Please Help

Von Ryan · Nov 4, 2009, 01:44 PM

I currently have a Dell 9150 (19" monitor); with a GF 6800. I recently updated my drivers which caused blank screens and a BSOD. I had to format the partition and start from fresh to get the PC working, now every time I install Nvidia drivers (old or new) I am getting a blank screen. Everything works OK in VGA mode.

So my question is would changing to an ATI card cure my problem? If so which card should I consider? Budget is about £80.

Many Thanks

Pete

kn00tcn · Nov 4, 2009, 03:09 PM

that's a pretty nice budget, you could get something so much better than gf6800, but depends on what your cpu & mobo are

maybe the wrong refresh is being set, or you might need to enable some option in the nv control panel (for example, ati has a 'reduce frequency on dvi displays' that has fixed some people's blanking monitors sometimes)

Von Ryan · Nov 4, 2009, 03:51 PM

The installation of the Nvidia drivers never completes before the screen goes blank, then I can only gain access to the desktop via safe mode.

DIMENSION 9150 P4 640 3.2GHZ, 800FSB
MEMORY DUAL CHANNEL 2gb 400MH
250GB SATA (7200RPM) HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB
FLAT PANEL E196FP 19"
256MB NVIDIA GE FORCE 6800
SOUND BLASTER X-FI XTREME MUSIC CARD

I think the PSU is a 375w

Qualitier · Nov 4, 2009, 06:01 PM

I wouldn't invest too much in that computer, because the processor will be a bottleneck. A serious upgrade there would be a platform upgrade.

Maybe you can improve stability cleaning the vcard and even the whole computer with canned air. If it seems more a wear problem, the memory and the PSU could also be the part to replace.

I haven't got too much experience about nVidia performance levels, but in ATi I think that an X1950pro is already more than what that platform can benefit (I had such card in a Barton 3000+). Take consumptions into account too, because that PSU might not have too much +12V amperage for a modern vcard.

kn00tcn · Nov 4, 2009, 06:30 PM

drivers blank the screen, but you earlier said fine in vga mode?

do you mean when using dvi & installing drivers, it blanks out? or vga mode as in safe mode/turning off nv drivers?

Von Ryan · Nov 5, 2009, 02:50 AM

The PC will run fine with no Nvidia drivers loaded (windows default), but as soon as I install the Nvidia drivers the screen blanks. The PC appears still to be doing something, I reboot; then the screen goes blank after the windows logo. So it's back to safe mode, un-install and reboot and we are are back.

I done some fishing around and found some information on the PSU, apparently the 375 watt Dell psu can provide 30 amps of 12v power and has a 6 pin pcie connecto.

I'm just looking at just getting the thing up and running so the kids can play their WOW etc.

cheers

Pete

Dyre Straits · Nov 5, 2009, 04:39 AM

Depending on how long you're allowing the PC to sit with the blank screen, most driver installs for the video card will blank the screen for a few moments while the drivers do their thing. If it's sitting there blank for 2 - 3 minutes, then it does sound like, for some reason, the drivers are setting a refresh rate that's out of range for the monitor.

Try this: In Device Manager, go to the View option and click on Show Hidden Devices. Then go down to the Monitors option and REMOVE all monitor instances that show up there.

Click OK back to the Desktop and reboot. This will allow Windows to reset the monitor drivers just in case something got screwed up between driver installs.

Good luck!

Von Ryan · Nov 5, 2009, 11:51 AM

Removed monitor, installed drivers, booting into desktop. Monitor set at 1280 x 1024 at 60hz, problem is that screen occasionally goes blank for a few seconds or stays blank untill reboot.

I'm very tempted to purchase a 4670 512mb or 1gb to see if that sorts my problem. Either way it will not going to be wasted of cash.

Will there be a noticeable difference between the 512mb & the 1gb?

Cheers

Pete

caveman-jim · Nov 5, 2009, 12:46 PM

Download and install CCleaner and DriverSweeper.

Uninstall the nVidia drivers from Control Panel / Add-Remove Programs.

Reboot into Safe mode.

Run DriverSweeper for nVidia drivers. Don't reboot. Run CCleaner on your registry and let it fix all the problems it finds (do save a backup when prompted).

Reboot back into safe mode and let the found new hardware wizard complete for a standard VGA adapter.

Reboot to normal desktop and run the driver installer again, reboot when prompted.

If that doesn't work then you can try purchasing the ATi card. At 1280x1024 you won't see a difference between 512MB and 1GB VRAM, go for 512MB of faster VRAM.

Von Ryan · Nov 5, 2009, 01:10 PM

caveman-jim,

I have reformatted the hard drive and done a clean installation of XP, then load nvidia drivers and still getting blank screens. In the past it only happened when I tired the new drivers, always going back to 186. tried 195 - BSOD, unable to gain access via safe mode, thats when I reformatted. Now I'm getting the blank screens with 186.

Sounds like I should try an ATII card.

Cheers and thanks to everyone for their help.

Pete

caveman-jim · Nov 5, 2009, 04:45 PM

You've tried 191, correct? http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_191.07_whql.html

Von Ryan · Nov 6, 2009, 02:34 AM

I tried those when they first came out, that's when I first experienced the blank screensand dropped back to 186. With 195 the PC crashed during installation, followed by the BSOD.

Ordered a 4670 last night, should be with me today. I will let you know if it cures my problem.

Cheers

Pete

Von Ryan · Nov 6, 2009, 12:26 PM

Installed a 4670, everthing seems OK.

Cheers

Pete

kn00tcn · Nov 6, 2009, 11:18 PM

i guess the card was dying?

Von Ryan · Nov 7, 2009, 04:03 AM

Thanks again for everyones help.

Cheers

Pete

Nov 4, 2009, 01:44 PM	#1	Advertisement (Guests Only) Login or Register to remove this ad
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Please Help I currently have a Dell 9150 (19" monitor); with a GF 6800. I recently updated my drivers which caused blank screens and a BSOD. I had to format the partition and start from fresh to get the PC working, now every time I install Nvidia drivers (old or new) I am getting a blank screen. Everything works OK in VGA mode. So my question is would changing to an ATI card cure my problem? If so which card should I consider? Budget is about £80. Many Thanks Pete

Nov 4, 2009, 03:09 PM	#2
kn00tcn zero-zero Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,418	that's a pretty nice budget, you could get something so much better than gf6800, but depends on what your cpu & mobo are maybe the wrong refresh is being set, or you might need to enable some option in the nv control panel (for example, ati has a 'reduce frequency on dvi displays' that has fixed some people's blanking monitors sometimes) __________________ http://www.kn00tcn.net How Does GTA IV Run On: 4870x2 + 3.6ghz Core 2 Quad in Vista64? How Does Crysis Warhead Run On: 4870x2 + 3.6ghz Core 2 Quad in Vista64? FPS LIMITER - run the .jar, add an fps cap to a DX8/DX9/OGL game (without vsync, no input lag)

kn00tcn's System Specs
Motherboard	Asus P5Q-E
CPU	Q9550 @ 3.6ghz (420x8.5)
Graphics	Sapphire 4870x2
Memory	4GB OCZ Reaper 1:1
Cooling Solution	Cooler Master Hyper 212
Display	BenQ FP241VW 24"
Hard-Drives	2x Seagate 7200.11 640gb
Optical Drives	Pioneer 216D
Power Supply	Corsair TX750w
Case	Antec 900
Operating System	Vista64 / XP64
Extra Info	420x8.5 - 1:1 ram

Nov 4, 2009, 06:01 PM	#4
Qualitier Radeon HD 4890 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 904	I wouldn't invest too much in that computer, because the processor will be a bottleneck. A serious upgrade there would be a platform upgrade. Maybe you can improve stability cleaning the vcard and even the whole computer with canned air. If it seems more a wear problem, the memory and the PSU could also be the part to replace. I haven't got too much experience about nVidia performance levels, but in ATi I think that an X1950pro is already more than what that platform can benefit (I had such card in a Barton 3000+). Take consumptions into account too, because that PSU might not have too much +12V amperage for a modern vcard. __________________ winXP pro SP3, no CCC, ATi Tray Tools Sapphire X1950pro 512MB AGP (580/702·2 MHz) with Accelero X2 CRT Nokia 446Xpro (19", 107 kHz) @ 1600x1200x75Hz (desktop) or 1280x1024x85Hz (games) Asrock AM2NF3-VSTA (nForce3 250); HT@804 MHz (motherboard limitation, 3216MB/s up + 3216MB/s down) Athlon64 X2 5000+ Brisbane (@13201=2613MHz) 2x2GB Buffalo 2.1V + 2x1GB Kingston 2.0V, both DDR2-800 4-4-4-12-2T@ 2373MHz (2613/7) 4-4-4-12-2T 2.0V; Dual Channel enabled AVerTV Hybrid Super007, 56k modem, drives etc Corsair VX-450W, one +12V x 33A rail 190W maximum consumption from the wall (monitor apart)

Qualitier's System Specs
Motherboard	AsRock AM2NF3-VSTA
CPU	AMD Athlon64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz
Graphics	Sapphire X1950pro 512MB AGP (580/702·2 MHz)
Memory	2x2GB Buffalo + 2x1GB Kingston DDR2-800 4-4-4-12
Cooling Solution	Tacens Gelus Extreme @1400rpm, Arctic Cooling Accelero X2, Papst 4412FGL (120mm, 1600rpm, 55cfm)
Display	Nokia Multigraph 446Xpro (CRT, 19", 107 kHz)
Soundcard & Speakers	Primax Soundstorm 300W PMPO
Hard-Drives	Western Digital WD6400AAKS (Caviar Blue) 640GB SATA300@SATA150 (motherboard limitation)
Optical Drives	Asus DRW-1814BLT, Asus DVD-E818A, Samsung SH-S202N
Power Supply	Corsair VX-450W, one +12V x 33A rail
Case	Coolermaster Centurion 5
Input Devices	old heavy keyboard, Boeder 3buttons+2wheels mouse, InterAct UltraRacerPC, Thrustmaster Dual Analog 3
Operating System	MS Windows XP Pro SP3
Extra Info	Teac 1.44MB FDD + 7.1 Card Reader, AVerMedia AVerTV Hybrid Super007, Diamond SupraExpress56k 2760

Nov 4, 2009, 03:51 PM	#3
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	The installation of the Nvidia drivers never completes before the screen goes blank, then I can only gain access to the desktop via safe mode. DIMENSION 9150 P4 640 3.2GHZ, 800FSB MEMORY DUAL CHANNEL 2gb 400MH 250GB SATA (7200RPM) HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB FLAT PANEL E196FP 19" 256MB NVIDIA GE FORCE 6800 SOUND BLASTER X-FI XTREME MUSIC CARD I think the PSU is a 375w

Nov 4, 2009, 06:30 PM	#5
kn00tcn zero-zero Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,418	drivers blank the screen, but you earlier said fine in vga mode? do you mean when using dvi & installing drivers, it blanks out? or vga mode as in safe mode/turning off nv drivers? __________________ http://www.kn00tcn.net How Does GTA IV Run On: 4870x2 + 3.6ghz Core 2 Quad in Vista64? How Does Crysis Warhead Run On: 4870x2 + 3.6ghz Core 2 Quad in Vista64? FPS LIMITER - run the .jar, add an fps cap to a DX8/DX9/OGL game (without vsync, no input lag)

Nov 5, 2009, 02:50 AM	#6
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	The PC will run fine with no Nvidia drivers loaded (windows default), but as soon as I install the Nvidia drivers the screen blanks. The PC appears still to be doing something, I reboot; then the screen goes blank after the windows logo. So it's back to safe mode, un-install and reboot and we are are back. I done some fishing around and found some information on the PSU, apparently the 375 watt Dell psu can provide 30 amps of 12v power and has a 6 pin pcie connecto. I'm just looking at just getting the thing up and running so the kids can play their WOW etc. cheers Pete

Nov 5, 2009, 04:39 AM	#7
Dyre Straits Rage3D Veteran Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 2,078	Depending on how long you're allowing the PC to sit with the blank screen, most driver installs for the video card will blank the screen for a few moments while the drivers do their thing. If it's sitting there blank for 2 - 3 minutes, then it does sound like, for some reason, the drivers are setting a refresh rate that's out of range for the monitor. Try this: In Device Manager, go to the View option and click on Show Hidden Devices. Then go down to the Monitors option and REMOVE all monitor instances that show up there. Click OK back to the Desktop and reboot. This will allow Windows to reset the monitor drivers just in case something got screwed up between driver installs. Good luck! __________________ ~Windows Vista HP SP2 AND Windows XP Pro SP3~MSI P45 Neo~Intel E6700 @ 3.2 GHz~4x2 GB DDR2 1066 RAM (Dual Channel)~RealTek Onboard HD 4770 512 MB GDDR5~320 GB Hitachi SATA (Vista System)~250 GB WD SATA (XP System)~2 x 160 GB Samsung SATA + 120 GB WD + 160 GB Seagate IDE (Storage)~DVD RW~1000 W PSU~And a Whole Lot More!~Windows 7 x64 Professional~

Dyre Straits's System Specs
Motherboard	MSI P45 Neo F
CPU	Intel E6700
Graphics	Diamond HD 4770
Memory	8GB DDR2
Cooling Solution	Zero-Therm
Display	Chimei 22 in LCD
Soundcard & Speakers	Onboard RealTek HD
Power Supply	Ultra 1000W
Operating System	Windows 7 x64 Professional

Nov 5, 2009, 11:51 AM	#8
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Removed monitor, installed drivers, booting into desktop. Monitor set at 1280 x 1024 at 60hz, problem is that screen occasionally goes blank for a few seconds or stays blank untill reboot. I'm very tempted to purchase a 4670 512mb or 1gb to see if that sorts my problem. Either way it will not going to be wasted of cash. Will there be a noticeable difference between the 512mb & the 1gb? Cheers Pete

caveman-jim's System Specs
Motherboard	ASUS® P5Q-E
CPU	Intel® Xeon X3360 2.88Ghz
Graphics	AMD® ATI FirePro V3400 128Mb
Memory	4x1Gb Buffalo® Firestix DDR2-800 5-5-5-15
Cooling Solution	Cooler Master® Gemini II + CM 120mm Fans (2)
Display	Westinghouse® 22" LCD LCM22w2 + Viewsonic VX910
Soundcard & Speakers	Dell® USB Powered Speakers
Hard-Drives	Intel® X25-E 32Gb SSD
Optical Drives	None
Power Supply	Zalman® ZMP-600
Case	Antec® P182b
Input Devices	OCZ® Alchemy Elixir keyboard & OCZ® Equalizer mouse
Operating System	Microsoft Windows® 7 x64
Extra Info	trying to downsize

Nov 5, 2009, 01:10 PM	#10
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	caveman-jim, I have reformatted the hard drive and done a clean installation of XP, then load nvidia drivers and still getting blank screens. In the past it only happened when I tired the new drivers, always going back to 186. tried 195 - BSOD, unable to gain access via safe mode, thats when I reformatted. Now I'm getting the blank screens with 186. Sounds like I should try an ATII card. Cheers and thanks to everyone for their help. Pete

Nov 6, 2009, 02:34 AM	#12
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	I tried those when they first came out, that's when I first experienced the blank screensand dropped back to 186. With 195 the PC crashed during installation, followed by the BSOD. Ordered a 4670 last night, should be with me today. I will let you know if it cures my problem. Cheers Pete

Nov 6, 2009, 12:26 PM	#13
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Installed a 4670, everthing seems OK. Cheers Pete

Nov 6, 2009, 11:18 PM	#14
kn00tcn zero-zero Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,418	i guess the card was dying? __________________ http://www.kn00tcn.net How Does GTA IV Run On: 4870x2 + 3.6ghz Core 2 Quad in Vista64? How Does Crysis Warhead Run On: 4870x2 + 3.6ghz Core 2 Quad in Vista64? FPS LIMITER - run the .jar, add an fps cap to a DX8/DX9/OGL game (without vsync, no input lag)

Nov 7, 2009, 04:03 AM	#15
Von Ryan Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	Thanks again for everyones help. Cheers Pete

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