Newly built PC - worked fine then black screen on restart

[enemygrey]

So I just finished building my very first computer.

Mobo: asus p8z77-I deluxe
Graphics: nvidia GeForce gtx 780
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155
PSU: Corsair CX750M 750W
Windows 8.1 ultimate installed

Everything started up fine and I was connected to the Internet and began downloading the graphics card driver. It got to about 3% and froze completely. Couldn't do ctrl+alt+delete, couldn't open start menu or close the browser, nothing. So I turned the system off.

But when I powered the system back on, it gave me the Asus logo screen then just a black screen. No mouse, no words, nothing. And it stayed there. The system was on, lights on, fans running, all that.

I started it again and got into bios then tried to boot from there. Windows 8.1 gave me "your computer did not start properly" and launched into an auto-repair program that suggested a restart and that didn't help at all.

What caused all this and how do I fix it? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[alexoiu]

Using HDD or SSD? What memory?

 

[galactigus]

Found this don't know if you may be having the same issue or not.

1. Always set “Windows Boot Manager” as the first priority boot device when the operating system is installed under UEFI mode.
2. Press the “F8” key to bring up the boot manager at the bootup, if you would to select another boot device.

 

[enemygrey]

Seagate Desktop 1 TB Solid State Hybrid Drive and memory is Corsair vengeance 2x4GB sticks.

 

[alexoiu]

Try testing with single RAM module installed.
If still the same, try different HDD.

 

[enemygrey]

I tried just 1 stick of RAM, and it worked better but still froze up after a bit. All temperatures are fine, the fans still run and everything. I thought maybe windows was updating (which would explain the auto repair prompt upon startup - interrupting an update). After I began installing the updates it froze again. I left it and the screen went to sleep. Moved the mouse to wake it back up and it's just a black screen.

Do you think it could it be the graphics card?

I also wanted to add that the mobo has a graphics device and the driver for nvidia graphics card I used was not auto installed. However on the previous 2 attempts, the computer froze much faster when I had installed the nvidia driver. I thought that was the issue; but didn't install it on this attempt and it still froze, albeit after a much longer period of time.

Any suggestions are welcome. I'd just like to get this thing up and running! Thanks in advance.

 

[galactigus]

Try the other stick of ram in a different slot.

 

[enemygrey]

Just tried what you said in your first post here. That seemed to work at first, took me to a windows update screen which got to 100% then restarted. But on restart, black screen after the windows logo and eventually a "no signal" showing on the monitor. Any other suggestions before I switch RAM sticks?

 

[galactigus]

Not really aside from maybe using a different video output on the video card if you can.
Make sure your ram is set at the correct speeds and timings you may even try under clocking it.

 

[enemygrey]

In bios I changed the (I don't remember the exact wording. Sorry.) primary graphics device from "Auto" to "iGPU". This gave me the windows update screen again. It restarted perfectly. Got to the desktop and checked things out. The nvidia driver has now been auto installed and everything seems to be in working order (knock on wood).

Did that fix it then? I'm so confused. I was just trying something in desperation, I don't really even know what I did. Lol. Can anyone explain this to me?

 

[galactigus]

Looks like you set your integrated gpu as the primary in other words the mobo will try to use that gpu first are you hooked up to the mobo or your gtx 780? In any case once your pc runs stable I wouldn't mess with any other settings. Troubleshooting can be weird the slightest thing can cause the biggest problems.

 

[enemygrey]

I'm hooked into the gtx 780 so I really don't get it. But currently League of Legends is running on the highest settings and doing fine so I think it's using the gtx.. I don't know. lol.

 

[Fredd001]

Try a different HDD i had a heck of problems similar to what you experienced and it happened to be a bad hdd, i changed hdd now im 100% good

 

[galactigus]

Ya if your plugged into the 780 then everything appears to be as it should.