Failed windows start up and random black screen

MumboJumbo · 25 Jul 2009 at 13:19

Hey well for some time now the screen will random go black as if its lost signal but I don't think it actually has. I get a black screen for about 3 seconds and then all resumes as normal just when im randomly using the pc. Happens once or twice a day. But just now the pc failed to boot into windows and restarted and all was fine. I think this is now the second time in a week its done that.

These are the same symptoms I had last time my graphics card died, but that was only a few months ago so im wondering if maybe something is causing them to crap out so to speak?

I have a 600w seasonic m12 psu so id like to think its not that really but i guess my luck is pritty bad recently what with a broken mic randomly and a broken keyboard and then sent the wrong keyboard.

Ideas?

siumatfung · 25 Jul 2009 at 14:47

gfx card overheating try taking it out and cleaning

MumboJumbo · 26 Jul 2009 at 00:48

You reckon? its only a few months old.

SpiderX · 26 Jul 2009 at 01:17

whats your graphics card temps?

PlumpMonkey · 26 Jul 2009 at 09:17

I used to get this is the gfx drivers crashed and then reloaded. Check the system event logs to see if anything is reported at the time of the blackscreen.

StevenRaith · 26 Jul 2009 at 11:37

If it's Vista/Win7 with aero, then it could only be that that's wetting itself - Check the event logs, although it normally gives a pop up message stating so...

MumboJumbo · 26 Jul 2009 at 14:18

Mm i dont think ive been getting the gfx driver crashing as ive not noticed the pop up. But could you tell me where in the event viewer on vista i should find this as i currently have one mamoth hangover, worst in a while actually.

My graphics cards tempts out of the ordinary and this problem happens mainly when im not gaming actually. My temps are currently at 59 degrees idle.

And ive not got around to opening my case up and in my fragile state don't thin kwould be a good idea to check if it needs cleaning.

StevenRaith · 26 Jul 2009 at 15:23

Rubbish, hangovers are the best time to be doing this sort of thing - you are extra careful not to swing the hardware about because if it hits something it will go *CLANG* or *CRACK* which will be amplified a million times thanks to your ragged, alcohol-staved state of mind.

Anyway, it should be under the 'system' event logs as far as I remember - possibly Application. To be honest the best bet is to order the events by Type and look for notifications for WDM.exe [Windows Desktop Manager, as I recall], or the relevant Nvidia app [nv4.dll or something.

Hope that helps.

MumboJumbo · 26 Jul 2009 at 16:42

Haha well my head has finaly stoped pounding and ive filted it to show errors and criticals and warnings and verbose what ever that is. I appear to be getting like 15 errors a day, is this normal?

Also ive yet to see anything that would stand out as the cause. No driver problems anyway. a lot of things to do with media player network sharing and "UPnP".

Searching for wdm.exe found nothing as well in the event logger.

Zerolimitz · 26 Jul 2009 at 16:48

well it sounds like a problem i had a bit different tho my monitor would randomly go on standby ex black screen.. i could still hear the sounds and things pc would still be running like normal after a while of that happening about 2weeks later the pc started to power off on its own.. and well i replaced my power supply and that fixed the problem again your problem could be much different then mine.

MumboJumbo · 26 Jul 2009 at 16:58

Yeah well the thing is, its not linked to gaming. IF anything id say i dont think ive ever had a random black screen gaming with my new card. Yet ill be browsing the internet and it happens. So it doesn;t seem like it would be a power issue in that respect. If it was doing that browsing the internet, playing crysis should cripple it and i have been recently.