Problems with nVidia Graphics drivers & Black Screen

loki · 23-07-2008, 08:34

Well at least I think it is.

I had a problem over the weekend with my pc saying ntloader missing, so after much fiddling about, I decided to put in an old hdd that I know is working, windows installs fine no problem. I install the latest nVidia drivers and once it gets past the windows boot screen I get a black screen. So after much restarting in safe mode uninstalling drivers and reinstalling every revision of Vista 64 drivers I still get black screened. Now all of these parts have run under Vista 64 without a problem.

My set up is as follows

Mobo: MSI 975 X Platinum
RAM: 4x 1gb Crucial Ballistix
Graphics: BFG 8800GTS OC
OS: Vista Ultimate 64 Bit

As I say I have had all this up and running before with drivers installing no problem. When I look at the device manager It says driver may not have installed properly. The only error message I get is when I try GeForce ForceWare 175.19 Vista (64-bit) drivers and I get a blue screen for all of 2 seconds which says drivers didn't install properly.

I am wondering is this an issue with the Graphics Card or Mobo ?

Any help appreciated

Justsomebloke · 23-07-2008, 09:02

Bare in mind I have NO experience with Vista so ignore me if I'm being dated.
You installed the Net framework thingymejig ?
Did you use Driver cleaner Pro (Yes I know it's a diff HD but there may still be traces of previous drivers on there)
Have you run memtest of those sticks (1 could have borked)

loki · 23-07-2008, 12:36

I will run memtest tonight when I get home. The funny thing is the 4x sticks I have in this board appear to work fine i.e system boots up. However when I tried them in another Vista ready board only 2 out of the 4 would run at anyone time. Regardless of how I mixed and matched them.

.netframework ?? Not sure

Directx 10 I dont think so.

Mark · 23-07-2008, 14:11

Running four sticks of memory is always more problematic than running two. That's the same reason why you buy matched pairs of memory sticks - if the timings are even a little out, then one set of memory can respond before the other is ready.

I've had the same problem - one of my boards just won't accept 4 sticks of RAM - even the same type from the same manufacturer.

loki · 24-07-2008, 10:39

Ok I think i am getting somewhere with this. I tried it last night with only 2of the 4 sticks and hey presto it works. It works with any 2 from the 4, so I don't think the RAM is the problem. Plus I found that the RAM is PC2-8500 so I am not sure if I will need to change any settings in BIOS to take advantage of the 4 sticks of RAM. I guess I will have to put in the timings manually

Justsomebloke · 24-07-2008, 17:46

Sorry mate I missed the fact it's Crucial Ballistix & therefore needs 2.1v to operate at said speeds. (Check on website Volt requirements mate I am sure but you never know)
Sounds like it is crapping out with 4 through lack of V. Be gentle with the increase of volts though a.

23-07-2008, 08:34	#1
loki Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 871	Problems with nVidia Graphics drivers & Black Screen Well at least I think it is. I had a problem over the weekend with my pc saying ntloader missing, so after much fiddling about, I decided to put in an old hdd that I know is working, windows installs fine no problem. I install the latest nVidia drivers and once it gets past the windows boot screen I get a black screen. So after much restarting in safe mode uninstalling drivers and reinstalling every revision of Vista 64 drivers I still get black screened. Now all of these parts have run under Vista 64 without a problem. My set up is as follows Mobo: MSI 975 X Platinum RAM: 4x 1gb Crucial Ballistix Graphics: BFG 8800GTS OC OS: Vista Ultimate 64 Bit As I say I have had all this up and running before with drivers installing no problem. When I look at the device manager It says driver may not have installed properly. The only error message I get is when I try GeForce ForceWare 175.19 Vista (64-bit) drivers and I get a blue screen for all of 2 seconds which says drivers didn't install properly. I am wondering is this an issue with the Graphics Card or Mobo ? Any help appreciated __________________ PC & Console LAN 9th-11th July

23-07-2008, 09:02	#2
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	Bare in mind I have NO experience with Vista so ignore me if I'm being dated. You installed the Net framework thingymejig ? Did you use Driver cleaner Pro (Yes I know it's a diff HD but there may still be traces of previous drivers on there) Have you run memtest of those sticks (1 could have borked) __________________

23-07-2008, 12:36	#3
loki Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 871	I will run memtest tonight when I get home. The funny thing is the 4x sticks I have in this board appear to work fine i.e system boots up. However when I tried them in another Vista ready board only 2 out of the 4 would run at anyone time. Regardless of how I mixed and matched them. .netframework ?? Not sure Directx 10 I dont think so. __________________ PC & Console LAN 9th-11th July

24-07-2008, 10:39	#5
loki Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 871	Ok I think i am getting somewhere with this. I tried it last night with only 2of the 4 sticks and hey presto it works. It works with any 2 from the 4, so I don't think the RAM is the problem. Plus I found that the RAM is PC2-8500 so I am not sure if I will need to change any settings in BIOS to take advantage of the 4 sticks of RAM. I guess I will have to put in the timings manually __________________ PC & Console LAN 9th-11th July

24-07-2008, 17:46	#6
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	Sorry mate I missed the fact it's Crucial Ballistix & therefore needs 2.1v to operate at said speeds. (Check on website Volt requirements mate I am sure but you never know) Sounds like it is crapping out with 4 through lack of V. Be gentle with the increase of volts though a. __________________

23-07-2008, 14:11	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Running four sticks of memory is always more problematic than running two. That's the same reason why you buy matched pairs of memory sticks - if the timings are even a little out, then one set of memory can respond before the other is ready. I've had the same problem - one of my boards just won't accept 4 sticks of RAM - even the same type from the same manufacturer.