Is my Graphics Card dead?

WithMyApologies · 16 Jul 2015 at 20:15

So, my PC will no longer boot in normal mode whilst the Nvidia 560ti drivers are installed. It can boot in safe mode, and can only boot to normal mode when I uninstall the drivers via safe mode.

There are no event viewer entries that relate to issue with Nvidia or graphics, and I have uninstalled and installed the drivers twice already.

Is there anything I can run to test the graphics card? Specifically in safe mode since I can't boot to normal mode unless I uninstall it, so that would seem pointless.

5960xNvidiaGamer · 16 Jul 2015 at 20:17

Try installing an older driver and see if that fixes the issue.

WithMyApologies · 16 Jul 2015 at 20:39

Just tried, no luck with an older driver either

When I go to normal mode with the driver installed, all that I get is 'Starting Windows' with the animation, then the monitor reports 'no signal' and I'm left with the PC running, but no display. It doesn't blue-screen or crash in any way.

5960xNvidiaGamer · 16 Jul 2015 at 21:19

Try a different cable and if that fails try a windows system restore. Hopefully you have restore points set.

AthlonXP1800 · 16 Jul 2015 at 21:25

Try to into Safe Mode to uninstall Nvidia driver and then go to display adapters in Device Manager to install Microsoft Basic display driver, restart PC normal and see what happen.

5960xNvidiaGamer · 16 Jul 2015 at 21:32

AthlonXP1800 said:
Try to into Safe Mode to uninstall Nvidia driver and then go to display adapters in Device Manager to install Microsoft Basic display driver, restart PC normal and see what happen.

This is the first thing I thought it would have been, a driver issue. He says he did try an older Nvidia driver but maybe the drivers need cleaning up with DDU or similar

5960xNvidiaGamer · 16 Jul 2015 at 21:33

WithMyApologies said:
Just tried, no luck with an older driver either

When I go to normal mode with the driver installed, all that I get is 'Starting Windows' with the animation, then the monitor reports 'no signal' and I'm left with the PC running, but no display. It doesn't blue-screen or crash in any way.

Did you properly clear your Nvidia drivers before adding the older one? if not run DDU and make sure nothing is left.

WithMyApologies · 16 Jul 2015 at 22:08

Just tried running DDU, restarted PC, installed most recent driver, restarted PC and the exact same thing happened. Right after 'Starting Windows', the monitor reports 'no signal'. Unfortunately I cannot try a system restore as it's not enabled.

Right now, my PC is just running off the basic Intel HD3000 graphic driver.

I'm going to open it up tomorrow to check cables etc.

lewis2701 · 16 Jul 2015 at 22:40

Funnily enough my 560ti has done the exact same.

WithMyApologies · 17 Jul 2015 at 20:08

lewis2701 said:
Funnily enough my 560ti has done the exact same.

Hmm, that's odd. To me that would make it seem like an updatedriver issue (Windows/Nvidia), yet I've uninstalled all of the recent Windows Updates and ran that DDU software to remove everything associated with the card and it still doesn't work.

wazza300 · 17 Jul 2015 at 20:34

you on latest mb bios?

tested using igpu? and do you get a picture on screen with the graphic card installed but no drivers installed? you should do if its working,if/when you come to install drivers after installation and no picture points to a driver/windows error

WithMyApologies · 17 Jul 2015 at 20:40

wazza300 said:
do you get a picture on screen with the graphic card installed but no drivers installed? you should do if its working,if/when you come to install drivers after installation and no picture points to a driver/windows error

Sorry, I don't understand that bit. How can I have the graphics card installed without the drivers? :confused:

The PC will only load in normal mode if I disable or uninstall the card. With it enabled and installed, I get a picture on the monitor right up until 'Starting Windows', then when the login screen is meant to appear, the display is gone.

wazza300 · 17 Jul 2015 at 20:44

yeah that's what I meant,i meant installed but without installing the NVidia drivers,do you still get a picture in windows?

could be windows or bios related if your seeing a picture up until the windows animation

5960xNvidiaGamer · 17 Jul 2015 at 20:57

Have you tried a fresh install of windows, and then installing the Nvidia drivers?

WithMyApologies · 19 Jul 2015 at 11:43

Still having no luck with this.

I cannot perform system restore as it is switched off. But I have tried uninstalling all of the recent Windows Updates + running DDU to completely remove the Nvidia drivers/software.
I cannot reinstall Windows right now as I do not have recovery media/software for this.

I have opened up the case and tried reconnecting the card, my motherboard BIOS is up-to-date. When I switch the PC on I can see the fan on the card spins, not sure if this confirms it's working or just that it's getting power though.

One question I do have (not entirely clued up on graphics cards, so sorry if this is stupid!

). Right now, my monitor is connected via HDMI to the graphics card, but the card is currently disabled in device manager, so is it just using the onboard graphic driver but still running through the card? If so, does this prove the card itself is working?

So basically this is still the situation:
Card installed but disabled - Windows loads fine.
Card uninstalled - Windows loads fine.
Card installed and enabled - Windows doesn't get past 'Starting Windows'.
It will always load in Safe Mode.

To me, it points to a driver issue, but I don't get why running DDU and doing a full clean install of the driver hasn't solved it. I've tried both with and without the recent Windows Updates aswell.

AthlonXP1800 · 19 Jul 2015 at 12:38

I looked back and realised you had not followed my advice.

Have you ever tried installed Microsoft Basic Adapter driver?

If you had not done it or don't know how to install it.

1. Boot into Safe Mode and login, go to Device Manager.

2. Expand Display adapters and right click on Update Driver Software...

3. Click Browse my computer for driver software.

4. Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

You will see Microsoft Basic Display Adapter driver on compatible hardware list, if you untick show compatible hardware and you will see 3 standard display types drivers:

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (Low Resolution)
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (No ACPI support)

You will need to try install Microsoft Basic Display Adapter first to see if it will boot Windows normal, if not then you can try install both Low Resolution and No ACPI support drivers.

My dad old Dell laptop had same issue with Geforce Go 7900GS around 5 years ago BSOD after Windows 7 bootscreen and not reached login screen just after Windows Update installed new Nvidia driver. I tried installed previous Nvidia drivers but it didn't worked so I found Microsoft Basic Display Adapter worked and booted Windows 7 normal into login screen fine. It seemed there was something broken inside Geforce Go 7900GS chip that cant worked with Nvidia driver.

WithMyApologies · 19 Jul 2015 at 13:29

AthlonXP1800 said:
I looked back and realised you had not followed my advice.

Have you ever tried installed Microsoft Basic Adapter driver?

If you had not done it or don't know how to install it.

1. Boot into Safe Mode and login, go to Device Manager.

2. Expand Display adapters and right click on Update Driver Software...

3. Click Browse my computer for driver software.

4. Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

You will see Microsoft Basic Display Adapter driver on compatible hardware list, if you untick show compatible hardware and you will see 3 standard display types drivers:

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (Low Resolution)
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (No ACPI support)

You will need to try install Microsoft Basic Display Adapter first to see if it will boot Windows normal, if not then you can try install both Low Resolution and No ACPI support drivers.

My dad old Dell laptop had same issue with Geforce Go 7900GS around 5 years ago BSOD after Windows 7 bootscreen and not reached login screen just after Windows Update installed new Nvidia driver. I tried installed previous Nvidia drivers but it didn't worked so I found Microsoft Basic Display Adapter worked and booted Windows 7 normal into login screen fine. It seemed there was something broken inside Geforce Go 7900GS chip that cant worked with Nvidia driver.

I don't have the Basic Display Adapter listed, even when I untick the 'show compatible' box.

This is what I have by default:

I can boot into Windows normally as long as I disable my 560Ti and let it use the Intel HD3000, I don't know if this is the same as what you are talking about though.

AthlonXP1800 · 19 Jul 2015 at 13:41

WithMyApologies said:
I don't have the Basic Display Adapter listed, even when I untick the 'show compatible' box.

This is what I have by default:

I can boot into Windows normally as long as I disable my 560Ti and let it use the Intel HD3000, I don't know if this is the same as what you are talking about though.

Ah I see the issue.

You need to install Microsoft Basic Display driver on 560Ti!!! Not on HD3000.

WithMyApologies · 19 Jul 2015 at 13:44

It doesn't show up on that one either.

All I get is Standard VGA Graphics Adapter, and if I untick the box, it's all the same options as the Intel one, but no sign of a Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.

I have changed the 560Ti so that it now says 'Standard VGA Graphics', disabled the Intel HD one, and rebooted the PC into normal mode and the display is working.

new boy · 19 Jul 2015 at 13:52

Its going to be a crying shame having to upgrade from that old 560ti to something much faster