is one) and unplug the power cable from the PSU
-hold down the power button on your computer to drain any residual power from the computer (MB light will turn on then die out)
-Check this page here and follow the directions for resetting the CMOS via the jumpers and take out battery for about 10 mins or so (just to be sure)
-return jumper to original position and replace the battery.
-take out all RAM dimms but one (leave in first slot)
-you have on board video, so remove your video card(s) and plug in monitor to on board
-remove any other non essential item like pci(e) cards (sound cards etc) and usb devices.

This is basically the same as my other post except your doing a hard reset on the CMOS this time. As stated before if it gets working, install devices one by one and reboot between each to find out which one is the culprit.

OK..thanks again guys for all your efforts....did not smell anything at all and was only gone about a minute or so down stairs ??? Yes I did get a new power supply and same thing...fans start for a few seconds and then everything stops...little green light is on the whole time.

To get the fans only running for a second or too though....I have to turn off power supply via switch on back of PC and turn back on to get fan action however.

If I just try to start...fans start and stop..and then don't turn the switch on the back off and back on...nothing happens...no fans...no nothing,

That little annoying thing called work is going to slow me down today...will post back after following above suggestions...

Thanks, Tim

 

[Darryl Licht]

Restarted the PC and entered bios to change the bios settings back to external PCIE video....left the bios screen at the onboard video screen to go down stairs to my XP machine with manual in PDF to be sure of which of the four options was for PCIE...when I went back upstairs...the system was off....tried to restart but now ONLY my fans (including power supply fan) start for about 3 seconds and then everything shuts down...don't even get a single post beep now ?

Checked and rechecked all power supply line connections...all are tight and secure...including the main MB 24 pin connection and ATX 12V connection.

Just tried a brand new power unit...but no change (same line checks as above).

The little green led on the board is on...but now only results of power-on is fan motions briefly.

Any ideas on what's now happening here ?

Tim

Things just seem to be getting worse for you. What you should try now if you have not got it working yet is to start off fresh.

   Note

This will reset settings in your BIOS to default so make sure to get in, if you can, and write down your settings first
.
.

-shut down the computer
-turn off PSU switch (if there is one) and unplug the power cable from the PSU
-hold down the power button on your computer to drain any residual power from the computer (MB light will turn on then die out)
-Check this page here and follow the directions for resetting the CMOS via the jumpers and take out battery for about 10 mins or so (just to be sure)
-return jumper to original position and replace the battery.
-take out all RAM dimms but one (leave in first slot)
-you have on board video, so remove your video card(s) and plug in monitor to on board
-remove any other non essential item like pci(e) cards (sound cards etc) and usb devices.

This is basically the same as my other post except your doing a hard reset on the CMOS this time. As stated before if it gets working, install devices one by one and reboot between each to find out which one is the culprit.

OK..thanks again guys for all your efforts....did not smell anything at all and was only gone about a minute or so down stairs ??? Yes I did get a new power supply and same thing...fans start for a few seconds and then everything stops...little green light is on the whole time.

To get the fans only running for a second or too though....I have to turn off power supply via switch on back of PC and turn back on to get fan action however.

If I just try to start...fans start and stop..and then don't turn the switch on the back off and back on...nothing happens...no fans...no nothing,

That little annoying thing called work is going to slow me down today...will post back after following above suggestions...

Thanks, Tim

Just a thought... I had a system once that had a quirky PSU... it would do just as you describe. Until I unplugged the power cord for about 30 seconds... after that it would boot fine!

ALso chec the wires going to mobo for power and reset... perhaps one isnt making good contact?