Blank black screen a while after boot

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 14:08

Hi guys,

I'm having a major problem, Whenever I boot into windows, it logs in and everything but randomly it will just freeze and then go to a black screen, I have to press the reset button in order to get everything going again.

I have tried the following already:

- Reverted all overclock settings back to normal
- Disabled all startup items
- Increased voltages incase of stability
- Updated graphics drivers

I need help with this, my PC is barely usable now, I am posting this with Asus ExpressGate.

Here are my specs:

AMD Pheom II 940
Asus M3A79-T Deluxe
Sapphire 5850
Be Quiet Dark Power Pro 850w PSU
Corsair Dominator 1066 2x2GB Ram
WD Caviar Black 640GB, Hitachi Deskstar 750GB
Antec 1200 Case
Prolimatech Megahalems, 2 x Scythe Kaze Jyuni - 110CFM Fans.

davethe11 · 30 Nov 2009 at 14:11

what operating system are you using?

first guess would be to check your graphics card is seated properly

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 14:13

I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

I had made sure as I had screwed it in place at the PCI Plate, I'm really stuck on this as I have a non working system, or a working system that lasts at most 5 minutes.

davethe11 · 30 Nov 2009 at 14:23

is it a new install of windows 7? did you install with two moitors connected to your graphics card, or are you on a single monitor set up?

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 14:25

Well had this same problem on an older install so I done a fresh install. It's a single monitor setup connected via dvi

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 15:36

Looking. I believe it is my ram. I set the ram to 1066 it bsods now. But when it's 800 it doesn't do anything and everything works fine. I'm running it t rated timings and correct voltage. Even gave I 2.14v just to see if it keeps stable. But no it doesn't.

davethe11 · 30 Nov 2009 at 16:45

strange, did you run your ram at 1066 pre-windows 7?

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 16:52

I've been running my RAM at 1066 since I got it, which was about 3 months ago.
Windows 7 never usually had a problem with it at all.

Running 800 4-3-4-12 right now perfectly fine.

davethe11 · 30 Nov 2009 at 17:01

very strange it's playing up now with the same settings, the only thing I can think of is checking for any bios updates, glad you found the source of the problem though.

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 17:04

I did try BIOS updates as well today, but they all caused the same problem and have reverted back to the BIOS that I was previously using. I'll try double flashing the new BIOS and then see if the memory acts up.

I'll post back with an update.

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 17:43

OK I flashed the BIOS to the latest one on the Asus website, put all the memory settings back in and booted to windows, again about 30 seconds on the desktop and it goes to the black screen.

HAz · 30 Nov 2009 at 17:50

legit copy?

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 17:52

Of windows? Yes it's a legit copy but it's never done this ever since I've been using build 7000.

Digital · 30 Nov 2009 at 20:01

Looks like it's caused by the latest patches. Source.

sandeep · 30 Nov 2009 at 20:10

Thanks for the article, I have installed the fix but can't reboot yet as I'm doing a lot of work and have a heck of a lot of things going on atm, but once I save and so on, I'll reboot with 1066 and see if the issue has been fixed.

robin66 · 30 Nov 2009 at 21:36

I've been having the same BSOD issues.

Have installed the fix just now also, so I'm hoping all is well.

sandeep · 10 Dec 2009 at 13:55

BTW to bring this thread back, the issue was not fixed, I had sent the RAM to OCUK and they found it to be faulty, sent me a replacement kit but they are faulty out the box.

What's your suggestions?

davethe11 · 10 Dec 2009 at 14:27

I would contact ocuk about it, how do you know they are faulty, did you run memtest or something similar?

sandeep · 10 Dec 2009 at 14:31

davethe11 said:
I would contact ocuk about it, how do you know they are faulty, did you run memtest or something similar?

Yes, I ran memtest while setting everything on how they should be, got a huge load of errors after 5 minutes, I ran memtest after when I booted in windows and everything felt like it was going to drop, the screen flickered into windows basic themes and BSODs happened.

I contacted ocuk and I asked if they could replace it with a different brand as I would just be more happy with OCZ right now since they've worked for me all the time.

They then said they couldn't replace them for something else, so I have to stick with Dominator's. The Dominator GT's are cheaper than these, I could see how they work out, but then again I won't be taking a refund since I bought these when they were cheap.

See my confusion here :confused:

davethe11 · 10 Dec 2009 at 18:07

here is the spec of your mobo, under the memory section it says:

Due to AMD CPU limitation, DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPU for one DIMM per channel only. Refer to www.asus.com for the memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).

I would try putting your two modules in non-dual channel slots then try running memtest again.