Is my Graphics Card dead?

WithMyApologies

WithMyApologies

WithMyApologies

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Joined
30 Apr 2015
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321
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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! :D). 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 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.
Click to expand...

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

This is what I have by default:

ssPmviy.png


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.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
AthlonXP1800 said:
Hmmm then you probably don't use Windows 7 or 8. The screenshot of your Device Manager seemed to be from Windows XP.

Glad you fixed it by disabled Intel IGPU.
Click to expand...

I do have Windows 7, the reason it looked odd was because it was in Safe Mode. Also, it's not really fixed as the display worked with the Intel one anyway (like I had already said).

So right now, nothing is different except I'm running off the Nvidia card using the Standard VGA driver rather than the Intel one.
 
I managed to get a Windows 7 disc today and have now formatted and reinstalled Windows, but as soon as I install the 560Ti driver and restart, there is no display in normal mode.

Things I've now tried:

Reinstalling Windows
HDMI and DVI cable
Different monitor
Reinstalling driver (both new and old tried)

I'm just going to buy a new card on pay day. Had enough! :D
 
Last edited:
demonix said:
After reading all the information here, I'd have to hazard a guess that there is a setting causing the refresh rate to be beyond what the monitor can handle which only affects the nVidia card when it's drivers are installed (since the card works with the generic VGA drivers), but my only experience with this issue was with a game that ran at a dodgy refresh rate that the monitor I was using didn't support and I fixed that by going into the direct X diagnostic tool and force setting a single refresh rate which might help (it might not be possible in windows 7 since that option has been removed as of the more recent versions of windows)
but if you can access the settings for the nVidia card in safe mode and manually setting the refresh rate you might be able to fix the problem without having to replace the card.
Click to expand...

Just tried and the Nvidia Control Panel software won't open in safe mode, and when I have the card disabled for normal mode (the only way I can get it to boot normally) the Nvidia Control Panel won't open, I guess because the card is disabled?

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but would reinstalling Windows and freshly installing all the Nvidia stuff not have defaulted the settings in there anyway? Although what you are describing certainly seems plausible to me.
 
No luck I'm afraid. Followed your instructions step-by-step but when it came to the part of starting normally with the GPU installed, I got 'Starting Windows' then nothing. The PC stays on, doesn't BSOD or anything, just sits with no display.

Think I'll see if I can test the GPU on a friends rig.

Thanks for all the advice guys.
 
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