Random 1-2 second black screen

This has been happening a while on my very old Dual Pentium with Foxconn motherboard box.

Things I have tried to solve it.

Put in an Asus GT710 1gb Nvidia card as it was doing it with built in Intel Graphics.

Created 2 partitions on the C drive one for 64 bit Win 10 and one for 32 bit Win 10. I have to use 32 bit mostly as the 64 bit printer driver doesn't work with my HP Deskjet 710C. Not used 64 bit version extensively but black screen doesn't seem to appear.

Changed VGA cable to DVI-D cable but apart from proper screen resolution in 64 bit I think this is a red herring.

Have rolled back the Nvidia drivers to basic Microsoft video driver on 32 bit Win 10 and this is where I am at currently testing.

When the black screen occurs (last time was closing firefox) Hardware Error appears in the reliability history log but no details are given. The same happens when I press CTRL+SHIFT+WIN+B and a black screen is generated and the video driver is restarted.

Any ideas from the Vintage Machine Gurus?

Edited by Banger (Mon 01-Jan-24 01:10:41)

Any ideas?

If it’s happening with both the internal graphics and a separate graphics card it’s likely to be a problem with the monitor. Any way you could test it with another monitor?

Tested monitor on my main PC and all ok. Think this is a Win 10 32 bit problem as mouse and keyboard stop responding.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Tested monitor on my main PC and all ok. Think this is a Win 10 32 bit problem as mouse and keyboard stop responding.

Check the event logs, (Event Viewer) see if anything shows up in System log first around the same time. Ingore blue (informational) entries.

If you've updated video drivers, looked for chipset drivers (Intel, AMD or NVidia) and nothing there, and you are using HDMI or DisplayPort connection to the screen it could be a cable issue?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Banger:

Tested monitor on my main PC and all ok. Think this is a Win 10 32 bit problem as mouse and keyboard stop responding.

Check the event logs, (Event Viewer) see if anything shows up in System log first around the same time. Ingore blue (informational) entries.

If you've updated video drivers, looked for chipset drivers (Intel, AMD or NVidia) and nothing there, and you are using HDMI or DisplayPort connection to the screen it could be a cable issue?

I am using DVI-D and changed the cable, was using VGA cable. No different.

Here's what a screeshot of reliability history shows. https://pasteboard.co/5sFH8a196zui.png

In reply to a post by Banger:

Here's what a screeshot of reliability history shows. https://pasteboard.co/5sFH8a196zui.png

The Hardware Error on the 31/Dec would be worth looking into, perhaps your graphics card is overheating, a fan has stopped working properly, or dust in the case?

Thanks for the ideas. It's a fanless Nvidia GT710 graphics card, could be overheating I will install gtemp and monitor, although the onboard graphics were doing the same.

Edit: GPU Temp is currently 40C which seems about right, will monitor.

Edited by Banger (Wed 03-Jan-24 20:19:58)

I had a similar issue with an old Core2 Quad machine with a GeForce GT 730, eventually I just wrote it off to the old CPU either glitching or having compatibility issues with newer Windows updates or newer graphics drivers. I now use the same graphics card in a Core i3 with no issues.

But you wouldn't expect the built in Intel graphics to be incompatible with the CPU.

The fact that the same problem occurs with the built-in Intel graphics and the discrete GPU would suggest to me that the problem is not the CPU nor the drivers. Which, basically, leaves the hardware. So either a slight fault on this monitor, which occurs with this machine - but not on the other which, perhaps, provides a more stable signal - or, very likely, a problem with the PSU. (That could be exacerbated by fluctuations in the mains supply - during the current stormy weather we have had a number of momentary power blackouts so I wouldn't be surprised if there were also brownouts which cause problems with flakey equipment.)

The other possibility is that it's a bug in Windows; but you would expect that to be a well-known problem (as you would if it was a driver issue). My bet is still on a hardware weakness somewhere.

In reply to a post by TinyMongomery:

But you wouldn't expect the built in Intel graphics to be incompatible with the CPU.

Those Intel drivers are likely to be very old and we don't know how well they play with newer Windows updates. I'm curious as to the age of the PC, in my case the CPU had no integrated graphics.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Those Intel drivers are likely to be very old and we don't know how well they play with newer Windows updates. I'm curious as to the age of the PC, in my case the CPU had no integrated graphics.

Opening post says "old Dual Pentium", its likely to be an entry level Core2 assembly with low cache, sold as the 'Pentium Dual-Core' brand. Maybe the old GMA950 or similar from around 2004, perhaps 10 years old? My old 4th Gen i7 has low spec integrated graphics, they were auto disabled when i added a PCIe card.

I'm sure the latest driver Intel made would have been installed by Windows Update by now.

Given this mcahine has a graphics card, why not disable integrated graphics in BIOS?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

I'm sure the latest driver Intel made would have been installed by Windows Update by now.

Latest? Sure. New? Well, we haven't seen new 4th gen CPU gfx drivers from Intel since 2015, and my guess is the CPU is a lot older than that.

In my case the Core2 Quad CPU was almost certainly the issue, but why exactly it conflicted with my nVidia GPU or GPU drivers remains a mystery.

The CPU is an Intel Dual Core E2180 2Ghz. I think the machine is 2012 build but I changed to discrete card because the Onboard graphics were doing the same thing. 64 bit of Win 10 doesn't do it but no printer drivers.

In reply to a post by Banger:

The CPU is an Intel Dual Core E2180 2Ghz. I think the machine is 2012 build but I changed to discrete card because the Onboard graphics were doing the same thing. 64 bit of Win 10 doesn't do it but no printer drivers.

Very nice, a 2007 CPU, even older than mine was! Intel builds them to last. Probably some conflict/bug with newer Windows updates and/or graphics drivers as mine was, although I never managed to fix it.

The Nvidia driver is from 2017 so it could be that. It could be 2008 build so even older, not sure. I have a Core 2 Duo from a machine with knackered Corsair PSU, think the Foxconn 946 7MA board will take. Dunno if it will solve my problem though.

In reply to a post by Banger:

The Nvidia driver is from 2017 so it could be that.

Yes, definitely try updating that driver.

Interestingly, Nvidia stopped bug fixing drivers for Kepler series cards (GT 710, GT 730, etc) in October 2021, only fixing security issues since then. Despite this, they are still widely available for sale (unused).

Latest I can find is from 2018 for 32 bit so it seems they stopped updating sooner than thought. I seem to remember a black screen problem with win 10 but memory fails me and doesn't look like it was fixed as I am running 22H2 the latest version. One fix was to press CTRL+SHIFT+WIN+B to restart the graphic driver. I think there was a registry fix too which reduced or increased the timing of something to do with graphics response but again memory fails.

In reply to a post by Banger:

I think there was a registry fix too which reduced or increased the timing of something to do with graphics response but again memory fails.

Rings a bell, something to do with increasing the timeout before Windows considers the driver stalled and restarts it. Didn't seem to help in my case.

Ah yes that was it, MS decreased the time limit which brought many a black screen on update. I shall research this a bit more. Chances of MS fixing anything before 2025 are slim.

its tdr i think. Had to use it for redshift.

https://helpx.adobe.com/substance-3d-painter/technic...

via adobe!

also try a spare psu if you can. I've now got "computer randomly shutting off", with a 10 year old psu - i've just gone thru everything else related so it time to swap psus

note: i basically hate doing the cabling

Edited by Taras (Fri 05-Jan-24 00:46:37)

Many thanks Taras, I have changed TdrDelay and TdrDdiDelay to 60. I will try a fairly unused PSU or play with the TDR setting if this doesn't fix it. Just as soon as I get my PSU back from a friend.

Just checking the Nvidia driver for 64 bit was last updated in Oct 2023 but 32 bit March 2018.

Edited by Banger (Fri 05-Jan-24 01:31:16)

Interesting I updated the Nvidia drivers to the latest (2018) 32 bit drivers from Nvidia and lots of apps crashing and hardware error even with tdr set at 60 seconds. https://pasteboard.co/5sFH8a196zui.png same as this.

have you disabled the intel graphics in bios ? Because otherwise, it will continue to load the driver and if theres incompatibility with the latest version of w10 you will continue to have issues.

Check that you can do so in bios. then remove the driver (use ddu) and then reboot into bios and disable it ....

https://www.nvidia.co.uk/download/driverResults.aspx...

win10 64bit dch 2023 oct driver for gt710

if you need other drivers use this download page..(its not the standard nvidia driver download page)

https://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-uk


edit (for the 4th time)
meeeeeeep just saw your hp printer issue.

Edited by Taras (Fri 05-Jan-24 12:05:38)

In reply to a post by Banger:

32 bit March 2018.

Corporates mostly completed the move to 64 bit with Win10 (those whom hadn't gone 64bit with Win7), and many gamers needed the additional memory capability, so its likely 32bit Win10 is getting very little attention from third parties now.

In reply to a post by Taras:

have you disabled the intel graphics in bios ? Because otherwise, it will continue to load the driver and if theres incompatibility with the latest version of w10 you will continue to have issues.

Check that you can do so in bios. then remove the driver (use ddu) and then reboot into bios and disable it ....

Right done that. Although it was a fresh install with Intel disabled. Now to monitor. Last time I got a black screen was simply closing firefox.

If that fails and minus my brain fart with the drivers this morning.

options.

if enough mem, a virtual box win 10 32bit option for printing.
if your router has a printer server option!
Run the printer carts out and replace (if it works though it kinda sucks doing so)

In reply to a post by Taras:

If that fails and minus my brain fart with the drivers this morning.

options.

if enough mem, a virtual box win 10 32bit option for printing.
if your router has a printer server option!
Run the printer carts out and replace (if it works though it kinda sucks doing so)

4Gb Ram max board will take. CPU doesn't support virtual machines.
Parallel port printer so router print server isn't an option.
Still carts available and hardware is spot on. See how this goes.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Parallel port printer so router print server isn't an option.
Still carts available and hardware is spot on. See how this goes.

A parallel print server might work, as parallel doesn't generally do anything clever that USB or Ethernet can.

eBay a place to look, one example, I saw one of these years ago on a LaserJet 4L....

What software are you using that requires Windows 10?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Banger:

Parallel port printer so router print server isn't an option.
Still carts available and hardware is spot on. See how this goes.

A parallel print server might work, as parallel doesn't generally do anything clever that USB or Ethernet can.

eBay a place to look, one example, I saw one of these years ago on a LaserJet 4L....

Interesting. Will do some research.

In reply to a post by TinyMongomery:

What software are you using that requires Windows 10?

None really other than security updates and Wordperfect Lightening and Firefox.

I’d be inclined to install Ubuntu Linux with Libre Office. It should support your printer, and it will probably be faster than Windows 10. More important, you’ll continue to get security updates.

But you still need a printer driver. There just isn’t a 64-bit (Windows) one for that printer.

Does Libre office support Wordperfect documents as I have a load on onedrive?

In reply to a post by TinyMongomery:

But you still need a printer driver. There just isn’t a 64-bit (Windows) one for that printer.

There is but it is 32 bit and doesn't work with 64 bit Windows. Had the same trouble when using Windows 8, HP dropped support for the printer in 64 bit.

Yes.

https://ask.libreoffice.org/t/is-it-possible-to-open...

(That link refers to Mac, but it applies to all versions of Libre Office). Unfortunately, there isn’t a native OneDrive client for Linux although there are free and paid solutions.

Is this your only computer?

Is there a live DVD of Ubuntu for testing? Am looking now.

Yes. https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/try-ubuntu-before-you-i...

Downloading now will give it a blast. Does Ubuntu support Remote Desktop?

It's worth trying the HP Universal Printer Drivers. They've got me out of a hole in the past.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-USB-Parallel-P...


currys also supplies it too.. Might be worth going the amazon route though

You can both access Ubuntu via Remote Desktop and access Windows from Ubuntu.

Reading around I can’t find anyone who has got that printer working with 64-bit Windows 10.

In reply to a post by longedge:

It's worth trying the HP Universal Printer Drivers. They've got me out of a hole in the past.

Tried those on 64 bit didn't work.

In reply to a post by Banger:

Tried those on 64 bit didn't work.

HP's own site says that Win10 includes drivers on both 32 and 64bit. What was your experience?
https://support.hp.com/emea_middle_east-en/drivers/h...

I threw away an HP inkjet when it wasn't supported after XP ; with their current ink demands, I'm a Canon inkjet fan now, my model worked with no isseus 7/10/11 and even a friends visiting Mac.

It would probably work on usb, but because his is parallel that might be the problem.. the parallel to usb adaptor might be the saviour! or it just might half work........

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Banger:

Tried those on 64 bit didn't work.

HP's own site says that Win10 includes drivers on both 32 and 64bit. What was your experience?
https://support.hp.com/emea_middle_east-en/drivers/h...

I threw away an HP inkjet when it wasn't supported after XP ; with their current ink demands, I'm a Canon inkjet fan now, my model worked with no isseus 7/10/11 and even a friends visiting Mac.

Yes but it hardly seems worth a new printer for a 2008 machine.

The 64 bit drivers in Win 10 just didn't see the printer. I have been looking at Canon too I have a Canon lide scanner after 2 HPs couldnt find home position.

Have you tried going thru the add printer dialog in w10 ? and setting the port up manually ?

Yes just doesn't see the printer in 64 bit.

welp after reading this

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printers-Archive-Read-...

i think we are beating a dead horse in trying to get it to work in 64bits.

this is HP's fault nobody elses

In reply to a post by Taras:

welp after reading this

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printers-Archive-Read-...

i think we are beating a dead horse in trying to get it to work in 64bits.

this is HP's fault nobody elses

Agreed. Ubuntu sees my Deskjet D1400 on my main machine and prints but on the 2008 machine it crashes on loading. Going to try safe graphics option.

the graphics situation seems rectifiable...... The printer too if you get a different one but as you said, you have carts that need using up

Ubuntu works on the 2008 machine in Safe Graphics Option but doesn't see any printers.

I may have found a solution. Linux Mint 64 bit. It has a Deskjet 710C driver and is stable. After fiddling most of the night trying to get it to play nice with my Win 10 installations and fiddling with grub to get multi boot working. It also has the latest Nvidia drivers for my GT710. The TDR in Win 10 32 bit, adjustments to 60 seconds only gives me a black screen for 60 seconds when I was doing a file copy explorer crashed and black screen for 60 seconds. TDR is now back to 2 seconds.

Edited by Banger (Sat 06-Jan-24 10:39:19)

Now playing with Zorin 16.3 Lite. It is stable, doesn't blackscreen, I can RDP into it using nomachine from my Win 11 box and the printer works with Libre Office. It seems more polished than Mint with a couple things in Mint not working, they work in Zorin.