Monitor receives no signal all of the sudden

[NinaJay]

Even though I have been missing for ages, I hope that my fellow seven forum friends could help me out here

Have been successfully using my graphics card for months with one little quirk. Whenever I shut down my computer and restart, in order for the monitor to detect a signal, I would have to pull out one stick of ram, restart and then I can use my computer as normal (if I immediately shut down and insert the second stick, all would work normally).

This was working successfully up until this week. My sister shut my computer down while I was away for a few weeks and I tried to start it (with only one stick of ram) and no matter what I do, my monitor does not detect a signal - at all.

I have since put in another graphics card (can't tell you what) and it is working no problems.

What to do from here?

I can't update the nVidia driver without the graphics card inserted - can't do it with the graphics card inserted as I can't see anything on the screen (won't work in safe mode either). anyone know a work around for this issue?

Have read a few different solutions including clearing the cmos but thought I would ask in here first Seven Forums has never let me down

Thanks guys

 

[freaky88]

maybe its the cable>?

 

[Jonathan_King]

I don't think it's the cable, given that another card works fine.

I suggest trying the card in another machine. If the same problem happens, it is probably safe to say the card is dead.

 

[thefabe]

Can you try your card in another system? Cause if you have put in a different card and it is working sounds to me like a bad card.
As far as the 1 stick of Ram deal you might want to run memtest and see if you have a bad stick Memtest86 - Download Page
You can check your MB manufacturers site and see if your board has a CMOS jumper if so shut down your system and switch it over to the other pins till the capacitors have fully discharged, replace it to normal position then restart. everything should then be set to default in the bios.DON'T turn it on with the junipers in the changed position.
If it doesn't have a CMOS jumper you can remove the battery for the same effect although I doubt your board is without a CMOS reset.
You can also try all the basic things like re-seating the card, making sure the power is plugged into the card if required,try a different slot if available or if it has and your using DVI try the other outlet.
Still sounds like a bad card to me if none of the above work.
Hopefully if I've missed something someone else can make suggestions. Fabe

 

[NinaJay]

Ok, I have a friend testing the card in a couple of his machines over the weekend.

Fabe - I don't know what the deal is with the one stick of ram thing but I read the tip on here(?) I think a while back and it has worked ever since. It's not a case of faulty ram.

Can someone tell me what exactly resetting the CMOS does and why this might be a cause? I have read on other forums about a similar problem and this is the solution. I thought I would rule out a bad card before trying this though.

I will be mighty annoyed if it is a bad card... two faulty cards in less than a year Not a good average.

Thanks for the help all

 

[Jonathan_King]

Resetting the CMOS would clear out all settings, including those related to the video card. If I understand correctly, the thought is to eliminate human error from the possibilities.

 

[NinaJay]

Resetting the CMOS would clear out all settings, including those related to the video card. If I understand correctly, the thought is to eliminate human error from the possibilities.

Well in my household, there is an abundance of human error so perhaps that should have been my first option

 

[Jonathan_King]

If another card worked fine, I doubt it's the issue.

I am with Eric- I suspect a failing video card.

 

[NinaJay]

OK, update... my friend tried my graphics card on a couple of his machines - no issues. Card works perfectly.

I am going to try and update the driver via vnc on Monday but in the meantime, any other suggestions?

There is no blue screen or anything like that. I can hear my computer start up but no signal received by the monitor. Odd.

 

[Jonathan_King]

I'm considering a BIOS update. Here is the support page for your motherboard Nina: Downloads - GIGABYTE

I'm not sure what motherboard exactly you have...select the correct one and install the latest BIOS.

 

[DocBrown]

Since you have 2 video cards, do you have 2 of the correct slots that you could install the 2 cards at the same time ? Then if you have an extra monitor, test both at the same time ?

At least if one monitor is working you could check in Device Mgr to see if the nVidia card is also recognized & possibly update the newest driver on your computer.

Just a crazy shot in the dark idea

 

[iseeuu]

OK, update... my friend tried my graphics card on a couple of his machines - no issues. Card works perfectly.

I am going to try and update the driver via vnc on Monday but in the meantime, any other suggestions?

There is no blue screen or anything like that. I can hear my computer start up but no signal received by the monitor. Odd.

Nina;

Looking at your specs I would suspect the 650W PSU is inadequate for your quad 4 processor and GTS 250. There will be a sticker on the side that lists the power values for the different voltages, also a google search of the model number will also locate the values. What kind of computer hardware did your friend have to test the card? Faster or slower processor? PSU? Over time a power supply may loose its ability to provide its max power ... especially an under powered one.

This is a link to the Antec Power Supply calculator ... will help size up power requirements based on your setup.

If it is not a power supply issue, then I would suspect this is a motherboard issue. Gigabyte quality seems to have fallen off over the years. I used to like Gigabyte. There would seem to be a conflict between the brand of video card and the brand of RAM and Gigabyte. It is possible that flashing the bios with the most current will provide a fix? Jonathan's link should provide you with the most current file, and you can flash the bios with your test video card that does not seem to conflict with the motherboard.

There is always risk in flashing to a new bios version, although I have never had one fail. Any risk is minimal if you have adequate battery backup (UPS) and do not lose power or interrupt the flashing process. The final step is to reset the bios to "default" values after flashing, then go back and select your preferred settings.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[AJF]

Similar Problem

With my problem, the video card (5670) worked fine for a couple of weeks then blank screen and monitor turns off with a "no signal" message right in the middle of Crysis starting up. Had me stumped as worked fine previously. Re-seated the card - nothing. Pulled the card out and used onboard video which sucked for gaming. Thought I'd try again a few days later and wham - up an running again. 5 days later (today) right in the middle of browsing email and typing doc, same thing. Blank screen with "no signal" message had to force shutdown and take out card to get the onboard video going again. Running the latest Catalyst and system up to date with latest MB BIOS flash a month ago.
Any hints would help.

 

[NinaJay]

Sorry I haven't been back earlier - I've only just had a chance to flash the bios (long working week )

Seems that was the solution to my problem

I flashed the bios - restarted - power down and reseated my GTS250 card. Restarted with no dramas and perfect picture.

Thanks to all those that have helped.

I should probably start a new thread but I have now got the message that the windows copy I have isn't genuine and it requires activation. Is this a case of calling them and telling them I have flashed the MB?

 

[iseeuu]

Sorry I haven't been back earlier - I've only just had a chance to flash the bios (long working week )

Seems that was the solution to my problem

I flashed the bios - restarted - power down and reseated my GTS250 card. Restarted with no dramas and perfect picture.

Thanks to all those that have helped.

I should probably start a new thread but I have now got the message that the windows copy I have isn't genuine and it requires activation. Is this a case of calling them and telling them I have flashed the MB?

HI Nina! Jonathan will be especially happy to hear his idea worked for you, as are we all. Good news!

Yes, if an 'activation' does not fix it, then a call to MS should. Last time I had to make the call it was painless. ha ha!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[NinaJay]

Sorry I haven't been back earlier - I've only just had a chance to flash the bios (long working week )

Seems that was the solution to my problem

I flashed the bios - restarted - power down and reseated my GTS250 card. Restarted with no dramas and perfect picture.

Thanks to all those that have helped.

I should probably start a new thread but I have now got the message that the windows copy I have isn't genuine and it requires activation. Is this a case of calling them and telling them I have flashed the MB?

HI Nina! Jonathan will be especially happy to hear his idea worked for you, as are we all. Good news!

Yes, if an 'activation' does not fix it, then a call to MS should. Last time I had to make the call it was painless. ha ha!

Cheers!
Robert

Thanks Robert - I tried repping all you guys for helping/trying to help but apparently I have repped you all too much

Hmmm, it seems the windows message has gone away for now? Lets hope it stays away lol

 

[iseeuu]

Sorry I haven't been back earlier - I've only just had a chance to flash the bios (long working week )

Seems that was the solution to my problem

I flashed the bios - restarted - power down and reseated my GTS250 card. Restarted with no dramas and perfect picture.

Thanks to all those that have helped.

I should probably start a new thread but I have now got the message that the windows copy I have isn't genuine and it requires activation. Is this a case of calling them and telling them I have flashed the MB?

HI Nina! Jonathan will be especially happy to hear his idea worked for you, as are we all. Good news!

Yes, if an 'activation' does not fix it, then a call to MS should. Last time I had to make the call it was painless. ha ha!

Cheers!
Robert

Thanks Robert - I tried repping all you guys for helping/trying to help but apparently I have repped you all too much

Hmmm, it seems the windows message has gone away for now? Lets hope it stays away lol

Nina, rep is not necessary but the thought is worth more than any rep.

I was not aware that a bios update would trigger a 're-activation' but who knows? Hopefully you will have no more activation issues?

Cheers!

 

[NinaJay]

Boo :-(

Thought I had resolved the issue but apparently not.

I am thinking I have an 'intermittently' faulty graphics card (a bit like my last one :sarc.

Was working fine for a week or so then the computer would go into sleep/hibernate and monitor would not come back on (I can hear the computer firing up after pressing space bar but no signal to the screen).

Reboot worked the first and second time but not the last time.

I now have another graphics card installed and it has worked fine without failure.

I have pulled the case apart, cleaned all traces of dust and build up from the cover (was thinking a poor circulation issue was causing the case to overheat and shut down card even though MoBo temp has been stable.

So, if it's a faulty MoBo, why is it working with a different card?
Same story if possibly faulty ram (which I doubt, ran Memtest overnight with no errors)
Why a graphics card that works sometimes and why does it only fail after a system sleep?

Frustrating as hell.

Am going to try and reseat the card and see if it works now and update the nVidia drivers (something I SHOULD have done after flashing the bios...d'oh).

Sorry, not really expecting answers, just talking/pondering out loud here

 

[Jonathan_King]

Here is the nVidia download link: Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers

A faulty card can act up in any circumstance. If you had said the monitor would not turn on after sleep, I would have suspected drivers, possibly hardware.

Since it's after hibernate, I suspect a bad card is the cause. Supported by the fact that the problem went away when you switched cards.

 

[NinaJay]

Ok, so I reseated cards... started up fine. I updated the driver but while having my case open (and the nVidia card in place and working), I have noticed the fan on the card has not started once. All other fans on the CPU/Case are working. It is not usual for a graphics card to not start up at all for 5 minutes straight is it?

I am thinking this may be the cause.

Is there any chance I have put one of the cables in backwards (I have one of those tiny two-pin cables that plugs in but apparently goes either way - sorry, I don't know the name of it). I put it the way that logically looks correct to me but I find it odd that the fan is not running.

Might be another trip back to the supplier.

I really have had my fair share of bad cards in the past 9 months :sarc:

PS thanks for the driver link always going that extra step Jonathon... one of the many reasons you are a highly valued member here