"Black screen of death"

[winseven1]

lack screen of death is when everything seems fine , you are taken to the login screen as usual, but after login the screen fades to black, forever...

I have been experiencing this problem lately. Browsing the internet I see that this isnt something only I experience.

According to various websites, this can be caused by:

1) viruses, malware, adware, spyware

2) Windows update, which messes up the registry, which in turn prevents the screen from fading back from black

3) Graphics drivers

4) Your monitor's Hz settings

Option 1 is out of the question, as I have ran virtually every antivirus and anti spyware out there, before and after the problem. My system is as clean as it can be.

I am now in Safe mode, posting this message. The problem isn't present in safe mode, and I have ran all the antivirus/spyware programs again in safe mode, nothing is found.

I have also reinstalled Windows 7 after I encountered this problem the first time, but the problem appeared again today when I restarted my PC. I have run several registry cleaners, and it seems like Option 2 is out of the question as well. Also, I have had Updates turned off for more than a month now, so this simply couldn't be caused by an update, and the updates mentioned in those websites are from Nov 2009.

Option 3 and 4 might actually be the cause. I also have Ubuntu installed, and after this incident I get an error at Ubuntu startup that my video settings are set to low quality, or something like that. I can post the whole message if you want. I have never been notified of such a problem before this incident.

This leads me to believe that its caused either by an automatic driver update which im not familiar of, or its caused of some program (video games) I used changing the screens Hz, or some screen setting, which by the way, I cant change Hz in Safe mode to anything.

This are of course random guesses. I would like to know if you guys have had a similar issue and if you have found a cure. I could reinstall windows, and then spend another hour reinstalling my software, and then another one copying my files from an external drive if I knew the problem would be gone, BUT I HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT and I got the same problem again. Please help me, im in Safe Mode now and can't go on with my daily PC usage, its just ridiculous!

Another option is, this is caused by BIOS, as Ubuntu gives a warning as well. I havent done ony changes to the BIOS though...

[MANEMAN]

Hi there, and

This leads me to believe that its caused either by an automatic driver update which im not familiar of, or its caused of some program (video games) I used

Yep ! you are probably right. DirectX will cause this problem. Read this article: Refresh rate problems

A lot of games are poorly written software "Rushed Out" with no beta testing having taken place.

If you really must play games on a computer and you wish to run them in Windows 7, do think about partioning your disk, and having 2 instances of Windows 7 available in a dual boot setup. Using one system for gaming only.

Easily achieved with disk imaging. You wont have to make a quote like this anymore:

can't go on with my daily PC usage, its just ridiculous!

A bit of forethought by some "Gamers" would save a lot of hassle.

Make sure that you have the correct version of DirectX running on your computer for any particular game.

(i.e - Read the game software instructions. If it says it requires 9 it may mess up with DirectX 10)

If you decide to re-install your operating system once again. Do a registry backup with each new software install. You can then go back in time and discover which piece of software is giving trouble.

If you cant sort "Black Screen" out yourself, - by no means go anywhere near the BIOS or think about updating the firmware. That really can go bad if you get it wrong, and can junk your 'puter once and for all.

Once you have read the article in the link I have given you will realise that DirectX can alter Frequency (Hz) i.e - refresh rates. This can lead to "Black Screen"

If you do find that it is a game that is causing the problem, complain to the manufacturer. Way too much crap being turned out these days, badly written, DLL conflicts with other software, etc; etc, and they keep getting away with it.

Try some of the options above. Hope all goes well for you.

John.

[winseven1]

A reply!

Hey.

So you think a software could change the refresh rate of my monitor and it could effect the other OS as well (Ubuntu)?

Doesnt that mean its on BIOS level?

And how can I change the refresh rate if I can only log in in Safe Mode?

PS. Im a 3d developer, but I mostly use OGL. Is that a problem?

[MANEMAN]

You did not read the article then ?

Could well be: DirectX

Im a 3d developer, but I mostly use OGL. Is that a problem?

It could be if you have been polishing up one set of skills and completely ignoring another.

Take some time out from what you are doing, and the gaming, to brush up on basic computer understanding.

See here for starters. WISE GEEK You seem to misunderstand BIOS.

John.

[winseven1]

I did read the article. It says DX can give such a problem by CHANGING THE HZ, so why does it sounds so weird to you if I ask if OGL can do it too? As D3D and OGL are graphics libraries that are meant to do the same things (and some 3d software actually support both of them)?

Same for BIOS. Are you saying I don't have basic computer understanding?

This setup screen often allows users to change the order in which drives are accessed during startup and control the functionality of a number of critical devices. Features vary among individual BIOS versions.

Again, how could it affect my Linux graphics settings then?

and can you please answer my main question? How to change the HZ in safe mode?

[MANEMAN]

I wasn't trying to be a smartass............. However.

but I mostly use OGL. Is that a problem?

I dont know I dont use it. As this forum is purely voluntary you could perhaps wait until somebody who does, reads your post, or with the aid of a search engine try to research if there are any problems with OGL and Windows 7 relating to a "Black Screen Error".

You could uninstall and re-install OGL, and do as I say with a registry backup to prove a point.

Same for BIOS. Are you saying I don't have basic computer understanding?

This setup screen often allows users to change the order in which drives are accessed during startup and control the functionality of a number of critical devices. Features vary among individual BIOS versions.

Fair comment on your part. If you feel that this is where the fault may lie and you are confident enough to research, update and fiddle with the BIOS in order to fix "Black Screen" please do it. I was merely trying to warn you of the dangers of altering the BIOS if you were not fully Au Fait.

As you are now within a specific area (BIOS) I would suggest OpenGL forum to look for persons with similar thoughts. Microsoft TechNet for any information relating to their operating system and Open GL. Motherboard manufacturer for any BIOS updates that may relate to "Black Screen Errors".

can you please answer my main question? How to change the HZ in safe mode?

As far as I know only a generic vga driver loads in Safe Mode. Probably stops you from altering refresh rate in the way you would wish. Not much point though if as soon as you boot into "Normal" mode DirectX or a corrupt DLL in software immediately reverses your settings.

If I were you I should either bog myself down in the intricate nature of the BIOS, or Re-install Windows 7, leave it running without software to see if "Black Screen" still appears. If not go step-by-step installing software until the fault shows up.

John.

[winseven1]

I wasn't trying to be a smartass............. However.

Neither was I. I simply said I develop 3d software, so even if I removed all the gaming stuff from win7, this could still cause the problem. I certainly don't think I have and showed an know-all attitude just because I know programming. I'm asking questions and asking if my assumptions are true. If I (thought I) could fix this myself, I wouldn't post in a forum. I usually search my problem with google before posting in a forum as well.

Im not 'sure' this is a OpenGL thing (and BIOS by the way) either, its just you didnt give any reason why it can't be OGL problem as much as a DX one, except that microsoft's page doesn't mention it (but then again, DX is a microsoft product, so they will probably know more about its problems).

I was merely trying to warn you of the dangers of altering the BIOS if you were not fully Au Fait.

I know you were, but it ended up sounding like I don't have 'basic computer understanding'.

Re-install Windows 7, leave it running without software to see if "Black Screen" still appears.

i have reinstalled it once. I can try one more time.

It was probably caused by some software i installed the day of the error, so Ill just try to remember those and not install them.

Hopefully, that will fix this problem.

At least I know that its likely not caused by something else now.

[bludgard]

MANEMAN was just suggesting an option.

Have you tried it?

There's a great thread over here:http://forums.window...l=&fromsearch=1 edit: