Black screen on startup until I remove a stick of RAM

[Stylie]

I get a Black screen on startup until I remove a stick of RAM, and then the computer shows the bios logo and into windows. Its every time I shut down the computer and switch it off at the wall.

If I then put the same memory stick back in, the computer works and goes into windows.

The computer is fine with restarts.

(Before I had blue screens, so I formatted the SSD and reinstalled windows, but have had memory management, PFN_List corrupt, unexpected_Kernel_mode and I still do but a lot less now).

Any idea's to what the problem might be?

 

[pastymuncher]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

We need more info so let's get the questions out of the way. Is this a new build? If so is the motherboard running the latest bios because this can help with motherboard/memory compatibility problems, especially with Ryzen? What components are you using? Is the computer overclocked? Have you tried running memtest?

 

[Stylie]

The computer is 2.5 years old, bought ready made. When I formatted my hard drive I only installed the Bios on the CD. Should I download the latest Bios as my computer still crashes when trying to do stuff. Computer not overclocked and I have not tried memtest. My specs are:

Item Qty Price
"Titan Bayonet" Intel Core i5 4690 @ 3.9GHz Turbo AMD Radeon Gaming PC
Asus Xonar DGX 5.1 PCI-Express Sound Card with built in Headphone Amp
Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD
Samsung 120GB SSD 840 EVO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TE120BW) 1 £48.32
Sapphire Radeon R7 260X OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (11222-06-20G)
Intel Core i5-4690 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor
Aerocool V3X Advance Devil Red Edition Midi-Tower - Black/Red
Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-Bit DVD - OEM (WN7-00614)
OcUK Standard System Warranty - 3 Year (24 Month C&R + 12 Month Labour)
Standard Build Systems - Dispatched within 7 working days

 

[Stylie]

2 x 4GB RAM - Elite Team Group DDR3 1600

 

[Plec]

T Should I download the latest Bios as my computer still crashes when trying to do stuff. Computer not overclocked and I have not tried memtest.

Pastymuncher's advice is sound.

As, pastymuncher mentioned - run memtest - it's a crucial test for this type of problem. It helps rule in/out the memory as the potential culprit.

If it passes memtest:

Does the computer crash within the BIOS with one stick installed?

If it doesn't then flashing the BIOS should be relatively safe (no guarantees of course) - but definitely don't use the Windows environment to do this.

Flash the BIOS using a USB drive - format the stick using Fat 32 and then install the latest BIOS file. Then flash within the BIOS - do NOT use the Windows environment - and you shouldn't have any issues.

You could reduce the risk even more by disconnecting everything apart from the CPU, 1 stick of memory and using onbaord GFX - that should keep things very stable while you do the flash.

If it passes memtest and flashed to latest the BIOS yet the problems still persist - then you'll need to start considering other components...

EDIT: What's the PSU? (brand/model/wattage)

 

[Stylie]

I have done the memtest86 which tested 100% with zero errors. It took about two hours

It has never crashed in bios settings, but I don't spend much time using it, its always been the blue screen of death in windows. Just had one after rebooting after the memtest.

Hmmm, need to sort out USB stick I guess? I might try and load the optimised default settings before to see if that does anything.

PSU is 550W Super Flower 80 plus gold

 

[Plec]

I have done the memtest86 which tested 100% with zero errors. It took about two hours

Promising start - at least for the memory (Still could be contender - even though they've passed or the DIMM slots)

What cooler have you got strapped to the top of the CPU?

It has never crashed in bios settings,
Hmmm, need to sort out USB stick I guess?

It's the next easiest and simple test to try and improve stability.

I might try and load the optimised default settings before to see if that does anything.

How did you remove the clock?

You could try clearing the CMOS and loading optimised defaults first.

PSU is 550W Super Flower 80 plus gold

That's a quality PSU - but we can't rule it out.

EDIT: What are your idle and load temps like for the CPU/GPU?

 

[Stylie]

What cooler have you got strapped to the top of the CPU?

Its a metal heat sink tower thing, not water cooled, does that make sense?

How did you remove the clock?

Clock what clock? I'm sure I loaded default settings a few days ago, but I will try again.

GIGABYTE Patented DualBIOS™ (UEFI) Design, hopefully means I cant screw this up. F6 was the CD version, looking at the choices for Rev 2 which is my motherboard I choose F10c which is the latest. Do I need to flash with the other bios setups first i.e F7, F8, or F9, or just use the F10c (newest bios update)?

 

[Plec]

Just use the latest BIOS

Its a metal heat sink tower thing, not water cooled, does that make sense?

Could be a coolermaster 212 - looking at pics of the Bayonet

Clock what clock? I'm sure I loaded default settings a few days ago, but I will try again.

Just double checking - it's at stock in your description

Reset the CMOS before applying this.

GIGABYTE Patented DualBIOS™ (UEFI) Design, hopefully means I cant screw this up. F6 was the CD version, looking at the choices for Rev 2 which is my motherboard I choose F10c which is the latest. Do I need to flash with the other bios setups first i.e F7, F8, or F9, or just use the F10c (newest bios update)?

Yes, jump straight to 10C.

 

[Plec]

Additional: Have you double checked all your motherboard connections?

Ideally pull out and re-fit all of them - and i mean everything. Even check the kettle lead going into the PSU.

Check that your GFX card is seated correctly - and that the connections to that are firmly in place too. Again check it's securely fitted to the back bracket.

Also, check that the motherboard is firmly in place (no movement) and that there isn't any noticeable warping around the CPU/DIMM slots.

 

[Stylie]

I pulled the battery out for more than 1 minute to reset the CMOS. Afterwards I had to restart it 3 times to get it working and the options were to load optimised default settings and reboot which I have now done. I pulled all the connections the other day and visually inspected the board to find nothing out of the ordinary. P.S my sound card and graphics card are already taken out and running with onboard graphics. Motherboard is firm. Internet is with a cable into the motherboard. Flash my bios?

 

[Plec]

Flash my bios?

Sounds like your ready to go - given the above.

Formatted USB using fat 32 etc?.. And use q-flash.

 

[Stylie]

I flashed the Bios without problem, however windows opened and crashed a few times, went into recovery mode, tried to do a PC refresh, said to enter windows cd, then failed, then I did exit and restart windows and it came up with a few windows blue screen error messages, then I went to Bios and changed the boot setup to select my SSD as the 1st one and now back into windows. The blue screen error messages were NFTS_File_System, System _service, memory management, kernel security check failure and when it restarted still had my windows disk in drive and crashed and said attempted execute of non-execute memory.

I will continue to test the shut down to see if I get the black screen.

 

[Plec]

I would run memtest overnight - give the sticks a thorough test.

There are other things that may need testing - PSU would be an obvious.

You could try taking out the F-Header case connections and shorting the system to start - and testing how it restarts etc without any connections...

Have you backed up?

There's a chance your Windows has become corrupt with so many crashes. It's my least favourite suggestion but have you thought about a fresh install?

EDIT: Have you checked your SSD?

 

[Stylie]

I kept getting blue screen, so I had no choice but to re-install windows. SSD scan found zero errors.
Do I need to insert the cd to download the motherboard drivers now that I re-installed windows?

 

[Plec]

Do I need to insert the cd to download the motherboard drivers now that I re-installed windows?

ideally get the chipset drivers from INTEL and any other vital drivers from the motherboard website. The ones on your DVD will be out of date by years...

 

[EsaT]

PSU is 550W Super Flower 80 plus gold

Which specific model?
SF has heck a lots of them and not all them best quality parts.
(never sent to review sites Golden Green HX having cheap CapXons)

Also try switching SATA cables if you have extras.
Bad cable has in some cases caused errors and who knows if those could make motherboard not know what to do.
Fast boot also messes somewhat with traditional POST aproach.
Otherwise OS shouldn't really be able to affect BIOS phase.

 

[Plec]

/Off topic briefly @EsaT - you seem very knowledgeable re: PSUs - could run your critical eye over my potential mod - Clicky - as you may have done something similar. Thanks.

Also try switching SATA cables if you have extras.
Bad cable has in some cases caused errors and who knows if those could make motherboard not know what to do.

Good point - one of my worst builds was due to a faulty SATA cable. Tested and worked in one machine - failed in another (similar specs too)...

Otherwise OS shouldn't really be able to affect BIOS phase.

True - but suspected his windows may have become corrupted due to the amount of BSODs. But it seems his problems have escalated now so the install is probably negated now...

@OP, has the system settled since BIOS flash/reinstall?

Did you run memtest overnight?

And try replacing the SATA cable as Esat suggested - they can cause all types of problems (my most frustrating build experiences was thanks to SATA cable anomaly).

But if you're still having problems we're fast approaching having to test other components - the PSU being the most obvious, along with the MB...

Do you have access to another PSU?

 

[Stylie]

I downloaded the drivers from intel and installed some of them, Intel Driver update Utility. Computer is now running without any errors or problems and system is stable. Installed Graphics Card, sound card and the drivers. Computer is working normal and smooth. Looks like my Bios came corrupt somehow and in turn windows got corrupt. I dident do the over night memtest, but have another two sticks of ram which I need to test which are not yet installed. What a pain that was. I have never flashed my motherboard bios before so its good to learn these things. Thank you for your help and if I have more developments I will let you know.

 

[Plec]

Great - & no problem.

Hope it stays that way.