Windows 7 Random black screen hangs during POST on computer restart.

[klincii]

Hi everyone.This is a long post so bear with me please. Thanks. My problem is somewhat weird. I've searched and searched for a solution but none was like mine. So sometimes (actually most times) after i do the smallest change like stop/start a service , or set the number of drives in daemon tools and such, upon reboot, my system just hangs on a black screen during POST. So it doesn't even get through post. Most of the times i have to manually restart the system but it doesn't always boot after the first restart, sometimes it requires several manual restarts. It's like the computer is in sleep/hibernate mode or something.This all happened after i installed my new video card (a GTX 260 Core 216) which supposedly eats up a lot of power. Of course i also installed a new 450Watt power supply and made sure it has 37 Ampers on the +12v rail as the producer recommends and further proceeded with a fresh Windows 7 install. Now i'm guessing this is either a boot sector problem , since this only happens when system changes occur (except new software being installed like games since this does not affect startup programs) OR as i mentioned earlier , maybe the videocard doesn't get enough power(?). Thanks for reading and hopefully someone might have a solution for my problem.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your system hanging on a black screen during POST after making minor changes like restarting a service or adjusting settings. This problem seems to have started after installing a new video card, the GTX 260 Core 216, and a new 450W power supply. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue: 1. Check Power Supply: While you mentioned that you installed a 450W power supply with sufficient amperage, it's worth double-checking to ensure that the power supply is functioning correctly. Sometimes, even with the right specs, a power supply can be faulty. 2. Reseat Components: Ensure that all components, especially the new video card, are seated correctly in their respective slots. Sometimes, poor connections can lead to boot issues. 3. BIOS Settings: Access your BIOS settings and check if everything is configured correctly, especially related to power settings and boot devices. Ensure that the boot order is correct. 4. Boot Windows in Safe Mode: Try booting into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists. Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers and services, which can help pinpoint if the problem is related to a specific driver or software. 5. Update Drivers: Make sure that all your drivers, especially the graphics card driver, are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause boot issues. 6. Windows Startup Repair: Use the Windows startup repair tool, which can help fix common boot problems. You can access this tool through the Windows installation media. 7. Check Boot Sector: As you mentioned, it could be a boot sector issue. Running a check on the boot sector integrity can help identify and potentially fix any problems. 8. System Restore: If you suspect that the issue started after a specific driver or software installation, you can try using System Restore to roll back to a point before the problem occurred. 9. System Diagnostics: Run system diagnostics to check for any hardware issues that might be causing the boot problem. If after trying these steps the issue persists, it might be beneficial to consult with a professional technician to further diagnose the issue. Keep track of any error messages or specific behaviors that occur during the boot process as they can provide clues to the underlying problem.