Weird display issue

[Nightmare515]

Hello all, here are my specs

Dell Inspiron 3847
i5 4440 3.1ghz
8gb (2x4) 1600 ram
MSI Geforce GTX 760
Seasonic 550W PSU
Windows 8.1

I have a weird problem and I have no idea what is going on. My computer is connected to my TV via HDMI and everything works fine while its running. The SECOND I turn the tv off or switch the input from HDMI to something else the signal is lost and I have to do a trick with the hardware to get my display back.

I have to turn the PC off, take the GTX 760 GPU out, plug the HDMI cable into the onboard card, power the PC up and wait for it to bring up the display, power it off, put the GTX 760 back in, power it up, and it works. This works each and every time.

I have tried this with a normal monitor and the same thing happens. Starts up and runs fine but the second I turn the monitor off and back on or a switch the input then I have to do the trick to get the display back. This is not exclusive to HDMI cables, the same thing happens on both the monitor and the TV when I use the DVI/VGA converter cable as well. I have also used multiple different HDMI cables. I have tried reseating the ram as well.

Everything runs fine, games play at the specs they should, no overheating, no screen flashing, no random shutdown no random loss of display etc. It doesn't have to do with usage because I have left everything on for 2 days just to see and everything is perfectly fine. I have played games for hours on end with max GPU usage without a single hiccup. The only time the problem occurs is when I turn the tv/monitor off or switch inputs. The only solution I have found so far is to just never turn anything off, ever. I don't want to do that.

The PSU is adequate for the card I have even emailed MSI tech support to be sure. I have also emailed them asking for help and they said to check the compatibility of my MB with the card. If this were a compatibility issue then the card wouldn't work right during games or shut the computer down or not boot up or something right?

I have also emailed Dell asking for support but they said they do not comment on aftermarket hardware and their solution was for me to revert the PC back to the way it was when I bought it to avoid issues. That isn't exactly helpful.

I have tried the GPU in other computers and it works fine and boots right up on the first try and has no issues when I turn the monitor off and on.

Sorry for the long post I just wanted to give as much information as I could to see if anyone can help me. All of these components are brand new.

Thanks in advance

[Azza ☠]

There are two connections on your Nvidia graphics card...

DVI-i (digital + analog) and DVI-d (digital only)

The extra pins on a DVI-i connector carry the analog signal which the DVI-d connector does not have. Ensure you use this connector for the TV or any other analog siginals. Both are digital, but your attempting to convert it and only the DVI-i will work for that.

Those VGA convertors or splitters, can be faulty - they are easily messed up. Or it might be attempt digital rather than analog. That might be your issue.

Set both monitors to all the same refresh rate (native resolution), normally 60Hz or 75Hz for most standards. As the graphic card will still output at the same refresh rate during the switch over, which if the other device doesn't support... won't display at all.

Under the BIOS, ensure the onboard graphics is switched off (disabled) so it doesn't attempt to toogle over to that as well during a signal lose of the main graphics.

If you have a graphics mode toggle, cycle through them all to ensure it's not simply just outputing to a wrong signal. Normally you would setup a quick key for this so you can cycle thought them without seeing anything on the screen till you come to the right one (such as Function Key + F8 is default). Either BIOS or Windows allow for this screen toggle mode option in certain cases.

[Nightmare515]

Im a bit confused about what you mean with the DVI ports. I am using an HDMI cable that plugs into the HDMI port. I only tried to use the DVI converter to see if maybe I had a faulty HDMI port but the problem happens with either connection I use.

My Bios doesnt even have an option to toggle with graphics. I think its because the computer is store bought from Dell and they disabled it or something and the computer is supposed to automatically recognize a new GPU.

Im trying to figure out what the computer is doing to fix itself each time i take the GPU out and put it back in. It seems like its resetting something to make it work but I just can't figure out what its doing.

[Azza ☠]

Oh I misread that, seriously DVI-i would be best for analog however.

HDMI to VGA would require yet another convertor, you won't gain any quality and the audio signal going through HDMI will be losted anyways, so it just seems like a waste to me.

The PC resetting on removing of GPU sounds wierd, but the only reason I can see for that, is it might be defaulting to your onboard graphics, ensure that is switched off and not used. Check the BIOS settings and under Windows > Control Panel > Display > Display Settings.

You might also wish to check...

Windows > Run > Type 'Event Viewer' without the quotes and press enter.
Event Viewer (Local) > Custom Views > Administrative Events

For any error messages, driver/service conflicts or warnings.

[rotNdude]

Like said above, I'm guessing that the motherboard is automatically switching to the Intel HD 4600 when it detects no monitor on the GTX 760. I would try plugging the TV and monitor in at the same time. One to the motherboard and one to the GTX. If you then turn off or switch inputs on the display hooked to the GTX and the display comes up on the motherboard, you're one step closer to figuring out why.

[Nightmare515]

Alright I went to the event log and this is what is posted each time I am forced to turn the computer off and pull the card.

Windows failed to resume from hibernate with error status 0xC0000411.

[Joker]

Do you have the latest bios and Windows updates? I set my PC to stay awake all the time in Windows power options.

[Nightmare515]

Yes I have the latest bios and windows updates. I also set my PC to stay awake all the time in the power options. It never shuts off the computer or the display unless I personally do it and thats when I get the display issue.

[Azza ☠]

Your computer cannot come out of hibernation and the file 'hiberfil.sys' might of been corrupted.

You most likely have two hiberations...

One BIOS level
One Windows level

If both run at the same time, this can lead to conflicts and a sleep which doesn't get woken up easily from. It could also be putting your monitor to sleep, then crashing upon attempting to wake it.

Under Control Panel > Power Options
Set to 'High performance', then click change plan on that and ensure Turn off display is 'Never',

Disable one or both, personally I would get rid of hiberation all together. After disabling it, delete the 'hiberfil.sys' file (optional).

To attempt to fix the problem...

Click on Start > All programs > Accessories then
Right click on Command Prompt option and select 'Run as administrator'.
At the command prompt enter: SFC /SCANNOW

This will check and repair if necessary any critical Windows system files. Which will also recreate that hibernation file, if you want to continue using it enabled.

[Nightmare515]

I have changed my power plan to the high performance as you said. How do I disable both of the hibernation settings for windows and the bios?

[Azza ☠]

Back under the Control Panel > Power Options > High performance, next to that is 'Change plan settings' - set those under that to 'Never' turn off.

Check under the Advanced settings, should say 'High perfomrnace [Active] and under the Sleep drop down -
Sleep after: Never
Allow hybrid sleep: On
Hibernate after: Never
Allow wake timers: Enable

For the BIOS, this completely depends on your motherboard and varies.

To enter your BIOS, turn on or restart the PC and hold down, or press repeatedly, the key required to enter setup. On most PCs this is the DEL key, the F1 key or the F2 key.

You should find something such as 'Advance > Power Management Settings' under one of the tabs. Some motherboards will have hiberation, video off method and sleep options under this. If you don't find any or unsure, just leave it. Don't change your BIOS settings, without being sure and noting down the original settings. Disable hiberation and sleep if there. For Video Off Method, I recommend DPMS (Display Power Management System) if available.

[Nightmare515]

Alright I went to the bios and I dont have any of those settings. The problem still remains after disabling hibernation in the control panel. I just turned the screen off for a split second to check and it lost the signal again. Had to do the dance to get it back on again.

Would hibernation issues cause my display to lose signal even if I dont put it in hibernation mode? My GPU doesn't have a sleep option. I'm talking literally if I turn the display off for a split second or if I change inputs then the display is lost and I cant get it back without pulling the gpu out and putting it back in.

[Azza ☠]

And under the Event Log it's still coming up with that message?

Next time, rather than pulling it all apart, try unplugging all the external cables (such as monitor cable) except for the power (switch off at the wall - so it's just grounded) and then hold down the power button for around 30 seconds to drain the device. Reconnect the cables and try starting her up as normal. It might be a quicker and safer option than removing things.

As for your issue, I'm still not sure why it does that without actually being able to see it.

[Nightmare515]

Yes, this morning when I came to turn the computer on it wouldn't boot the display again so I had to do the dance to get it on. I checked the event log and this was what came up.

Windows failed to resume from hibernate with error status 0xC0000411.

The display never boots up from the GTX 760 in the morning. I always have to take the card out and plug the monitor into the onbaord card first then shut it down and unplug it, put the GTX 760 back in, then boot it up and it works.

I thought maybe the PSU was faulty and not sending enough power but even if I disconnect the HDD or something else from the PSU it still doesn't boot up with the GTX 760 on the first try, ever. The PSU is a Seasonic 80+ 550W and it should be good enough to power all of this anyway.

I have tried to simply pull the power cables instead of pulling the card out but it doesn't work. The only thing I have found that works is the physically take the card out and put it back in.

I have disabled hibernation in the control panel but I dont have any option to disable it from the bios and I have no options in the bios to disable onboard graphics.

[rotNdude]

Did you try this?
http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/558749191032196841/#c558749191038342144

Plug both the TV and the monitor in, one to the card and one to the motherboard.

[Nightmare515]

Alright we are making progress! I deleted the hibernation file from the command prompt and restarted the computer expecting the display to not come back on but it did. I then switched the inputs to see if I would lose signal but I didn't. When I switched back to HDMI 1 the display came back, thats never happened before and it never restarted with the display coming back.

However, when I turn the TV off I still lose the display. It seems like the computer doesn't like it when it doesn't have control over the display. If I press restart and the computer is able to turn the TV on an off then the display comes back now. If I personally turn the TV off then it loses display.

Ill try plugging both the tv and the monitor in and see which one boots up.