Blank screen after POST, Windows Logo, before login screen. 4 days after 8.1 upgrade

System Specs:

Custom Build: MSI Gaming Series Mobo (MSI Z87-G45), i5 Haswell Processor (4670k), 1 TB Seagate 7200 RPM HDD, Windows 8 Pro, 16GB RAM. Using Motherboard Video (Intel Onboard Graphics)

The following series of events has happened twice now so I think I can rule out a common glitch:

  • Clean Version of Windows 8 (sfc & dskchk clean), upgraded to 8.1 through windows store. 
  • Upgrade goes fine, no issues. Three to four days later, I'll shut down my computer (like I've done several times since installing 8.1) and turn it back on. BAM! Black screen after logo, before cover picture for login. HDD light blinks for about 10-15 seconds, then just stops. 

HDD S.M.A.R.T. not triggered. Power on count is less than 180 times, hours less than 300. 

System Event logs empty (not ONE entry from applications, system, anything when this happens), SFC and CHKDSK clean. System restore to four days previous (three days before issue) does nothing. System Repair detects that Windows has not fully booted and after 2 hard resets, attempts (but fails) at repairs. This allows me to enter debugging or safe mode to continue trying. (Check disk ran from command line inside advanced repair options). 

Safe mode and debugging mode boots fine, but as soon as I return to normal mode, same issue. Removed (and deleted) display drivers and uninstalled updates from around that period. Updated bios to most recent version as well as display driver. No change. 

I've seen a lot of similar posts but with a blinking cursor (I've rebuilt the MBR anyways and check secure boot anyways. No Change). I've also tried disabling secure driver verification (think that's how it's listed) on boot. No Change. Removed all peripheral devices but keyboard, mouse, and screen. No Change.

One last piece of information: CHKDSK runs fine in command line but if scheduled at boot time, stalls at 10% (and is a PAIN in the a-- to get around since it only gives 1 second to skip). 

Sorry for the long post, first time poster since I usually can solve my own problems (12+ years IT support). Figure the more info you all have, the better. 

I'm about to do a RAM check since it seems like it's the only piece of hardware I haven't checked. Will update.

Cheers!

John


  • Edited by techKnowGeek Saturday, October 26, 2013 11:34 PM Layout Change
October 27th, 2013 2:32am

UPDATE: Memory Tests passed (Memtest 86). All 16 gigs.

Just to clarify: The computer IS sending a signal to the monitor, it's just a full black screen. Identical screen on second monitor. I've tried logging in/keyboard combinations blindly. No dice. HDD light doesn't even blink except once every 10 seconds. 

Another Clarification: System is NOT Over-clocked in anyway.

  • Edited by techKnowGeek Sunday, October 27, 2013 1:05 AM Clarification, Update
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October 27th, 2013 2:49am

Hi,

This issue appeared to be driver related.

First, I suggest we update display card and chipset driver for your computer and then check the issue.

If it still persists, to avoid 3<sup>rd</sup> part conflict, I suggest we test the issue in clean boot mode.

How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135   

If the issue doesnt appear, you can determine which one can be the cause by using dichotomy in MSconfig. Checking on half of Non-Microsoft service and restart, determining which half of the services cause the issue and repeating to check half of the problematic half services.

If the issue still persists in Clean boot mode, please try safe mode to see whats going on:

How to easily enter safe mode in windows 8? (One-click series)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2809468

Keep post.

October 29th, 2013 5:03am

Hi Kate,

I had tried updating the bios, chipset, and display driver, all to no avail. A day after posting, I went ahead and did my third re-install of windows 8. After I updated all the drivers & installed all the updates, I upgraded to 8.1 but turned automatic updates off and am installing each one individually and rebooting.

Since I never installed any new programs / services after upgrading to 8.1 the previous two times, my best idea at this point is an automatic update that keeps sneaking in.

I did not try clean boot mode, but will if the issue happens again. I did, however, try safe mode, which worked. This lead me to believe a driver update was happening (even though I did system restore back to three days before the issue happened, and the issue persisted). 

At this point, I'm holding my breath and waiting. It usually happens 4-5 days after upgrading to 8.1 and I'm in day 3 now.

I'll post again if/when it happens again and/or I find the root of the problem.

Thanks!

- John

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October 30th, 2013 7:35pm

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