Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related

Delgore62 · 10-01-2007, 12:27 PM

Let me start where the troubles began even though it might have nothing to do with the problem.

4 days ago I decided to install PCLinuxOS as a 2nd OS to dual boot with XP. After doing so neither OS would boot even though GRUB showed them in the menu.

After several attempts to get them going I decided to re-install XP on a freshly formatted drive. Everything was going fine till I had no screen at all. Even on reboot I didn't get a boot screen (thinking there goes the video card).

I had a spare video card so I installed that and re-booted. I got to the Windows Splash Logo and then the monitor turns off. After several tries I booted in VGA mode and made it in. I can also boot into all varieties of Safe mode. I am stuck at 640x480 with no 3D capabilities.

Wanting to research this problem I didn't wish to do so in 640x480 so I ran a Ubuntu Live CD (yes another Linux in case the PCLOS was corrupt). I get into a more viewable screen to start my google searches.

At this point I have updated the BIOS, fully cleared the BIOS with the jumper, reset to defaults...tested, changed my settings (ie. PCI to AGP, Enable S.M.A.R.T,)....tested.

With XP I have updated as far as it will go and updated any motherboard drivers as well.

I've reseated the memory and checked all cables including the power cable to the video card. I also moved the PS end of the cable to another slot in case there was something going on with the slot it was in during all the previous testing.

The only conflict issue showing up in Hardware is two copies of my IEEE 1394 Controller. One shows up as an "NEC OHCI IEEE 1394 Controller" and the other as an "OHCI IEEE 1394 Controller". The 2nd I have disabled since XP claims it can't find the driver for the device.

Any help that can be provided would be much appreciated.

My specs:

Motherboard-
AsRock 775v88+ LGA 775 VIA PT880 ATX Intel MB
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.as...l=775V88%2b&s=

CPU-
Intell P4 650 Prescott 3.4 GHz LGA 775

Memory-
4GB G.SKILL Value 184-Pin DDR 400 (PC 3200)

Power Supply-
SilverStone SST-ST60F ATX 600W PS

Working Video-
ATI AIW 8500DV 64MB 24-bit DDR AGP 2x/4x

Dead Video-
ATI AIW X800XL 256MB 256-bit GDDR AGP 4x/8x

DVD/CD-
Mad-Dog 16X3DVD9-8X
Samung CD-R/RW SW-248F (had as backup but don't use it much)

HD's-
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA
Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM EIDE

Monitor-
Acer AL1914smd-8 19" 8ms DVI LCD

Windows XP Pro SP2

**Deleted090308** · 10-01-2007, 12:45 PM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

Start Windows in VGA mode.
Uninstall the Display adapter driver in Device manager.
If you have installed Catalyst software - remove that too.

Reboot and install this driver/software from ATI.

Delgore62 · 10-01-2007, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the quick reply.

OK, I uninstalled Driver and Catalyst through Add/Remove in VGA. I then rebooted.

I then made the dumb mistake of guiding windows to where the ATI driver was located and part way in got a 1 second BSOD then a reboot.

Once it came back up (still in VGA mode) I canceled windows installer and ran the ATI installer instead. Everything installed fine and I rebooted.

I let Windows load normal and still the same problem of the monitor turning off.

I did notice HD activity so I tried a little experiment. Using the keyboard I entered Windows even though I had a black screen.

2 Tab's, user password and 1 Enter later I was in Windows but still the monitor was off receiving no signal.

Again using the keyboard I hit "Windows Key", Up Arrow, Enter, "R" and Enter to restart. It did so this lets me know that Windows is running just not sending a signal to the monitor.

I am still googling and hoping for that shot in the dark miracle :)

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 01:53 AM

Sounds like a corrupt Windows installation. I would reinstall Windows (and the correct video driver

).

Delgore62 · 10-02-2007, 07:24 AM

I will try that again if I can't find another test. Since this started I have fully formatted and installed Windows about 4 times. The only thing I have not done is on a clean install use the drivers that came with the card. I may have to attempt that one as well.

PS. I am going to run Ubuntu again today while the family is away and see what resolutions I can get there. If I can get beyond 640x480 then it's a Windows problem for sure.

You would think this system would go the same route as when I built it almost 2 years ago.

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 07:30 AM

You can use Everest to find drivers. In Everest - create a report (HTML) - there will be links to the manufacturers.

Delgore62 · 10-04-2007, 09:24 AM

Hey,

Thanks for the idea though I have the web addresses already for the drivers to all the hardware. Good idea though for those that don't know what to look for in drivers.

Just a small update on my situation. I thought about trying out a different version of Windows so for testing reasons only I used a copy of my offices Windows 2003 Server. It loaded but with the same exact problem as XP Pro.

I then installed Ubuntu. The only thing I have to do with it is while it's installing make it boot in Low Res by doing a Scan option and choosing "0" which is "80x25" text or setting VGA to 640x480. Once it boots though it switches itself to 1280x1024 on it's own.

This tells me that the card, notherboard and cpu are still working but with a slight bug somewhere.

Just to let you know I appreciate all the ideas you have come up with so far.

10-01-2007, 12:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Delgore62 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP Pro	Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related Let me start where the troubles began even though it might have nothing to do with the problem. 4 days ago I decided to install PCLinuxOS as a 2nd OS to dual boot with XP. After doing so neither OS would boot even though GRUB showed them in the menu. After several attempts to get them going I decided to re-install XP on a freshly formatted drive. Everything was going fine till I had no screen at all. Even on reboot I didn't get a boot screen (thinking there goes the video card). I had a spare video card so I installed that and re-booted. I got to the Windows Splash Logo and then the monitor turns off. After several tries I booted in VGA mode and made it in. I can also boot into all varieties of Safe mode. I am stuck at 640x480 with no 3D capabilities. Wanting to research this problem I didn't wish to do so in 640x480 so I ran a Ubuntu Live CD (yes another Linux in case the PCLOS was corrupt). I get into a more viewable screen to start my google searches. At this point I have updated the BIOS, fully cleared the BIOS with the jumper, reset to defaults...tested, changed my settings (ie. PCI to AGP, Enable S.M.A.R.T,)....tested. With XP I have updated as far as it will go and updated any motherboard drivers as well. I've reseated the memory and checked all cables including the power cable to the video card. I also moved the PS end of the cable to another slot in case there was something going on with the slot it was in during all the previous testing. The only conflict issue showing up in Hardware is two copies of my IEEE 1394 Controller. One shows up as an "NEC OHCI IEEE 1394 Controller" and the other as an "OHCI IEEE 1394 Controller". The 2nd I have disabled since XP claims it can't find the driver for the device. Any help that can be provided would be much appreciated. My specs: Motherboard- AsRock 775v88+ LGA 775 VIA PT880 ATX Intel MB http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.as...l=775V88%2b&s= CPU- Intell P4 650 Prescott 3.4 GHz LGA 775 Memory- 4GB G.SKILL Value 184-Pin DDR 400 (PC 3200) Power Supply- SilverStone SST-ST60F ATX 600W PS Working Video- ATI AIW 8500DV 64MB 24-bit DDR AGP 2x/4x Dead Video- ATI AIW X800XL 256MB 256-bit GDDR AGP 4x/8x DVD/CD- Mad-Dog 16X3DVD9-8X Samung CD-R/RW SW-248F (had as backup but don't use it much) HD's- Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM EIDE Monitor- Acer AL1914smd-8 19" 8ms DVI LCD Windows XP Pro SP2

10-01-2007, 12:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related Hi, welcome to TSF. Start Windows in VGA mode. Uninstall the Display adapter driver in Device manager. If you have installed Catalyst software - remove that too. Reboot and install this driver/software from ATI.

10-01-2007, 06:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Delgore62 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP Pro	Re: Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related Thanks for the quick reply. OK, I uninstalled Driver and Catalyst through Add/Remove in VGA. I then rebooted. I then made the dumb mistake of guiding windows to where the ATI driver was located and part way in got a 1 second BSOD then a reboot. Once it came back up (still in VGA mode) I canceled windows installer and ran the ATI installer instead. Everything installed fine and I rebooted. I let Windows load normal and still the same problem of the monitor turning off. I did notice HD activity so I tried a little experiment. Using the keyboard I entered Windows even though I had a black screen. 2 Tab's, user password and 1 Enter later I was in Windows but still the monitor was off receiving no signal. Again using the keyboard I hit "Windows Key", Up Arrow, Enter, "R" and Enter to restart. It did so this lets me know that Windows is running just not sending a signal to the monitor. I am still googling and hoping for that shot in the dark miracle :)

10-02-2007, 01:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related Sounds like a corrupt Windows installation. I would reinstall Windows (and the correct video driver ).

10-02-2007, 07:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Delgore62 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP Pro	Re: Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related I will try that again if I can't find another test. Since this started I have fully formatted and installed Windows about 4 times. The only thing I have not done is on a clean install use the drivers that came with the card. I may have to attempt that one as well. PS. I am going to run Ubuntu again today while the family is away and see what resolutions I can get there. If I can get beyond 640x480 then it's a Windows problem for sure. You would think this system would go the same route as when I built it almost 2 years ago. Last edited by Delgore62; 10-02-2007 at 07:27 AM.

10-02-2007, 07:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related You can use Everest to find drivers. In Everest - create a report (HTML) - there will be links to the manufacturers.

10-04-2007, 09:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Delgore62 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP Pro	Re: Monitor turns off after XP Splash/ possibly non-OS related Hey, Thanks for the idea though I have the web addresses already for the drivers to all the hardware. Good idea though for those that don't know what to look for in drivers. Just a small update on my situation. I thought about trying out a different version of Windows so for testing reasons only I used a copy of my offices Windows 2003 Server. It loaded but with the same exact problem as XP Pro. I then installed Ubuntu. The only thing I have to do with it is while it's installing make it boot in Low Res by doing a Scan option and choosing "0" which is "80x25" text or setting VGA to 640x480. Once it boots though it switches itself to 1280x1024 on it's own. This tells me that the card, notherboard and cpu are still working but with a slight bug somewhere. Just to let you know I appreciate all the ideas you have come up with so far. Last edited by Delgore62; 10-04-2007 at 09:48 AM.