Solved Screen going blank randomly

Aeed

Member
Member
Messages
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When I leave my computer for an extended period of time, after returning the screen is sometimes blank. I know that everything is still on, the screen just won't come on. I know things are still running in the background because when I restart my computer by pressing the reset button (the only thing that works), when I boot back into Windows a few seconds later and relog into an IRC channel I was in before, my old nick gets ghosted. If my old nick was still in IRC this means my computer was still on and working fine until I hit the reset button - screen being blank was the only issue.

I've tried multiple things, such as hitting the "wake" button on the keyboard. I've checked my power settings carefully, modified them, but still no luck. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to this behavior, it either happens or it doesn't, and the time period it takes for it to happen seems random. Thank goodness for browser session auto-recovery.

System:
Windows 8
i5 2500K @ stock
Asus Z68 mobo
2x8GB 1600Mhz memory
256GB SSD
Radeon 7770 Sapphire 13.4 stable driver
3TB external WD HDD using wall-power
21.5" Samsung monitor 1080p

I've checked temps, nothing overheating.

Software of note:
Classic shell
KCP (WMP-HC codec pack)
Malwarebytes
Windows defender AV (built-in)
Online armor
QTTabBar
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500K @ 3.3Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68
    Memory
    2x8GB DDR3 1600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD7770 -> 13.11 beta 6 driver
    Hard Drives
    256GB Vertex 4 SSD
    250GB Samsung (several years old)
    3TB WD External, wall-powered
    PSU
    600W Green Earth
    Browser
    Firefox (primary) Sleipnir (secondary)
I had an old Dell that would do this, it was trying to go into Sleep mode and it was hanging up, the Power light would change to Orange. It would do this regardless of how I had the sleep options set up, on or off, it would do this randomly.

My solution was to swap out power supplies, do you have an extra one you can put in there? Don't know if it will work for your system.

What is your Motherboard Chipset, see if there is a new version of software drivers for it, also check for a new BIOS package for the MB.

You should try a check of your system memory as well, download Hiren's Boot CD from my link, boot to it, and run one of the memory checkers that it lists. If you run Memtest, run the full thing, don't stop it halfway.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
This happened to me just recently, and I was told here to look at the device manager and if there were any yellow exclamation marks. There was indeed one next to the printer and after uninstalling that driver it was reinstalled again properly, and the problem with the hanging monitor disappeared. They don't seem to be related problems, but it worked!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64-bit
Yah, check your Hardware, thanx PaulA
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
There's no way to run some kind of memory test in Windows itself?
Checked device manager, all seems fine.
I'm very reluctant to swap out my power supply, as it would mean an upgrade, and that would be expensive. I also rather like my current PSU.
I'll try and look for newer motherboard drivers later this week.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500K @ 3.3Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68
    Memory
    2x8GB DDR3 1600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD7770 -> 13.11 beta 6 driver
    Hard Drives
    256GB Vertex 4 SSD
    250GB Samsung (several years old)
    3TB WD External, wall-powered
    PSU
    600W Green Earth
    Browser
    Firefox (primary) Sleipnir (secondary)
Yes, there is a memory test, do a search for "Windows Memory Diagnostic" - It will pull up a result, click on it, and hit it, it will reboot. But sometimes, it fails to run.

The Hiren's disk has a better testing program.

If you have another PSU you can try in the system, put it in and see if it still happens- Don't go out and buy a new one, just swap out the PSU from something else - If you can. Do you have any local computer stores that can test your PSU? I have a place that can test your hardware for 20 bucks. I had an 80 dollar Works PSU go bad after a year, one day after the warranty expired. I still have the other one, it's been running for 12 years. But even good PSU's will go bad, if your has, you should be qualified to get a replacement.

I've had 3 Dell systems do exactly what you describe. The power light would go Yellow, would not wake up. It would do this right in the middle of work! Does yours do that, it goes blank while you are in the middle of something? If so, then you should try another PSU. But for now, download Hiren's, burn it, boot to it, and do the memory test.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I'll try the Windows memory test if I can.
Hiren's boot CD = 592.5 MB and with a 5GB monthly cap, I'll have to pass.
My PSU cost roughly $60, so it would be a bit pointless to spend $20 testing it.
My PSU is 600W and 80+ certification. All other PSU's I have available for testing are less than half the quality, none of them 80+ certification, and all of then either 450W or less.
I don't have a warranty on my PSU, I got it through a weird transaction - it was supposed to be borrowed until I could get my own one, but that kind of never happened.
My system doesn't do this while I'm working, only when I've been AFK for quite a while (usually 15+ minutes)

I can live with the issue, I just hoped there would be an easy fix on the software side.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500K @ 3.3Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68
    Memory
    2x8GB DDR3 1600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD7770 -> 13.11 beta 6 driver
    Hard Drives
    256GB Vertex 4 SSD
    250GB Samsung (several years old)
    3TB WD External, wall-powered
    PSU
    600W Green Earth
    Browser
    Firefox (primary) Sleipnir (secondary)
5 GB Cap? That's absurd! Thats almost as bad as my original ATT iPhone data cap, which I don't have anymore since I got Sprint. Well, you can download Memtest and use that.

the ISO image is only 610 kb, you think you can handle that?

Memtest86 - Download now!

Anyway, you don't have to spend any money on tests or PSUs, just swap it out with a PSU from another system, borrow one from a friend if you have to. I'm not saying that this is your problem, but it needs to be checked, and until you check it, there really is nothing else that can be done. Cos it is either your PSU or your Memory or maybe even your hard drive that's doing this. If ya can't do this stuff, then you'll have to just live with it.

The only other thing I can suggest, is to run an In-Place Install, put your Disk in the drie while the computer is up, and then run Setup, when it gets to "upgrade or full install" choose Upgrade. This will replace anything that got corrupted. But I wouldn't do it until I check that PSU.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Ok, there is an issue with Online Armor that causes it to Black Screen. Check your Configuration:

On Vista, it still black screens some machines due to their configuration, but this is something that Tall emu are working on again, as it did the same in the previous version.

Online Armor vs. Outpost Firewall | Forum | WOT (Web of Trust)

[Windows] Best free firewall -- Online Armor vs Comodo vs Privatefirewall vs ZoneAlarm vs Outpost vs TinyWall | Reviews, news, tips, and tricks | dotTech

There are lots of issues with Online Armor, try changing the configuration, or removing it temporarily. Virtua Box causes a direct conflict


Maybe you should read this too:

Black screen after login Windows 8 x64 - Online Armor - Emsisoft Support Forums

So, it may be Online Armor causing this, and not your PSU or Memory at all. So try different configurations of it, or remove it, Windows 8 has the same Firewall that 7 does and it is a good firewall, I only use free firewalls for XP.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Thanks a lot for following up on that info! I'll look into Online Armor's side of things next I think.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500K @ 3.3Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68
    Memory
    2x8GB DDR3 1600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD7770 -> 13.11 beta 6 driver
    Hard Drives
    256GB Vertex 4 SSD
    250GB Samsung (several years old)
    3TB WD External, wall-powered
    PSU
    600W Green Earth
    Browser
    Firefox (primary) Sleipnir (secondary)
Pretty sure I've found what the cause of the problem was.

Windows would do the "blank screen" thing without fail about 20 to 60 minutes after going afk.
Once night I decided to leave my PC on through the night to finish a download. I closed Online Armor completely because I didn't want a black screen the next morning.

The next morning, black screen. Rebooted and made sure Online Armor started up again. Checked Online Armor's log, checked Windows logs, but nothing seemed to reveal anything. However this confirmed that Online Armor isn't at fault, which is a great relief, as the HIPS defense is the most powerful form of defense a PC can have these days.

A few days/weeks later I got sick of the black screen issues. I decided to upgrade my graphics driver. The only decent upgrade since Radeon 13.4 are the beta drivers, so I have no choice but to upgrade to a beta driver.

After upgrading, I left my computer on all night. The next morning, no black screen. I left it on all day while I was afk at work. Come home. No black screen.

So a big middle finger to Radeon driver 13.4 <- the cause of my woes for over half a year.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500K @ 3.3Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68
    Memory
    2x8GB DDR3 1600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD7770 -> 13.11 beta 6 driver
    Hard Drives
    256GB Vertex 4 SSD
    250GB Samsung (several years old)
    3TB WD External, wall-powered
    PSU
    600W Green Earth
    Browser
    Firefox (primary) Sleipnir (secondary)
Pretty sure I've found what the cause of the problem was.
So a big middle finger to Radeon driver 13.4 <- the cause of my woes for over half a year.

I'm using 13.11 BetaV8 and still having my screen randomly blink out during use. Though it (seems to have) solved the random lockups I was having after going to 8.1.

I'll try BetaV9.2...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II 440
    Motherboard
    MSI 880GMA-E45
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD6850
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer P224w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    2x500GB WD5000AACS WD RAID
    3x1TB HD103UJ Samsung RAID
    1x2TB HD204UI Samsung
    2x500GB USB External
    PSU
    Dell XPS 730 1000 Watt
    Case
    Dell XPS 730
I'm glad you got it sorted, Aeed.

I would stay away from any Beta drivers, ATI may be better than nVidia though: nVidia Betas ALWAYS fail, on my system, and pretty much fail for a lot of people here.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
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