Screen timeout not responding.
Screen timeout not responding.
I built a recovery USB because my computer was acting strangely. After a short while, the screen went dark and the desktop didn’t appear. Pressing Windows + Power + Del didn’t fix it. The backlight stayed on but the screen remained invisible. I tried connecting the monitor again, but it still wouldn’t show up. The system would freeze unexpectedly, and when streaming video it would stall, then speed up to catch up. Switching tabs seemed to trigger the issue. While dragging windows around, there was noticeable lag. At startup, the BIOS screen didn’t appear at all—just went straight to Windows login. I managed to enter BIOS by pressing DEL, but the mainboard/BIOS display never showed up. The hardware seems old—possibly a 10-year-old SSD drive. Please help me troubleshoot.
New symptom appeared. I instructed the computer not to shut down or sleep last night so I could finish preparing recovery media. It worked and the desktop functioned this morning, though it kept stuttering. For entertainment I turned on power cycling. Backlight only, desktop failed to show. Whenever the monitor goes dark, I must restart...
Issues include storage driver problems often followed by power failures, Windows service startups failing, and a crashing display driver. These are generally not major concerns, though some services may fail to connect (DCOM errors). Follow these steps:
1. Open an elevated command window and run sfc /scannow to check for system files.
2. If crashes persist, try starting Windows in safe mode.
3. Execute DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in a safe environment.
4. Download and install the latest DDU drivers, then restart and reinstall them.
5. Update your BIOS to the newest version.
6. Ensure Windows is fully updated; if problems continue, your SSD might be failing, possibly due to age.
I’ve already tackled 1, 2, 4, 5 without much success. I’m considering #3 but now things are even more challenging. I attempted to boot from the recovery USB and install Windows on an M.2 stick pulled from another machine (the drive was upgraded), but Windows reported a failure. When I tried accessing repair options, it indicated the process had also failed. I then reinstalled my original boot drive into Device Manager, only to discover the M.2 isn’t responding—no BIOS or Windows access. It appears inactive, intermittently signaling the monitor with a light and powering down. I plan to bring in a new drive after work today and give it another shot. You might have some tips if you know how to check the original boot drive for issues.
M2 drives may prevent a successful boot initially. Start with a fresh Windows installation USB created via the Media Creation Tool: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...c3b507420d. Insert it without the M2 chip in your system. Access BIOS, set USB as primary boot device, and ensure CMOS is disabled. Power down and reconnect the M2 drive. Upon next startup, Windows should load with the M2 detected. If issues persist, check for memory-related faults.
I successfully got Windows running by replacing the salvaged M.2 drive and installing the operating system on my Samsung 970. It had only games before, so I didn’t worry about cleaning it. Appreciate your assistance!