Screen goes black, then on again.

[bigseb]

Yesterday, out of the blue, my screen goes completely black. then 3 seconds later its on again. It has been doing this since then at irregular intervals from a minute to 30 minutes apart. When it come back on it does not show the Phillips logo (as it normally does when the screen is switched on from an off state). Also when it comes on again I get the 'device plugged in' notification.

This is very annoying. I design for a living so I need this to work. Any ideas re troubleshooting are appreciated.

The screen is connected with a HDMI cable. The rest of my system specs are on my spec sheet.

 

[bigseb]

^^ Just occured to me that it may the graphics card and not the screen itself. Dunno. Or a virus? Please help.

 

[sygnus21]

Ironically I'm getting the same issues under Windows 8.1. Been researching it on the net and some speculate it's a Windows update, especially in Windows 8.1

In fact I was going to post it in the Windows eightforums, but haven't as of yet. BTW I'm not sure it's the GPU.

Anyway I'm as baffled as anyone else as mines seems to happen when I'm on net listening to or watching media content.

 

[Britton30]

If possible try a different monitor, or the problem one on a different PC/Laptop.

Also a different HDMI cable or try using the DVI or VGA adapter.

 

[bigseb]

Its not an update as Windows only notifies me when updates are available. Haven't installed any in a week.

Its been really hot here lately, about 38 degrees 3 days straight. Was wondering if that couldn't cause it. But then even if I leave the PC off overnight it does it first thing.

I thought it might be the cable but how will the cable become defective just like that?

Confused .

 

[Britton30]

Have no idea, but you have to do something to test.

 

[bigseb]

True have nothing to test with at the moment though.

Also just noticed that whenever the screen thing happens my NumLock switches off...

 

[madcratebuilder]

Its not an update as Windows only notifies me when updates are available. Haven't installed any in a week.

Its been really hot here lately, about 38 degrees 3 days straight. Was wondering if that couldn't cause it. But then even if I leave the PC off overnight it does it first thing.

I thought it might be the cable but how will the cable become defective just like that?

Confused .

I recently had this same occurrence, short period of black screen, artifacts on initial boot. The gpu eventually died within a few weeks. It was the master card in a crossfire install so easy to diagnose. The new master gpu (former slave) runs 8-10C cooler than the one it replaced.

 

[Britton30]

True have nothing to test with at the moment though.

Also just noticed that whenever the screen thing happens my NumLock switches off...

Hmm, that would seem to mean the system is shutting down and USB is powered off.

Do you have a friend/relative with a PC you can test on?

 

[Mellon Head]

Hmm, that would seem to mean the system is shutting down and USB is powered off.

I think that would cause the PC to reboot, wouldn't it?

I was thinking if there is a USB connection to the monitor (for audio maybe), the monitor could be cutting out momentarily and taking the USB with it.

I have a monitor at work that does this (less the USB/NUM lock problem). Something inside it gets too warm and the screen goes blank. After a while, when the thing cools off, the screen comes back. The cooler the room, the less it happens. bigseb's monitor might have an overheating component which is affected by the hot weather and is doing the same thing. I'm darned if I can explain the NUM lock though...

 

[bigseb]

Right, here is the full story as I am having no luck:

On Tuesday, while busy working, my screen suddenly goes black. About 3 seconds later its on again. In the background I hear the 'device plugged in' notification from Windows. A while later this happens again. And again and again and so on.


Today, Thursday, the problem is still there although it seems to have shifted slightly. The screen still goes black as I mentioned earlier however it only seems to happen when I use a program with a white background eg. browsing certain forums and websites that have white backgrounds or using my design software to create technical drawings. Another thing I noticed is that very often is that the keyboard seems to stop working intermittently, again this is accompanied with the 'device removed'/device plugged in' notification. This happen quite a lot is very annoying, not to mention cutting into my time.


Steps I have taken so far:

• rebooted PC
• switched off PC, unplugged everything including wall socket, and held in on button to properly lose all charge.
• Changed batteries in wireless mouse.
• Plugged in one device at a time to find guilty one.
• Changed keyboard.
• Switched monitor cables HDMI to DVI
• Reinstalled graphics driver

None of these helped. I don't have a back-up monitor so I can't check that. I really need to find a fix for this. All help appreciated.

 

[Britton30]

I know it's like a rat's nest, but you might try delving into the System Event logs to maybe fine a clue.
The unplugging device sound still make me think for some reason the machine may be powering off? When it comes back on the device gets plugged back in.

You might try monitoring your power supply with HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools, Click the Download Now, next window the Download Installer for your bit version.
It has a logging feature to keep track of the values. Run it in Sensors Only, scroll down to the Volts section, may be under Nuvtron, to see what the volts are reading.

 

[sygnus21]

Right, here is the full story as I am having no luck:

On Tuesday, while busy working, my screen suddenly goes black. About 3 seconds later its on again. In the background I hear the 'device plugged in' notification from Windows. A while later this happens again. And again and again and so on.


Today, Thursday, the problem is still there although it seems to have shifted slightly. The screen still goes black as I mentioned earlier however it only seems to happen when I use a program with a white background eg. browsing certain forums and websites that have white backgrounds or using my design software to create technical drawings. Another thing I noticed is that very often is that the keyboard seems to stop working intermittently, again this is accompanied with the 'device removed'/device plugged in' notification. This happen quite a lot is very annoying, not to mention cutting into my time.


Steps I have taken so far:

• rebooted PC
• switched off PC, unplugged everything including wall socket, and held in on button to properly lose all charge.
• Changed batteries in wireless mouse.
• Plugged in one device at a time to find guilty one.
• Changed keyboard.
• Switched monitor cables HDMI to DVI
• Reinstalled graphics driver

None of these helped. I don't have a back-up monitor so I can't check that. I really need to find a fix for this. All help appreciated.

Are you running IE11?

I'm having basically the same issue under Windows 8.1, which obviously is running IE11. Anyway I ask because some think it has to do with an IE11 update. Which?... I'm not sure.

 

[bigseb]

No I use FF. Just unplugged the graphics card, took it out, cleaned the contacts and reinserted. Testing again. If it still doesn't work then I'll have to call my IT guy tomorrow...

 

[sygnus21]

Good luck. And unfortunately, your issue could be caused by a myriad of things to include a failing PS to a failing GPU, and everything in between

Hopefully you get it sorted.

Peace

 

[bigseb]

Okay, took out the graphics card, cleaned it up (very very dusty; spiderwebs in case too...) and reinserted. Changed keyboard too since I think the original failed (only 14 months old though). So far so good...

 

[bigseb]

UPDATE: IT guy checked out PC, ran all sorts of test, couldn't find any problem. He thinks it may be the power as that was the only different factor. Ran extension cord from another room and hey presto... all problems gone. Recently bought a UPS, plugged it into original wall socket and all problems reappear. Weird, I thought the UPS would iron out any current issues...