Question Boot screen does not showing, enter Windows 11 directly

[Perene]

I have this system:

CPU i5 11400
CPU cooler: NOCTUA, NH-U12S, chromax.black
Motherboard: MSI Z590-A Pro
Video card: RTX 3060
RAM: 2 slots, 16 GB each (#2 and #4), Vengeance CMK16GX4M2D3000C16
PSU: Corsair 650W, 80 Plus Gold, Semi Modular, TX650M
CASE: Lancool 216 (Lian Li)
Monitor: LCD Acer XV280K-B (4K native)
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Main SSD where Windows 11 is installed: WD_BLACK SN850X (2 TB NVME)
2nd SSD: Samsung 870 EVO, 4 TB
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Plugged into the USB-C: External Blu-ray burner, ASUS SBW-06D5H-U
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I noticed two things:

- After getting these SSDs (both new/formatted), if I plug into this 4K monitor, no image. I had to use it in my TV which is not 4K (1080p). And I tested for the LCD monitor in both HDMI ports, from the motherboard and video card.

- Once Windows 11 was installed, I am now facing a new problem (which I don't remember happening before): when the PC restarts or is turned on for the 1st time, no image. Black screen, even the monitor says "NO IMAGE" after trying the Displayport and HDMI. Then Windows 11 starts (still no image). Seconds later, the monitor seems to turn itself on.

So, I can't see the boot image (DOS-like style) from the motherboard anymore.

Is this some sort of Windows bug, problem with the motherboard, or video card itself? I can't decide which one to blame.

 

[Lutfij]

Motherboard: MSI Z590-A Pro
BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time?

So, I can't see the boot image (DOS-like style) from the motherboard anymore.
Can you elaborate on this?

Did you install the OS in offline mode? If not, you're advised to install the OS offline, then manually install all drivers relevant to your platform in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

Speaking of OS, where did you source the installer from?

 

[Perene]

Motherboard: MSI Z590-A Pro
BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time?

So, I can't see the boot image (DOS-like style) from the motherboard anymore.
Can you elaborate on this?

Did you install the OS in offline mode? If not, you're advised to install the OS offline, then manually install all drivers relevant to your platform in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

Speaking of OS, where did you source the installer from?

The MB uses the latest BIOS. Also updated the SSD NVME firware today, I was getting BSODs, now I think it will stop for good. For WD, I used the Dashboard app.

When we restart Windows or turn the PC on for the 1st time, we should see the motherboard BIOS before the Windows logo appears. This is not happening anymore, at least I am not seeing when I turn the PC on. And if I can't see, I can't visit the BIOS, for example...

What do you mean by installing offline? I mounted the pendrive and continued from there... also, does it matter what Windows is or what is doing, the BIOS screen is not relying on the installed OS to appear.

Unless you need to plug the HDMI cable into the motherboard instead of the GPU, and the monitor needs to be 1080p again. I was only able to install Windows 11 this way, which is pathetic because the SSDs were formatted... and whatever monitor you plug into your machine, should at least display the "no OS installed here".

 

[Perene]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2ooGtmRGGU


I asked that question to ChatGPT:

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When Windows restarts
or
The PC is turned on for the 1st time

The monitor turns itself off (no display). Then Windows 11 starts normally. Aside from that, no problems. The issue here is that without seeing anything before entering the operational system, we can't for example visit the BIOSHow do I fix this? What could it be? It was showing image before, prior to entering Windows 11.
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And the reply was:

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It sounds like you're experiencing an issue with your monitor not displaying anything during the initial boot process, including the BIOS screen. This can be a bit tricky to diagnose, but here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Check Monitor Connections: Ensure that your monitor's HDMI cable is securely connected to both the monitor and the RTX 3060 graphics card on your PC. Sometimes, loose connections can lead to display issues.
2. BIOS Settings: Since you mentioned that this issue started after a BIOS update, it's possible that some BIOS settings were changed. Check if there are any settings related to initial display output in the BIOS. You may want to set it to "Auto" or "PCI-E" if available.
3. Monitor Settings: Access your monitor's on-screen display (OSD) settings. Look for any power-saving or sleep settings that might cause it to turn off during boot. Adjust these settings if necessary.
4. Graphics Driver: Make sure you have the latest graphics drivers installed for your RTX 3060. Outdated or incompatible drivers can sometimes cause display issues.
5. Reseat GPU: If you're comfortable doing so, try reseating the RTX 3060 in its PCIe slot. Sometimes, poor contact can cause display problems.
6. RAM Check: It's a long shot, but if you recently added or changed RAM, reseating it or testing with different RAM modules might help.
7. Clear CMOS: If none of the above steps work, you might consider clearing the CMOS settings on your motherboard. This will reset the BIOS to its default settings. Refer to your motherboard's manual for instructions on how to do this.
8. Monitor Firmware: Check if there is a firmware update available for your Acer monitor. Sometimes, manufacturers release updates to address compatibility issues.
9. Monitor Test: If you have access to another monitor or TV, try connecting your PC to it to see if the issue persists. This will help determine if the problem is with the monitor or the PC.
10. Professional Assistance: If the problem still persists after trying these steps, it might be a good idea to consult with a professional technician who can diagnose and resolve hardware issues.

Remember to be cautious when making changes to BIOS settings, as incorrect configurations can lead to other problems. If you're not comfortable with this, it's best to seek help from a knowledgeable friend or technician.
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I don't remember changing anything on the BIOS. Could this be related to the GPU drivers? It doesn't make sense because the BIOS screen should be separated from whatever Windows 11 is doing.

If I plug this PC into a 1080p TV, I'll probably see the BIOS screen before entering Windows 11.

 

[Colif]

So it worked fine with displays before you got the ssds? I assume you reinstalled windows?

Is this some sort of Windows bug, problem with the motherboard, or video card itself? I can't decide which one to blame.

so you get a picture on the TV but not on the 4k?

And I tested for the LCD monitor in both HDMI ports, from the motherboard and video card.

does it find the monitor? Have you tried plugging both TV & monitor in and see if windows can see monitor in device manager?

Once Windows 11 was installed, I am now facing a new problem (which I don't remember happening before): when the PC restarts or is turned on for the 1st time, no image. Black screen, even the monitor says "NO IMAGE" after trying the Displayport and HDMI. Then Windows 11 starts (still no image). Seconds later, the monitor seems to turn itself on.

is this the 4k monitor again?

3060 should be powerful enough to run 4k monitor.

unlikely but check to make sure the power leads on the GPU are firmly in place as I used to get "No signal" on a previous PC because one pcie cable wasn't firmly attached to GPU and was intermittently disconnecting power. Just a thought.

I can't say I seen someone use chatgpt to answer their own questions before but its a good idea... all it does is aggregates the most common responses. Sort of what I do...

 

[Perene]

I can't say I seen someone use chatgpt to answer their own questions before but its a good idea... all it does is aggregates the most common responses. Sort of what I do...

ChatGPT is useless to discover what is causing this sort of problem...

I don't remember if it was like this before the recent RTX 3060 driver update. Probably not. So this could be some sort of configuration inside Windows 11 that is turning the 4K monitor off before the OS is seen.

Someone suggested this:

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Have you tried to restart to "uefi firmware settings" from windows? Occasionally a fastboot setting(in setup/bios/uefi) will skip the initial boot screens.

If you just get stuck at a black screen doing that then maybe it's another issue. On the display port side of things nvidia offers the below firmware tool, no guarantee it will fix anything. No ideas on the hdmi side of things:

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5233
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I am not stuck. Actually, it enters Windows 11 right away, but while the PC is loading, the LCD monitor is off.

And it's not fast boot, either. It was enabled, but it's disabled now:

How to Enable or Disable Fast Startup on Windows 11 - Lenovo Support ZA

support.lenovo.com

This site reads:

Booting up your PC faster is possible with Windows fast startup. By turning on this feature, your machine will hibernate all the files, and it will resume where it left off at the next startup. However, with fast startup enabled, the machine does not completely shut down. In addition, the BIOS/UEFI settings may not be accessible because your PC isn't completely turned off. If your machine has high memory usage or lag, try closing fast startup and restarting the computer.

I followed the two tips mentioned there. No luck...

As for the TV, as I explained to you, when you buy a new SSD, if you attempt to plug the HDMI cable into your GPU, no image will be seen. But if you do this into a 1080p TV, EVERYTHING will be displayed.

I wasn't getting any image from either the onboard video (i5 11400) or the VGA when had to format and install WINDOWS from zero. It was pathetic to find out my monitor is somehow not trusted by this motherboard, to display any image when I most needed.

All I can assume is that being a 4K monitor, when there's nothing in terms of OS installed, the MSI simply refuses to accept it exists, the opposite behavior when it comes to a TV with lower-resolution.

 

[Perene]

I did a few more checkings today.

I was instructed in the NVIDIA forums to do the following (check the PASTEBIN message):

https://pastebin.com/0xfh5mk8

And this is what I replied to them.

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No luck. Still no image after following all those steps, before Windows 11 starts.

I can only assume this is perhaps not an incompatibility between the RTX 3060 and the motherboard (MSI Z590-A Pro), but my 4K monitor, since I was also unable to show any image, with the 2 SSDs 100% formatted, while trying to install Windows from the pendrive.

I connected the PC into my 1080p monitor - voila! Images from Windows AND the boot. Everything worked as expected. I was able to visit the BIOS again. Note: HDMI cable plugged into the GPU, not the onboard video.

Is it possible this is a corrupt Windows 11 installation? Because I am willing to do another format for these 2 SSDs, yet I highly doubt this will solve my problem.

I have a few images of my PC running on this lower-res TV, and the whole process:

https://i.postimg.cc/L81tgmLG/IMG-3330.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/MTdVJHJf/IMG-3331.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/XvK9xx28/IMG-3332.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/fLwmPXph/IMG-3333.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/0N1pphCj/IMG-3334.jpg

The only step I didn't understand correctly was this one:

Select NVIDIA SOFTWARE and DRIVERS (while running DDU)

As you can see from image 3333, there isn't such an option, and that's why in image 3334 it says PhysX is already installed, because it wasn't removed. I left the default options selected there, for the removal.

This is what I think it is:

- It can't be the OS fault, because I had no image, too, when the SSDs were formatted, they are brand new. I remember having deleted all partitions prior to the format and installing Windows 11. And if this isn't the OS fault, it must be the hardware - so, in this case, the RTX 3060 Asus Dual O12G / V2 (GeForce). Because I never had NO IMAGE before buying this GPU, with the onboard video plugged into this 4K monitor, via HDMI. This is a new problem.

The monitor in my case is the Acer XV280K-B. Using 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz. Serial number MMTJLAA0020441DF154200

If you go to Acer's page, it will only say the drivers are probably from 2019 and limited to Windows 10-64 bit.

https://www.acer.com/br-pt/support/product-support/XV280K/MM.TJLAA.002/downloads

While the manual is in portuguese, it's not so much different from similar 4K (and Acer) models. The current options I enabled for it are:

OverDrive - NORMAL
FreenSync - ON
Ultra-Low Latency is ON, but greyed out

Input, HDMI #1 (2.0) - looks like it has two of these ports
AutoSource = ON
DPFormat = DP 1.2
Wide Mode = FULL
DCC/CI = ON
HDMI Black Level = Normal

All the others are off, so no use mentioning BLUE LIGHT, ACM, HDR, SUPER SHARPNESS, REFRESHRATE NUM, AIMPOINT...

When the system starts for the 1st time (or WIN-11 restarts), it's funny how the monitor keeps switching between modes, and finally gives up and turns itself off. Only when Windows is really available, it turns itself on.
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[Perene]

AAAAAAAAAAnd there you go, folks. Further proof this is not an isolated incident.

New build won't post to BIOS with 4k monitor, Black Screen

Z690 Plus WIFI D4 with MSI 3080 GPU. Would not post to BIOS first time round. I had to de-rate the monitor from HDMI 2.1 to HDMI 1.4 to get it to post. After installing the NVIDIA drivers, I switched back to HDMI 2.1 and all was fine. Teething troubles with new stuff.

rog-forum.asus.com

So, this must be RTX 3060's fault.

 

[TerryLaze]

ChatGPT is useless to discover what is causing this sort of problem...

Don't think of it as chatgpt, it's a list of basic things that can cause issues so it's still worth it going through.

Also did you check if your 4k display can show 1080p 480p native resolutions?
It has to be able to sync that low to show the dos style screen.

Otherwise the bios might be setup to display on the igpu first so all the dos style stuff will only display through the mobo.

 

[Perene]

Wait, what just happened?

Redirecting

After I updated the GeForce drivers from the RTX 3060 yesterday, to 537.34, released 3 days ago:

GeForce Game Ready Driver | 537.34 | Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 | NVIDIA

Download the English (US) GeForce Game Ready Driver for Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 systems. Released 2023.9.12

www.nvidia.com

Perhaps for the 1st time ever I could see something outside Windows... there was a DOS-like screen called WINDOWS BOOT MANAGER, showing Windows 11 (the only OS installed) and "Memory diagnostics" below...

Change Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change the default operating system to run at startup in Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you have more than on operating system installed on your computer, you will see a boot options menu at startup to Choose an operating system. The default boot entry is the...

www.elevenforum.com

It's set to 30 seconds in the sysdm.cpl (System properties)

But this time, I turned the monitor on FIRST (not later) and only seconds after, I powered the PC case... this could mean there's some sort of bad setting inside the OS which is (or wasn't) showing the MSI screen there... ?

Now, the 2nd test: what happens if I restart Windows 11, once I am there? Should display the same boot manager screen, right? Instead of going directly to Windows, and turning the monitor OFF.

The problem is: no, it repeats the same pattern/bug I discussed before. The monitor turns itself off after checking for HDMI #1, #2, and DisplayPort, then black screen (NO DISPLAY), and we can only see any image after returning to Windows, seconds later.

Could this be a corrupt Windows 11 installation, somehow?

 

[TerryLaze]

look at the back of the display and tell us if it has two inputs currently going into it.
Rebooting will not force your display to change inputs to go to the input that shows the bios screen because the input of the GPU is still active and remains active throughout the whole reboot.

 

[Perene]

look at the back of the display and tell us if it has two inputs currently going into it.
Rebooting will not force your display to change inputs to go to the input that shows the bios screen because the input of the GPU is still active and remains active throughout the whole reboot.

There is only one cable connected to the computer, which is one of the HDMIs, and that goes to the GPU. Should I plug a second HDMI cable, this time to the onboard video? It's possible to do it, but it would be pointless since the GPU is now replacing it, so there will be no image if I try to use the onboard video...

Note: this 4K monitor has two HDMI ports. Limited to 2.0, despite the GPU allowing 2.1.

 

[Perene]

PROBLEM SOLVED!

I didn't have to change these settings:

FreeSync and Ultra Low Latency are ON;
QUICK-START-MODE was already OFF;

But... AutoSource was ON. And that's why the monitor kept trying to detect Windows, despite the 30 second delay to show this screen:

IMAGE

Which I now changed to 15s. The issue here was that I was unable to see anything due to some sort of problem with the monitor knowing I already had HDMI plugged into the GPU, so it was delaying the checking. With AutoSource off, we are now telling it's all coming from the HDMI and that's it.

I am now able to visit the BIOS again, and also see that POSTIMG link image, after the MSI logo loads.

So it was never all this time a problem with the RTX 3060, or the OS. It was the Acer causing this.

The funny thing is that I never had to change this setting ever since I bought this 4K monitor. I had to now, because this is the first time I am using a GPU, it was only using the onboard video/chip from the INTEL CPU.

With a GPU, I understand now that we need to specify it's using the HDMI port, otherwise there will only be image once Windows 11 fully loads.

The solution was: keeping AutoSource off.