Display problem on my custom built computer

K

KennyD

New Member
Hello everyone,

In the past week, I have begun to have some "display" problems. When I say this, I mean my computer will turn on, I hear all my fans running, all my LEDs on the motherboard light up, my mouse turns on, windows starts...BUT....my monitor doesn't show a display.

Before I go any further,
abit IP35-E motherboard
Nvidia 8800GS video card
2gb Ballistix DDR2 ram *pc 800 i believe*
Seagate Barracuda 300gb HD
Corsair 450w PS

Now, this has happened a few times in the past week. In fact, it just happened an hour ago and this is why I am posting. I was browsing the web and listening to music, when all the sudden my computer completely froze. I had to shut it down via power button, and when I turned it back on I was getting the above problem.

Now, the weird thing is-- Sometimes, I just turn the power off from the PS, wait a few minutes, and reboot-- AND IT WORKS.

However, a few times it would not, and display would not show up. The fan on my 8800gs is working fine, I have direct control on it now running 100 percent and it's at 50c.

I re-seated my RAM a few times, as well as my video card, and sometimes THIS works as well. Everything is seated in good, no wires are cut and I do not see any burnt wires or anything of that matter.

As far as I am concerned, I have updated all my drivers. I have not reset the bios yet, because the problem doesn't last for long.

I am wondering...what this could be. The system is only about a year and a half old. It's running fine as I am typing this, and has only done this within the past week or so.

Any suggestions? I'd hate to buy all these parts again, replace them, then send them back....but I suppose this may be my only way. Everything boots up fine except for my display, so I am hinting Video card.

When I DO boot up, I get a pop up saying "your screen quality and resolution is very low, please click this to let windows adjust"-- (something like that).

Thanks,
kenny D
 
If the computer is still working in the background, but the screen is blank, then I would think that this is a hardware fault (possible faulty cable) with the screen itself
 
I don't know about that because I had plugged my roommate's monitor in and it did the same thing.

I am on a HP Pavilion vx74 17 inch CRT monitor from like 2003 lol. But, when I plugged in his monitor it did not work.

ALSO, my 32 inch samsung lcd would not display either when I tried.
 
I would update the video card drivers and see what the refresh rate is. If you boot up into safe mode does it work all the time? If so, then it sounds as if its a driver issue. But if the monitor doesn't turn on as soon as you turn your system on then you have a different issue.
 
No I think you are misunderstanding.

When this happens, I can't get to a safe mode, I can't see ANYTHING on the screen as SOON as the computer powers on. I can't get into ANYTHING, I have to shut down and do what I said to get it to work.

I am at the same refresh rate I've been at since I built the computer, and all my nvidia drivers are up to date.
 
Then it sounds like you need a new video card or you have a bad video port on the motherboard.
 
It's never happened until last week...strange because I don't run my video card hard. Probably this cheap abit mobo I bought for 70 bucks. I guess you get what you pay for....newegg
 
When you power on a computer the BIOS immediately takes control of the computer and performs the P.O.S.T (Power On Self Test). At the end of the POST the computer will play an audible 'BEEP' through either the PC's internal speaker of through speakers attached to the sound card (if you have a built-in sound chip). If the POST completed successfully without detecting any problems with then system will play a single short beep to let you know the test is complete and the computer will continue to startup and load the operating system

1 Beep (No video)
Memory refresh failure
Bad memory

That's what it does....it beeps and shuts itself off periodically. I have heard bad things of these Crucial Ballistix ram....
 
Hahaha, okay I just went to Nvidia's site and updated drivers.

Restarted, and now I have no display again. Everything else turns on, except monitor

I re-seated video card, ram....nothing works.

What could it be....damnit
 
Powered off computer for about 5-10 minutes....rebooted....and I am back on my computer.

This is a weird problem. Abit is known for good mobos....but nvidia I have heard bad things...

What should be my course of action? Maybe take it to a repair man to test everything instead of spending the money buying part for part...
 
Remove one of your memory sticks and try it again. Reinstall it and remove the other if it still gives a memory error. Only other thing is if there isn't onboard video on the motherboard is try a different video card.
 
I don't have an onboard. PCI-E with the 8800gs.

It rebooted and now I am back in action. Seems if I give it 5-10 minutes it works.....

I will try the memory but it doesn't beep all the time at POST. Beeps when it turns on, but that may be the ABIT bios resetting the double-boot that it does.
 
The more I am reading of these Crucial Ballistix 2gb kit I bought a year ago or so....the more bad reviews.

I have had a few BSOD and computer "restarted" itself for no reason but I never thought anything of it.

My graphics card has NEVER given me a problem before, nor has my motherboard. I am thinking of getting new RAM.

How do I go about checking if they are bad? I have 4 ram slots, maybe I should move them to the other 2 slots and see what happens?

Thanks,
Kenny
 
I booted up today and got a BIOS Check SUM error...no keyboard or mouse detected please insert floppy disk.

Re-booted, and fine....

looks like this 18 month old baby is ready to be replaced.
 
Try replacing the CMOS button Battery on the motherboard
Hmm this may be it, the whole issue over a couple of dollars

Once the CMOS Battery is replaced, go to System Bios Settings (usually by pressing DEL or F2 or F10 or some other key displayed when first turning on the computer)
And run Bios Defaults, then save and exit System Bios Settings

Give that a go
 
Where do I get new ones....I know where it is I am looking at my case right now...it's the only thing that assembles a battery lol.

All of this is surprising to me because I spent a good 1-2 months picking out parts that were deemed very good in reliability. My video card never gave me problems, I have her running the fan 24/7 and she never goes over 50*....all processors never go over 40 or so.
 
KennyD said:
Where do I get new ones
Click to expand...
geez, I'd say everywhere (just about)
remove the battery and go walk into your local electronics (TV; Video; Computer) store; or I'm sure you must have some local computer shop
I really don't think you need to order one of those small round silver button batteries, online
 
You could try setting the primary graphics adapter to PCI-E in your bios. that means your system will boot using your graphics card.
I know that when i did't set this on my old computer the computer would use integreated GFX until it got into windows logon screen.
 
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