Problem: monitor spontaneously turns black

[bboss]

Windows 7 Ultimate OS Service Pack Service Pack 1
CPU Type - Intel Core 2 Duo E7400, 1600 MHz (6 x 267)
Motherboard - Shuttle FG33M (1 PCI, 1 PCI-E x16, 2 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Video, Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset - Intel Bearlake G33
System Memory - 4096 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
Video Adapter - NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 (2048 MB)

I'm using my TV as a monitor - Sharp LC-37GX3W Digital Hi-vision, connected by DVI cable.

I have a problem - my monitor spontaneously turns black when I work on my computer, doesn't matter how long I work and what I do on it. It may happen when I'm watching movie or trying to close some program or doing something in Photoshop and so on.

Originally for about 3 years I was using Nvidia Quadro FX560, but since I'm working usually with Photoshop and audio-video editors I decided to buy new one just couple weeks ago. The FX560 also were giving me a hard times time to time - usually it was broken monitor effect, sometimes BSOD (though I'm not so sure that the reason was my graphic card), but it monitor never turns off by it self. I did some RAM tests and there was no errors.
After I installed my new GT610 with new driver (first I tried 306.97-desktop-win8-win7-winvista-64bit-english-whql, and then 310.64-desktop-win8-win7-winvista-64bit-english-beta - monitor was turning off on the both of these drivers) my monitor spontaneously turns black and it sounds like BSOD when I watch some movie. I couldn't see but I could hear the sound when sound got stuck.

I did some tests for GT610 - hairy cube, hairy donut, AIDA64 system stability test, OCCTPT - there was no errors. Once monitor went black again as usual since I was running test on background while doing something but I don't remember which test I was running.

Please help!!!
I don't know what to do.

 

[TVeblen]

When you replaced the Quadro card, did you first:

• uninstall ALL of the nVidia software from Programs, and then remove the driver.
• Shut down the PC, then switch to the new card.

 

[bboss]

I did uninstall all nvidia softwares and driver, restarted and install new softwares and driver.
But I think first I took off my old card and insert new one and then uninstall everything.

 

[TVeblen]

Ahh. That may have caused a problem.

I suggest doing a clean reinstall of the driver.

You could just use that function in the nVidia driver package, if you click around you will see an option to "remove old drivers" or "clean install".

I personally favor a manual approach for a really clean install:

• Go to the nVidia website and download the most current known good driver and save it to an easy to find location.
• Now go into Windows Explorer and in the C: drive find the nVidia folder (inside will be Drivers > your driver version) and delete it (the whole folder).
• Go into Start > Control Panel > Remove a Program and uninstall all programs for the video card. Do PhysX and Stereoscopic 3D first, then the driver. The control panel will uninstall with the driver. Do not restart the computer at this time.
• Run DriverSweeper to uninstall all video remnants Guru3D - Driver Sweeper .
  
• Restart the computer.
• When it reaches the desktop Windows will find new hardware and will install it's own WDDM1.1 driver. Let it. You will be asked to restart. Do it.
• Once back on the desktop you can now install the nVidia driver package for your card.

Use caution when using Driversweeper, particularly if you have a nVidia or AMD chipset on your motherboard. You only want to remove graphics drivers, not the chipset ones. If you are unsure, skip this step.

See if that helps.

 

[bboss]

Thank you I'll do that.
And actually I did a "clean install" while installing nvidia package. There was a custom choice and then I could chose "clean installation". But I'll do your way anyway.

 

[TVeblen]

At least that will eliminate a driver conflict as a possible cause.

 

[bboss]

After all there is some changes:
first two times when it crashed again monitor stayed on so I could see the warning -
sorry couldn't screenshot it,
second time the program just got white but all other programs was working fine -
so I could kill the problem program,
but then third time it happen the same way -
screen at first went black and then it was sound like BSOD.

But I'm still testing.

 

[TVeblen]

Let us know what the warning said, the best you can remember it.

Another test you can do is to uninstall the graphics drivers again, but this time when Windows installs that first generic driver just run it on that (no nVidia driver).

 

[bboss]

There was many error windows popped up with OpenGL error. That's what I remember.
And in 2-3 days I'll try that test.

 

[bboss]

so far so good
may be 3 more days...

 

[bboss]

I'm still having the same problems after one week test. It's still turns my monitor black and then BSOD (during watching video it's sounds like...).
So my next try is to uninstall nvidia driver+driver sweeping. And test with Windows driver.

 

[bboss]

I'm testing now with Windows driver only. Quality is very bad on my TV with this driver.

 

[bboss]

My apology to everyone. I've been away a while. Life has many turns...
Anyways, I'm running my computer without Nvidia driver installed. So it is Windows driver only.
And for a couple of months there was no problem what so ever.

Since all tests for my graphic card was fine may be its time for me to upgrade my computer.
And thank you all for your help.

 

[TVeblen]

Yours is an interesting case. It is strange indeed that the nVidia driver won't run on your system.
An upgrade would certainly solve the problem!