Aurora R7, Windows not booting

Question

Hello all,

Here is my issue:

For the past couple of months, my Aurora R7 has been having an issue when I power on the device or restart the device. When I turn it on, I get post (dell logo), but then the screen goes black while the PC, mouse, keyboard, mouse pad, and monitor all remain on. After 3 hard resets (holding down power button), I get the support assist recovery page but windows does not boot after selecting the exit option from the prompt. Nonetheless, after enough hard resets I am able to get windows to boot and can access the PC without issue. However, once it is powered off, put to sleep, or restarted, I have the same issue where the dell logo appears and then nothing but a black screen.

What I have done to troubleshoot: (nothing has worked thus far)

1) Reset the CMOS battery using the built-in jumper on the system board by placing it on the apprpriate prongs and then back in place. I did the process with the system board power cable unplugged and another time with it still plugged in.

2) Removed Cr2032 battery

3) Factory Reset with Windows

4) Factory Reset with Support Assist

5) Flash Drive Update using external flash drive with BIOS 1.0.22 (most recent from Dell's Drivers page)

I would greatly appreciate anyone that can point me in the right direction from here. Need to have this PC up and running like it used to be.

r72019 · Answer

Does the PC work fine if you remove the GPU and connect the monitor to the displayport connection on the motherboard?  The GPU needs to be removed from the PC or the PC will usually black screen if you connect the monitor to the motherboard (also, is the monitor currently connected to the GPU and not the motherboard?).  It may be a driver issue with the GPU or a setting with the GPU.   The idea is to isolate the source of the problem.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Press F12 on boot, run ePSA diags (outside of Windows). Does it pass 100% ?

Grimm12 · Answer

Just ran the test and it completed and stated that new issues were found

Grimm12 · Answer

The PC is working perfectly with the GPU disconnected and the display port connected to the systemboard. What should I do next to correct the issue with the GPU? (GPU is a GTX 1070)

Grimm12 · Answer

Currently, I have my display port cable connected to the back of the unit. I will remove the GPU and connect the display port to the system board to try your diagnostic. I will be back soon with my results. Thank you!

r72019 · Answer

You can first try using DDU to remove the 1070 gpu drivers without the gpu installed.

Add the gpu back, but put it in the lower x16 slot.

After booting, install clean drivers using drivers for the 1070 direct from Nvidia.

Is this the gpu that came with the pc?

Then run the f12 diag with the gpu installed to double check the video card.

Grimm12 · Answer

@r72019 My apologies for the delayed response.

I was able to use the DDU to remove the drivers with the GPU uninstalled. However, I am unable to put the GPU on the lower pcie slot as there is a power cable in the lower-left corner connected to the systemboard and prevents the GPU from securing properly. I have reinstalled the GPU in the original top pcie slot and did a clean install of the drivers directly from Nvidia. The computer and display worked great for 5-10 minutes, but then I experienced the same issue where the screen went black saying no signal detected while everything remained plugged in and on.

The computer is still working perfectly with the GPU removed and the display port plugged into the system board.

Also, this is the original GPU I ordered with my computer directly from Dell, and I have never altered any hardware prior to this issue. The F12 Diag informed me that no issues were found with any hardware.

Tesla1856 · Answer

with the GPU removed ... The F12 Diag informed me that no issues were found with any hardware. The computer is still working perfectly with the GPU removed and the display port plugged into the system board. ======================== Sounds like the computer and motherboard are working properly. Are you using a good UPS-Battery (like a APC with AVR and LCD)? Dedicated video-cards needs plenty of good/clean power. If it's not the power, sounds like the dedicated video-card (or just it's drivers) might be bad.

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Aurora R7, Windows not booting

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