Computer (screen) goes blank...

F

fmonte

Member
I don't know if "blank" is the best terminology but let me try to explain. My hard drive failed yesterday so I called a professional service to come to my home to fix it. They were able to save my data off the drive but they said I needed a new drive. So they installed the new drive. At the same time they upgraded me from Windows xp to 7 pro. Now my computer seems to be working great as long as I am using it. If I walk away for a little while I will come back and the screen is black so I move the mouse and hit the space bar and nothing happens. The computer is still on but it seems to be dead. The only way I can proceed is to manually hold the power button down until the machine turns. It boots up fine right after that and i am able to do everything on the computer until the next time the screens go out. Also, tonight I was installing chrome remote desktop and the screens went blank while I was clicking the install button.

Does anyone know what is happening. I had none of these problems two days ago. Can a hard drive going bad cause this issue after it has been replaced? If not, what else can it be? Thank you.
 
A little more feedback: Left the computer on overnight with no problems. Moved the mouse and the screen was active and was able to do my work. Then I viewed a you tube video for about 5 minutes and during the video, I heard a little click and the screens went dead and no mouse movement would make them active. Does this indicate a bad graphics card? It is only 2 years old. I noticed a little dust on it so I cleaned it up and rebooted and ran another youtube video. It was an 8 minute video and it completed but "immediately" after I heard an audio buzz (for a second) and then the "click" and the screens went dead again.
 
Either the monitor or bad video card. Watch the monitor and see if it shows it going into sleep mode.
 
Thanks John, How do I tell if the monitor is going into sleep mode? I see a little green light on the front and it is solid (not blinking). Do I look there?
 
Okay, was not doing anything on the computer it was just open to my email folder in Outlook (no youtube video) and it went blank. That solid green light is now blinking.
 
I also noticed in devise manager that there is a yellow exclamation point next to multimedia controller uner the other devices heading. Would that have anything to do with this problem?
 
Multimedia controller is usually the sound card. Do this. Right click on that entry and click on properties, click on the details tab and give me the 4 digit vendor and device id numbers. They look like this.

ven_xxxx and dev_yyyy where x and y are 4 alphanumeric digits.

Monitor light will usually turn yellow or orange when going into sleep mode.
 
There were no numbers on the details page. I do have a pci tv tuner/video capture card that I don't use, so maybe that is it. Should i just take that card out since I am not using it. In regard to the computer screen going blank and inactive while the computer still is lit up, I wnt into "power options and selected never to turn the display or put the computer to sleep. Is this a legit fix because I have been running youtube videos for the last 2 hours and no problems.
 
If if the monitor is set to go to sleep, all it takes is movement of the mouse or push a key on the keyboard.

You can continue to use it and see if the problem comes back. If not, then you can assume that was the cause. I would still be worried about all your power outages, you need to invest in a battery backup. You will end up doing more damage if not.

And if you don't use that tuner card, remove it.
 
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I removed the tuner card so that no longer is in the equation. My problem returned this monring. I worked on my computer all night and this morning with no problems until I went to run a you tube video. Almost instantly the screen went black but the computer stayed on. No mouse movement or keystrokes would bring the monitor to life. So, I guess my solution did not work.

I called the guy that installed the hard drive and he said to change out the graphics card and if that is not it, try a new power supply. Do you think this is good advice? I have lost confidence in this guy because I think maybe it was something he did that is causing this problem but now he doesn't want to own up to it. Thank you. Sincerely, Frank
 
What monitor do you have? When the screen goes black does the power light change color? If not I can only assume you have a failing video card.
 
No it stays green but it goes from solid to blinking. Also, please note, I was just woring on an email within Outlook and that is all that was open (no you tube video) and right in the middle of me tying it happened again.
 
I am running two monitors, one is a samsung and one is a vizio. they both go out when this happens. I never had and problem with them before Friday when the repair service put in a new hard drive and upgraded me from xp to 7.
 
This sounds like a video card issue. Are you using onboard video or a dedicated card? If dedicated card what exactly do you have and what power supply do you have?
 
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