Computer fails to start and doesn't allow installing a fresh Windows version after adding a new graphics card.
Computer fails to start and doesn't allow installing a fresh Windows version after adding a new graphics card.
Recently my graphics card began producing artifacts, so I set out to find a replacement. To be sure the system remained functional overall, it still booted and operated normally except for the visual issues. I owned a 14th-generation model with 4GB RAM. A few days prior, I purchased a GTX 1660 Super (that’s the highest I could afford). After installing the new card, I powered on the PC in anticipation of gaming. I saw the BIOS interface but soon noticed a white symbol flashing at the top followed by a black screen. I restarted the machine, but the problem persisted. I verified the installation in the PCIe slot and even swapped the SATA connectors into different positions to rule out interference. I temporarily swapped it out with the old card just to test if the issue stemmed from the faulty GPU. Still, the white symbol repeated a few times before going black. I reset the BIOS settings and double-checked the boot configuration. Eventually, I gave up and used a media installation tool on a USB drive to install a fresh Windows 10. When I booted via UEFI, the Windows logo appeared and the USB device displayed a flashing effect. I believed I had resolved it, but the logo remained in a distorted, wide format with no white dots spinning. I waited nearly two hours, assuming the slowness was the cause, but nothing changed. I tried entering Safe Mode using F8, but only heard clicking sounds from the motherboard speakers. Restarting didn’t help either. I experimented with various RAM configurations despite the BIOS confirming 16GB of memory. I ran diagnostics for CPU, RAM, and storage, which showed no faults. I reset the CMOS battery, plugged the USB into multiple ports—including the internal one—and even tried using the built-in graphics. When it booted, the BIOS displayed correctly, but the Windows logo appeared in thin vertical strips across the screen. Here are my details: CPU: i5-4590 GPU: Palit 1660 Super RAM: 16GB DDR3 Kingston (speed unknown) Motherboard: Fujitsu D3231-S1x PSU: Hexa+ Pro 600W SSD: Sandisk X300 HDD: generic 500GB drive I bought the PC from an unreliable seller. He works in a company where IT staff recycle old components and sell refurbished parts. Please assist me—I’ve been without a gaming PC for over a month and am becoming quite anxious. (Sorry for any grammar mistakes; English isn’t my first language)
The black line after the bios/boot screen indicates that the boot device cannot be loaded, which could mean a dead drive or, infrequently, a connected flash drive is blocking OS installation. Are all your drives visible to the BIOS? What occurs during a clean Windows installation when you select the desired drives or partitions?
I don’t understand how everything is connected, but you might want to remove the drivers without a GPU and see if that helps, or reinstall Windows without a GPU and then try again. You could also move the GPU to another PCIe slot—if you have one. Since your internal graphics are having issues, I’m not sure what will happen. I faced the same issue six years ago with an AMD video card; it seemed the motherboard was faulty, though it sometimes worked but would loop and show no image. If you know someone with a similar motherboard, check their CPU and GPU first before purchasing a new one. If your country offers good return policies, you could try returning it within 14 days. Let me know if you manage to fix it.
The system attempts to set up Windows without using the previous operating systems.