Error encountered when attempting to start, no PCIe graphics card detected.
Error encountered when attempting to start, no PCIe graphics card detected.
Hello Linus Community, I'm facing an odd issue with a PC I built. A coworker managed to install Windows on it, but the system would boot from the USB, then crash right before the install screen appeared and restarted. I've tried various fixes—switching in an old AMD GPU, connecting it via PCIe, PSU, and HDMI display. Once everything worked after installation, including drivers and updates, the problem resurfaced. Now, if I disconnect the GPU or unplug the power cable from the PSU, the machine stops booting before Windows loads. This happened even though I've built many systems without similar problems. The only change I made was swapping the PSU to a 630W model from Thermaltake Berlin. What could be causing this behavior?
Initially, the PSU appears to be problematic, though that isn't the primary concern. What Windows version were you using? Coffee Lake doesn't support Windows 7 or 8.x. If it doesn't match, proceed with additional testing. - Execute Memtest86+ for several hours to ensure memory stability - Should it pass, the issue likely lies with the board or CPU. It seems the iGPU could be faulty, though uncommon.
Remove the CMOS battery briefly, discharge it, reinstall it, and attempt to access the BIOS. Check the GPU preference settings. It seems there may be an option for using only PCI or a similar interface for graphics, depending on the system. You might need to specify just PCI-E or another port type.
This situation isn't clear, but it seems the system didn't start properly even with a USB installer. I believe it might be related to hardware issues, like a faulty graphics card or memory problems. I'm considering using Windows 10 for a basic office setup and will run Memtest86 to check for errors. It appears the issue flares up during boot if a PCIe GPU is connected, though some benchmarks and games still function. I can access the BIOS only when Windows crashes while trying to boot. After switching to an iGPU, the problem disappeared until the PCIe card was plugged in again.
I've reviewed the situation carefully. Today I ran several tests. Memtest86 completed five passes with no errors. Cinebench was stable on an iGPU setup without any issues. Prime95 using Small FFT presets ran smoothly for over half an hour without crashes. However, the whole system would crash right after attempting to boot or restart. It seems the problem occurs when trying to power on without a connected GPU, even though it's plugged into the PCI slot and powered via PSU. I've attached some verification screenshots. It appears the iGPU is functional and both GPUs are recognized. EDIT: Switched from an AMD Readon to a GTX 750 Ti without extra power cable, and the system started normally. No drivers were needed for the GTX. Still unsure why it fails without a GPU. The only clue points to a faulty iGPU. Updated September 23, 2018 by GoGoWe additional information
Have you tried solving the problem yourself? I’m experiencing the same problem and bought some used parts. Initially, I thought something was wrong, but once I installed a PCIe GPU everything worked fine. Removing it caused the system to load the login screen before restarting. I’m not planning to use it without a GPU, but I’m curious if there’s another hidden issue with the CPU or motherboard. I have an i9-9900k and a Gigabyte Aorus Z390 Pro Wi-Fi board. At this stage, I intend to overlook the issue, though it will keep lingering in my mind until I find a fix. Updated June 30, 2022 by DanCaveman asking the question.