Hey everyone, I'm having a lot of trouble with a refurbished PC I recently purchased. It booted into Windows fine at first, but then it started black screening during the startup. I had to reset it a few times, and now it frequently freezes, crashes, and reboots on its own. Most of the time, when I try to start it, I only get a blank screen despite the motherboard boot LED being on. I did manage to get it to boot once by reseating a RAM stick quickly or pressing F12 for the boot manager, but that trick doesn't work anymore. I also can't access the BIOS. I'm using the DisplayPort cable included with my monitor, and it shows a signal. Since this is my first PC (upgrading from a laptop), I don't have any HDMI cables to test. I've encountered a DPC watchdog violation error and another error I can't recall.
Here are the troubleshooting steps I've already taken:
1. Updated the BIOS to the latest version.
2. Disabled fast startup.
3. Completed all Windows updates.
4. Reinstalled Windows.
5. Addressed warnings in the event viewer regarding secure boot settings, which I've enabled.
6. Faced an nvlddmkm error and tried various Nvidia driver versions, but nothing changed.
7. Reseated all components like the RAM, SSD, and GPU multiple times.
8. Checked that all motherboard cables are seated properly.
9. Booted with a single RAM stick.
10. Shorted the CMOS pins.
11. Confirmed the PSU switch is on and the DisplayPort cable is plugged into the GPU.
Here are my specs:
- Intel i7 14700F
- Gigabyte Windforce SFF OC 5070 Ti
- Teamgroup T Force 32 GB RAM (2x16) 6000MHz
- Kingston NV3 2 TB SSD
- Gigabyte B760M C V3 Motherboard
- Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W PSU
I'm really hoping there are more troubleshooting methods I can try or if this thing is a lost cause. I'm still within the return window, so I could send it back if needed.
2 Answers
It sounds like you’ve already tried a lot! Given your details, it might be worth checking for any signs of physical damage on the motherboard or CPU. You could also try running some hardware diagnostics if you can get into BIOS or use bootable diagnostic tools on a USB stick. Did you look into whether the issue might be related to power supply fluctuations? Sometimes the PSU can cause those types of symptoms. Also, make sure your SSD is healthy with a utility like CrystalDiskInfo.
Have you considered that it might be a known issue with the 14th-13th gen CPUs? There have been reports of early failures. If you’re worried about damage or longevity, checking the CPU temperatures using software like HWMonitor when you can boot into Windows could be beneficial. If it overheats quickly, that could be a big clue. Definitely don’t hesitate to return it if it continues to act up!
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