Hi all,
Been a long time lurker and have a problem I'm stuck with (well, actually my son is). I wonder if anybody can give me any idea what may be causing our problem. I will provide as much information as possible.
OK, the problem: His PC switches on ok but usually (not always but 95% of the time) nothing comes up on the screen. The only way he usually gets it to come on screen is to switch it on, leave it switched on for hours (usually overnight) and then switch off and switch on again. That then usually makes everything appear on his screen and he can boot up and use the pc as normal. But it doesn't last forever and usually after a couple or more hours it switches off. Switching it back on straight away gives us the blank screen again.
He seems to think this first started after he downloaded the beta version of the new Star Wars (Battlefront) game - he "thinks". During one of his successful boot ups he uninstalled the game but it didn't seem to uninstall properly so not sure what's going on there, but would installing a (beta) game really cause this problem?
Anyway, we have done various things. I'm not a total noob when it comes to a pc, but I've had a few years trouble free and have now got 'out of the loop' so would like some help.
What we've done (in this order I think) when we've had access;
1) Hoovered out dust from inside (wasn't too bad but needed doing).
2) Uninstalled Star Wars Beta game (we think, but not sure it uninstalled properly).
3) Rolled back system to a previous restore point BEFORE the game was installed.
4) Updated mobo software (we think this included the firmware but not 100% sure).
5) Updated GPU software.
6) Noticed in the GPU software that something called "Super Virtual Resolution" was ticked. We unticked this and rebooted. No tick now - we thought this had fixed it but alas no. My son recalls when it installed the beta game that there was an issue over resolution.
7) Updated GPU drivers.
I think that's everything but if we remember something else we'll post it.
None of this has fixed the problem. It still usually only comes up on screen when the pc has been left switched on for many hours. It would seem it is NOT an overheat problem as it only seems to come on the screen when the temperature is high (usually 35 to 40 degrees).
We've also noted that when we switch the pc on (but nothing appears on the screen), the keyboard and mouse lights up for a second or so, but then switches off - no lights. When it DOES come up on screen and boot up normally, the keyboard and mouse lights up and stays lit.
What we have noticed after opening up the case is that once we switch the pc on, the VGA_LED light is on (red). We decided to do some research and have tried a few things as a consequence, but still no luck. What we have now tried;
1) Checked all connections, cables, power leads etc. - All seemed ok.
2) Checked there were no signs of damage, burnt areas, excessive dust - All seemed ok (some dust stuck in the CPU heatsink fins but nothing too bad).
3) Other lights come on when booting up but they all switch off after a second or two.
4) All fans work as normal - both case fans and component fans e.g., heatsink, GPU, PSU.
5) Switched off, removed RAM sticks and booted up - RAM light came on. Switched off, replaced RAM sticks, switched on and RAM light ok.
6) Switched off, removed GPU from socket and unplugged power cables - booted up and VGA_LED light was red AND also the Boot_Device_LED lit up red.
7) Switched off, put GPU back in but didn't connect power cables - switched on and again the VGA_LED and Boot_Device_LED both lit up red. Fans on GPU still span (that surprised me but maybe it gets some power from the mobo?).
8) Switched off and reconnected power cables to GPU, switched on and VGA_LED still lights up red, but Boot_Device_LED no longer on.
9) Switched off, removed mobo battery and left out for 20 minutes, then put back in and switched on - nothing different and VGA_LED light again switches on red.
10) Switched off, moved jumper to clear CMOS. Switched back on and no change.
11) Switched off, moved jumper AND removed battery for 15 mins. Replaced battery and jumper, switched on and still no change.
12) Switched off, replaced with a new battery, moved jumper, switched back on and still no change.
We left the pc for a couple of days and then tried again - no change as in pc on, but no lights on mouse or keyboard and nothing on screen. We left it on for over 24 hours and switched off and on again - no change. Left again for another 24 hours and switched off then on again - no change. So now we can't even get it to boot up that way now it seems.
That's it I think. We're at a loss as to where to go from here. We've tried everything we can think of doing (and feel comfortable doing), but still the VGA_LED light is on but don't know if this is causing the problem anyway. We also don't know if the light is on when the pc DOES switch on properly and come on the screen/boot up properly - we could try to see by leaving the pc on for 24 hours or so then switch off and then on again to see if it boots up on screen, but thought we'd try and see if anybody here knows more?
To me, I was already of the opinion that it may be a GPU issue, but is it coincidental that it only seems to be as a result of installing the beta Star Wars game? Maybe it's NOT the GPU?
Here are the specs;
ASUS M5 A99X EVO
AMD Phenom II CPU
Corsair RAM - 2 x 4GB
XFX AMD 7950 series GPU
OCZ 700W 80+ PSU
256GB Samsung SSD
Windows 7
2TB SATA HDD
I think that's all. I built this pc exactly 3 years ago and have never had the slightest problem until now.
Really odd because it does switch on and boot up IF left on for many hours (well it did), but it will eventually switch off and then won't boot up (or should I say anything appear on screen) again. It's basically very temperamental.
Oh yeah, and when we first had the problem 'a' fan (don't know which one) was spinning like a turbine, but st some stage during our checks this seemed to stop.
Lastly, when it has booted up ok it usually (but not always) switches off when my son is either on Youtube or playing a game (whether installed or on-line) i.e., when it is stressing the graphics card. As said, not always but almost always.
Sorry for the long post but I figured it was best to give too much information rather than not enough!
Hope you guys can give us a hand in sorting this problem out!
Cheers!
Been a long time lurker and have a problem I'm stuck with (well, actually my son is). I wonder if anybody can give me any idea what may be causing our problem. I will provide as much information as possible.
OK, the problem: His PC switches on ok but usually (not always but 95% of the time) nothing comes up on the screen. The only way he usually gets it to come on screen is to switch it on, leave it switched on for hours (usually overnight) and then switch off and switch on again. That then usually makes everything appear on his screen and he can boot up and use the pc as normal. But it doesn't last forever and usually after a couple or more hours it switches off. Switching it back on straight away gives us the blank screen again.
He seems to think this first started after he downloaded the beta version of the new Star Wars (Battlefront) game - he "thinks". During one of his successful boot ups he uninstalled the game but it didn't seem to uninstall properly so not sure what's going on there, but would installing a (beta) game really cause this problem?
Anyway, we have done various things. I'm not a total noob when it comes to a pc, but I've had a few years trouble free and have now got 'out of the loop' so would like some help.
What we've done (in this order I think) when we've had access;
1) Hoovered out dust from inside (wasn't too bad but needed doing).
2) Uninstalled Star Wars Beta game (we think, but not sure it uninstalled properly).
3) Rolled back system to a previous restore point BEFORE the game was installed.
4) Updated mobo software (we think this included the firmware but not 100% sure).
5) Updated GPU software.
6) Noticed in the GPU software that something called "Super Virtual Resolution" was ticked. We unticked this and rebooted. No tick now - we thought this had fixed it but alas no. My son recalls when it installed the beta game that there was an issue over resolution.
7) Updated GPU drivers.
I think that's everything but if we remember something else we'll post it.
None of this has fixed the problem. It still usually only comes up on screen when the pc has been left switched on for many hours. It would seem it is NOT an overheat problem as it only seems to come on the screen when the temperature is high (usually 35 to 40 degrees).
We've also noted that when we switch the pc on (but nothing appears on the screen), the keyboard and mouse lights up for a second or so, but then switches off - no lights. When it DOES come up on screen and boot up normally, the keyboard and mouse lights up and stays lit.
What we have noticed after opening up the case is that once we switch the pc on, the VGA_LED light is on (red). We decided to do some research and have tried a few things as a consequence, but still no luck. What we have now tried;
1) Checked all connections, cables, power leads etc. - All seemed ok.
2) Checked there were no signs of damage, burnt areas, excessive dust - All seemed ok (some dust stuck in the CPU heatsink fins but nothing too bad).
3) Other lights come on when booting up but they all switch off after a second or two.
4) All fans work as normal - both case fans and component fans e.g., heatsink, GPU, PSU.
5) Switched off, removed RAM sticks and booted up - RAM light came on. Switched off, replaced RAM sticks, switched on and RAM light ok.
6) Switched off, removed GPU from socket and unplugged power cables - booted up and VGA_LED light was red AND also the Boot_Device_LED lit up red.
7) Switched off, put GPU back in but didn't connect power cables - switched on and again the VGA_LED and Boot_Device_LED both lit up red. Fans on GPU still span (that surprised me but maybe it gets some power from the mobo?).
8) Switched off and reconnected power cables to GPU, switched on and VGA_LED still lights up red, but Boot_Device_LED no longer on.
9) Switched off, removed mobo battery and left out for 20 minutes, then put back in and switched on - nothing different and VGA_LED light again switches on red.
10) Switched off, moved jumper to clear CMOS. Switched back on and no change.
11) Switched off, moved jumper AND removed battery for 15 mins. Replaced battery and jumper, switched on and still no change.
12) Switched off, replaced with a new battery, moved jumper, switched back on and still no change.
We left the pc for a couple of days and then tried again - no change as in pc on, but no lights on mouse or keyboard and nothing on screen. We left it on for over 24 hours and switched off and on again - no change. Left again for another 24 hours and switched off then on again - no change. So now we can't even get it to boot up that way now it seems.
That's it I think. We're at a loss as to where to go from here. We've tried everything we can think of doing (and feel comfortable doing), but still the VGA_LED light is on but don't know if this is causing the problem anyway. We also don't know if the light is on when the pc DOES switch on properly and come on the screen/boot up properly - we could try to see by leaving the pc on for 24 hours or so then switch off and then on again to see if it boots up on screen, but thought we'd try and see if anybody here knows more?
To me, I was already of the opinion that it may be a GPU issue, but is it coincidental that it only seems to be as a result of installing the beta Star Wars game? Maybe it's NOT the GPU?
Here are the specs;
ASUS M5 A99X EVO
AMD Phenom II CPU
Corsair RAM - 2 x 4GB
XFX AMD 7950 series GPU
OCZ 700W 80+ PSU
256GB Samsung SSD
Windows 7
2TB SATA HDD
I think that's all. I built this pc exactly 3 years ago and have never had the slightest problem until now.
Really odd because it does switch on and boot up IF left on for many hours (well it did), but it will eventually switch off and then won't boot up (or should I say anything appear on screen) again. It's basically very temperamental.
Oh yeah, and when we first had the problem 'a' fan (don't know which one) was spinning like a turbine, but st some stage during our checks this seemed to stop.
Lastly, when it has booted up ok it usually (but not always) switches off when my son is either on Youtube or playing a game (whether installed or on-line) i.e., when it is stressing the graphics card. As said, not always but almost always.
Sorry for the long post but I figured it was best to give too much information rather than not enough!
Hope you guys can give us a hand in sorting this problem out!
Cheers!
