Windows 10 will not boot with Monitor(s) plugged in

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Odd problem I have been fighting for a while.  I have an older machine (Dell Inspiron 531) currently running fully patched Windows 10 20H2.  Using an Nvidia GT710 graphics card (Driver fully up-to-date with GeForce Experience Software) and a Samsung and LG monitor.  Bought the GT710 on Amazon 9 months ago or so and it worked fine right out of the box.  Maybe 30 days later the machine would start fine, but as soon as Windows took over the boot process the screen became garbled with ghost artifacts, etc.  The machine would complete the boot sometimes, or blue screen other times.  I tried many different things (reinstall of Windows 10 included) and eventually assumed the graphics card was defective.  I exchanged on Amazon, but new card had same issues.  Continued troubleshooting, tried different monitors, numbers, etc. but nothing seemed to help.  At one point I was swapping monitors and the machine restarted with no monitors plugged in.  When I plugged monitors in, everything was ok!

Now whenever I restart the system, I have to unplug both monitors until after the initial boot sequence hands off to Windows.  This work around has the machine running, but would like to solve the issue so I can restart without having to crawl under the desk every time!

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

David

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Are both monitors turned on when you boot?
What happens if they are both powered off?
How are the monitors connected to the PC?
Does it make any difference which is considered monitor #1?
Does it make any difference if you switch the connectors?

--Joe

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[dbressler1976]

Are both monitors turned on when you boot? yes
What happens if they are both powered off? Same issue, machine only starts with both unplugged.
How are the monitors connected to the PC? one is HDMI other is DVI-D
Does it make any difference which is considered monitor #1? No
Does it make any difference if you switch the connectors? No

 

Thanks for the response!

David

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by dbressler1976. Reason: Tried suggestion from reply, report results

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Have you tried booting into Safe Mode?

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Have tried safe mode, same issues.

Thanks!

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Was the reinstall of Windows a clean reinstall? In other words dump the current installation,  and start the installation of Windows from scratch as if it had never been installed on the machine before?

It sounds as if Windows is suddenly having a hard time detecting exactly what monitor is plugged into which port for video during the boot up phase only.

You say you’ve tried with BOTH monitors unplugged. If your desktop layout will allow it, try booting up with only one monitor plugged in and see what happens.

Just a suggestion.

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I have a 530, well, it was finally retired, just too slow for kids’ gaming although it ran many newer ones, eventually.  The “eventually” part resulted in lots of yelling, so…

The computer should do this automatically but you could go into device manager and disable Intel Graphics.  Some mobo’s use Intel Graphics for the second monitor and Nvidia (or AMD) for the first, you’d want IG enabled if so.  I’ve never used two monitors on our 530, so IDK.  If you can find a combo that works, yay!  If not, a driver reinstall is a good idea.

What I’d suggest is, after you get it started, disable one of the monitors in the Nvidia control panel, disconnect it, keep it disconnected, then reboot and see what happens.  Get to one screen only even if your current start method is needed; enable the second after driver install is successful.  Then uninstall both the Intel HD Graphics and Nvidia drivers.  I’d use Bulk Cr*p Uninstaller since it removes almost all the breadcrumbs left in registry.  It’s portable, I’ve used it for years, no worries.  Uninstall Nvidia first, check everything BCU shows, then repeat for Intel graphics.  Do this OFFLINE; use BCU’s leftover cleanup, too.

Before you do the uninstall above, go to Intel’s and Nvidia’s sites and download their drivers, not Dell’s.  Install HD Graphics first, then Nvidia.  Do this OFFLINE.  Be sure the machine installed the ones downloaded; Windows will try to go online and pick whatever and can also install older drivers pulled from the Driver Store, a backup space buried in C:\Windows.

If you can’t get the latest drivers installed because the OS picks different ones, Driver Store Explorer will allow you see and remove old drivers.  If Dell driver backups are not deleted completely, you may not be able to install the latest driver from Intel.  DSE will fix this.  Another used it forever, no worries utility.

I’m suggesting drivers as a possible issue because two weeks ago, I upgraded our 530’s replacement (Dell 5559) to 20H2 and had a black screen when updating the Nvidia driver and Explorer windows with borders but no content, after updating the Intel driver.  Weird!  Uninstall/Reinstall fixed both.   Some driver and OS combos cause display problems, most don’t.

JMO but if you’re at all savvy about Windows, disable the ability for it to install drivers in Settings (Updates and System.)

BCU:

https://www.bcuninstaller.com/

use FOSS link, portable version if desired.

DSE:

https://github.com/lostindark/DriverStoreExplorer

use Releases link, zip file.

Good luck, dual screens can be finicky with machines of any vintage.  Congratulations on keeping your 531 running for a decade!

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