Is the black screen appearing only after a restart, suggesting a power supply issue?
Is the black screen appearing only after a restart, suggesting a power supply issue?
Hi,
I’ve received a computer from a friend that’s having problems, and I’m trying to understand the repair steps.
After a hard reboot, the computer starts but immediately goes black in Windows. The fans are running and the fan lights are on, yet there’s no display or signal. During the restart it doesn’t even show the BIOS screen or begin startup. The fans are working fine.
Every time I have to perform a hard reboot and start over, it functions properly once.
I’ve taken several actions: unmounted the GPU, removed extra drives, changed the M2 drive slot, disconnected USB devices, removed the hard drive, ran RAM tests without issues, used SFC command to fix files, performed a clean Windows 10 install (which also required a reboot), and even tried the integrated GPU.
I’ve also done a CMOS reset, updated BIOS to the latest version, and run sfc -comando, but nothing seems to resolve the issue.
It appears the same problems occur with both the built-in graphics card and the GPU 3080.
Could it be related to the power supply unit or the motherboard? I’m looking for ways to test what’s causing this.
My friend is an avid gamer and likely has played a lot of hours recently.
Details:
Computer Model: Medion MD35211
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1200K
Motherboard: Z690M Aorus Elite Ax DDR4 Rev1.0
RAM: Corsair Vengance CMK32Gx4M2Z3600C18 (3600 MHz, DDR4, 2x16GB)
Storage: 500GB Samsung 970 EVO Plus
Power Supply: Seasonic Focus (approx. 750W)
GPU: GPU 3080 (not installed yet)
I’ve just started a fresh Windows 10 Home installation and faced the same challenges.
Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
What is the age of that Seasonic Focus PSU? It has been heavily used for gaming—confirm its specifications. In any case, the PSU seems likely responsible. Do you have another PSU ready to replace and test? Please use only the cables included with the new PSU.
It’s a Model: SSR-750FX with 80plus gold (Focus GX-750). Seasonic Focus is fully modular. The serial number indicates it was made in June 2021, likely used in 2022. It has a strong gaming background, but it’s only three years old. Manufactured in June 2021, probably used in 2022. Shouldn’t the PSU last longer despite heavy use?
I own my own computer and don’t want to replace all cables. I’m considering a new PSU. Any suggestions for affordable options?
Thank you.
We would like products to last longer, but that remains mostly just a hope... Items are built to degrade over time and often require replacement eventually. In many situations, they become non-repairable. If they aren’t well-designed, poorly assembled with inferior parts, and lack solid quality checks, the end of life comes sooner. Warranties and all the fine print offer minimal protection for buyers in the long run. = == = PSU's. Begin here: Additional members might share more detailed product suggestions and ideas.
The Seasonic focus gx750 offers high performance with a ten-year warranty. If issues arise, you may obtain a replacement from Seasonic. Check the bios settings; if the display option isn’t enabled, it could be the reason for failure. The display time might be too brief to notice. Power from the CMOS battery keeps the bios settings intact, typically using a cr2032 cell. Verify the battery with a multimeter or swap it for a new one. If the power supply unit is suspected, use a verified PSU with adequate capacity. Remember to follow the replacement PSU cables carefully. Purchase a new PSU from a store offering solid return terms if necessary. Be prepared for a 15% restocking fee if you need to exchange it. Consider upgrading to a more powerful model for future GPU upgrades. A PSU consumes only the power it requires, no matter its maximum rating. The price difference between 750W and 850W or 950W models is generally minimal. Choose quality products. In the absence of reliable reviews, the warranty serves as a strong quality signal. Minimum 7 years, ideally 10 or more, is recommended.
Thank you for your reply. I can access bios after a hard reboot by pressing the on-button for 5 seconds. This makes it easy to reach bios and windows, but every time I restart my computer I encounter “no signal” and the monitor shuts down completely, even though the fans are active and the computer is on. The screen remains black with no indicators on the keyboard that it’s powered on. Another odd occurrence is that when I shut down via Windows, the fans remain lit after the shutdown.
I’ve tried using the pins on the motherboard to restart CMOS, pushed a button, and upgraded the BIOS to the latest version. I also ran memory tests on both RAM individually. Of course, I can replace the battery, but I’m not sure if that’s the problem—everything seems functional after the hard reboot, except after a restart. It might be something else. Perhaps testing another power supply would help. Thank you for your support.
A flat CMOS battery is one of the key factors causing some older PCs to fail to POST.
If I haven’t used a computer in the past six months and the screen remains blank, my first step is to use a multimeter to test the battery.
It’s typical to discover that a battery from five years ago has failed, and when taken out, its terminal voltage may be under 1 Volt.
Installing a fresh CR2032 usually leads to an unexpected improvement.
New batteries should display approximately 3.25V on a multimeter. I replace them once their voltage falls below 2.50V.
I will proceed with that. I just tested another PSU and it’s still the same problem. So it’s probably not the PSU.
If the battery is the cause, I’ve already done several other troubleshooting steps that turned out unnecessary. I’ll reply once I try a different battery. Thank you!
I’ve switched to a new battery but the problem persists. Every time I restart the computer, there’s no signal on the monitor. My Odyssey G5 works properly with my other PC. Could there be another cause? CPU, motherboard, cables? It seems to work after a hard reboot, so why doesn’t it start again?