Screen goes black when playing a game

[Goro]

For the last few weeks I'm encountering a serious problem. When I play a game after 10 minutes all the way to several hours (It is definitely getting more frequent) my screen turns black (I can still hear sounds, I can still speak on Skype etc.).

But the computer is completely locked - I can't ctrl-alt-del or alt-tab. The only thing I can do is hard shutdown (by holding down the power button)

The games I play aren't even that requiring (Dota 2, Magic 2014...)

Here are my computer specs:

Laptop - Packard Bell iPower GX


OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64
Proc: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9000 2.00GHz
RAM: 4,0 GB
GPU: GeForce 9800M GTS (1GB)

Thank for your help!
Lukas

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome Lucas mate while it is running do these for starters.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html
then these and delete any rubbish


http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

download from bleeping computer
It could be your screen may be going south though - if the machine has some age on it.
PS Sorry forgot maybe the GPU too

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Actually while I am thinking of it if it is an older machine run Speccy and send us the temps showing.

Speccy - Download

 

[Goro]

Here are the temps from Speccy




I'm currently running the steps u posted above

 

[Goro]

finished all the steps above, without detecting any errors on the disk.

The malware and adwcleaner found a couple of objects which I cleansed.

The black screen is still happening.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Lukas sorry mate but this might e a monitor / screen problem itself how old is the machine?

 

[Goro]

The machine is 2,5 years old. Could it be screen problem, even though it doest only while playing games ? I never encountered the black screen problem while using the computer for other purposes.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hm Goro mate I don't know if you are able to (no offence) to do jobs on the machine but you could try reseating the RAM sticks hard drive and any of the small cables to the screen. You will find how to do this in this ref reference http://www.manualslib.com/manual/540400/Packard-Bell-Ipower-Gx.html?page=19#manual you need to be fairly gentle checking the small ribbon cables to the screen. It looks harder than it really is always the first time takes a while but you can save many dollars on the shop fix.
TIP I always spread out and duct tape a large white bath towel to the surface you are working on to save the small screws you need to remove certain panels etc skidding off onto the floor to be lost forever should you drop one after taking it out, Also keep a few small plastic pots for the different sized screws and the order that they came out in - I attach small magnets underneath to prevent spilling them if the container is knocked over.

try this first though it does take a bit of time but maybe a problem and at least it eliminates another cause.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.htmlthisone you will need to make a bootable disk set the BIOS to optical (or USB ifpreferred) boot the machine and let it run for at LEAST 8 passes unless theerrors come up straight away. Takes fair time to complete and some leave itrunning overnight.
Maybe you should have a close look at the power supply (adaptor) too.




Oops sorry meant to say while the RAM sticks are out try cleaning the slots see here-
Now as for the slots to clean them use a strip of old credit card about 1/2 inch wide nip the corners off one end - preferably round them offhold a piece of thin lint free cloth over the end dab on some form of alcohol - iso propyl alcohol (what we swab the skin with before an injection) is good and GENTLY swipe along the slots.
This can also be done for the GPU slot/s.

 

[Boozad]

Laptop - Packard Bell iPower GX

Looking into this model it looks like it shipped with Vista installed, have you installed a new operating system?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep and more to the point I think Gav is whether the drive was wiped before the 7 installed - something I do but I am pedantic about that sort of thing. Could be some remnants of the Vista are interfering with the install what do you reckon?

FWIW a new drive and the OS medium that Goro would sort that out anyway eh?

 

[Boozad]

Yep and more to the point I think Gav is whether the drive was wiped before the 7 installed - something I do but I am pedantic about that sort of thing. Could be some remnants of the Vista are interfering with the install what do you reckon?

Quite possible if a clean install wasn't performed John, and have all of the correct/latest drivers been collected and installed? I don't know if HP offer 7 drivers for this model, and as I never used Vista I don't know how compatible Vista drivers are with 7.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well my only dealings with Vista mate were pretty depressing I just flipped in a new drive and got an OEM but I have come across fixes for friends that have a 7 over a Vista install and the only thing to do was wipe the drive. Having said that I have done two Vistas (left them on that OS) that have gone against all the rules and been very acceptable machines.