After installing new Radeon GPU and drivers, Windows stuck at starting

[Docus]

I just received my new ASUS HD7850-DC-2GD5 video card. I installed it, booted up Windows, and installed the drivers from the included CD. Then I rebooted Windows. However, my system hangs at the 'Starting Windows' screen. Actually, it seems that only the video hangs--because if I type in my password and hit enter, as if I could see the welcome screen, I hear the 'correct' sound that normally plays when I log in. I just can't *see* what's going on.

I reset the system and booted into safe mode, where I entered Device Manager and uninstalled the HD7850 display adapter. Then I rebooted Windows, and again I'm able to operate normally -- but without the AMD Radeon drivers. I've tried downloading the latest drivers from the AMD website, but installing those leads to the same problem. I get stuck at the 'Starting Windows' screen.

This has me totally perplexed... I bought an ASUS-branded card specifically to try and avoid drama, as I also have an ASUS mobo (the P8Z68-VPRO/GEN3). My CPU is an i7 2700k, not currently overclocked at all. My PSU is an XFX PRO850W XXX Edition Semi-Modular 88Plus 850 Watt PSU, which should be up to the task, right?

Anyone have any clue why this is happening?

 

[Solarstarshines]

go to amd.com get the drivers from there the disc drivers offers alot of issues which you will see the 12.3 will fix all that

 

[Docus]

go to amd.com get the drivers from there the disc drivers offers alot of issues which you will see the 12.3 will fix all that

Hi, thanks for replying. I've already tried the latest drivers, but have the same problem.

 

[alishathomaz]

If you have updated drivers and still the problem exists, then perform the following tasks::

Install and run antispyware software
Free up wasted space with Disk Cleanup tool
Defragment your hard disk drive


Click Start - Run, type in %temp% and then click OK.

Once that temp folder is open and you can view its contents, select and delete EVERYTHING that's inside it.

It's all junk and is a good place for "nasties" to hide.

If a few files resist being deleted, that's normal. Leave them alone and delete EVERYTHING else.

Repeat the steps with c:\windows\temp

After you're done with both temp folders, restart the computer.

 

[Docus]

OK, I tried these tasks. Still no change. I'm back in safe mode atm so I can disable the Radeon drivers again.

 

[Docus]

Does anyone know a way I can test the video card itself? I don't have a second desktop to swap it into, unfortunately.

 

[Solarstarshines]

i would RMA or Exchange for a new one and see if that was the reason won't be the first time a bad card has ben sold out of the box

Might just be a debunked card

 

[Docus]

Well, I'm getting video output from the card as long as I don't enable the Radeon drivers. My monitors are plugged into the video card, not the onboard graphics. And the fans are spinning. Does that count for something? I'd rather avoid the hassle and expense of sending this thing back if there are other troubleshooting steps to take first.

 

[Docus]

Alright I'm sending it back. $13 and another week wasted... if the replacement doesn't work, I'm going with NVidia

 

[Solarstarshines]

Reason i said this ih ave the same issue with a diamond hd 6870 it would run but when it came to use-ing the drivers it failed too man times to count you might have this issue


Timeout Detection and Recovery of GPUs through WDDM

which in my case none of the fixes worked had to RMA my card and Diamond themselves said my card was shot just right at the 2 year mark warrenty kicked in and i was saved

 

[alishathomaz]

Disable ATI Catalyst:

It is a device driver program for ATI Graphic Cards. Disabling it can solve this problem:

Click Start, point to All Programs | Accessories and select Run.
Type RegEdit and press ENTER.
Expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT -> Directory -> Background -> ShellEX -> ContextMenuHandlers.
Delete the key named ACE and then close the Registry Editor.

 

[Docus]

OK, I received my replacement card today. Still having the same problem. Apparently it's not an issue with the card itself.

Can anyone recommend my next step??

 

[Docus]

OK I've managed to get it working -- sort of. I tried installing a fresh copy of Windows 7 on my second hard drive, and then immediately installed the ATI drivers as soon as it was up and running. That worked -- the card is recognized. However, I'd really love to be able to get it working on my existing copy of Windows 7, which is on my SSD drive and which I've already configured. I really don't want to have to format my drive and go through the hassle of re-installing every program and hunting for license keys for everything.

To try and recreate the environment of a fresh installation, I've tried to disable the Intel 3000 display drivers. I've already uninstalled the ATI drivers completely. Now my device manager just shows the Standard VGA Graphics Adapter and the Video Controller. However, when I try booting into normal windows, it stalls at the Starting Windows screen (just like it did when trying to load the Radeon drivers). I can only access windows through safe mode now. Ugh.

Does anyone have an idea of how I can keep my existing installation of Windows but get this *#$! card working? I've tried the trick of uninstalling everything from ATI/AMD, including cleaning out the registry and appdata folders. That just didn't work.

 

[windude99]

Did you uninstall the drivers in safe mode?

 

[Docus]

No, I removed the card, booted into safe mode, disabled the radeon driver, rebooted into normal windows, and then deleted the drivers, as well as all appdata and other folders, registry entries, etc.

I gave up and just reformatted my SSD I've got the card working now. No idea what was installed previously that was preventing the drivers from working correctly. If some update or reinstallation causes problems I'll post about it here, in case others come across the same problem.

 

[VandaLzd]

Hi, i just recived my Asus HD7850 today and had the same problem but i managed to deal with it... appearenty problem was in one app called iDisplay that extends destop to my android phone. I uninstaled it from safe mode and after restat win loaded normaly... Maybe you have some application that is interfearng with video drivers....

best luck.

my spec:
CPU: i5 2500k @ 4,4 under Mugen 2 rev.B
MBO: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
RAM: Kingston DDR3 8GB 1600MHz HyperX
HDD: WDC WD6401AALS-00L3B2 (596 GB) + WDC WD10EARS-00Y5B1 (931 GB)
VGA: Sapphire HD 5770, 1GB GDDR5 128bit
PSU: Corsair VX450
Monitor: ACER V233HAbd @1080p
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Mouse: MX1000
Keyboard: Genius KB-G235
Headset: KOSS SB45

 

[MartinL]

Had problem similar to OP while attempting to reinstall Windows 7. I could hear Windows 7 booting up but the display was stuck to the background. Turns out that displays were set incorrectly and my monitor was looking at the right (or left, not sure) of where the action was. I found this out by disconnecting the second DisplayPort from the card and then the display looked correct.
Lesson learned: When display looks stuck, make sure to move mouse way over to the right or to the left. If the mouse goes by, the displays might be set incorrectly.
In my case, the second DisplayPort is connected to the TV which wasn't on when I was reinstalling Windows 7. It was a fluke that I decided to try removing its connector.

Note that I do realize that the above may not explain the problem and the fix for the OP. I am posting in case this helps someone avoid the frustration I had of looking at a "stuck" display for way too many times!

 

[Solarstarshines]

I can tell you if you have some sort of onboard graphics that might be what is conflicting the whole set up

Usually if it is onboard graphics it's best to install win7 first WITHOUT GPU

Then install Gpu after set up is finished I find this the best way for it work But this is off of a clean install

also if you are using Sandy bridge 2500k I think it has a hd graphics which might be hindering you untill win7 install is complete just a thought