How to troubleshoot this problem?

[jq75]

NO NEW HD OR SW installed.

using this P8Z68-V mb. out of the blue, boot up display don't look right, on and off flashing screen and and display has many white dots spread on the screen.

not issue with monitor as on tv function its normal.

earlier a few BSOD that points to display driver issue when it can't go into windows normally.

thereafter it doesn't boot at all. not even bios, cleared cmos, still the same, tried with an old graphic card (not sure if its working), no display.

system will try to boot up, then auto power down again and within a few seconds attempt a second boot, but nothing on screen.

i tried to boot with all drives disconnected, still no beep sound or display. all the while no abnormal beeps heard too

its it a graphic card fault or worse, a mainboard?

please advise how to troubleshoot

 

[tmfwy]

You didn't mention where the distortion appears

I am assuming it appears during POST and before Windows

1. Change graphics card (eg: If using discrete graphics card, use onboard
IF problem solved, we have isolated graphics card issue
2. Use different connections ( HDMI / DVI / VGA ). Does distortion appear on another connection?

Could be a graphics ram issue / overheating OR cable pin issue

 

[Pak101]

i encountered this problem before, MAKE SURE there is nothing in between the motherboard and your computer case, is there any screws that stuck in between your MB and case? check your guidebook that comes with your motherboard, for example if the book say 8 standoffs screws then you install 8 standoffs screw only, do not put in extra standoff screw like altogether 9 of it. This kind of thing is common, the motherboard is normal but don't want to start up because you might risk damaging the mb due to short circuit.

More help http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

btw what brand you using? i using msi MB very good quality mb that has safety protection.

 

[jq75]

You didn't mention where the distortion appears

I am assuming it appears during POST and before Windows

1. Change graphics card (eg: If using discrete graphics card, use onboard
IF problem solved, we have isolated graphics card issue
2. Use different connections ( HDMI / DVI / VGA ). Does distortion appear on another connection?

Could be a graphics ram issue / overheating OR cable pin issue

flashing screen and distortion comes during windows boot up and then during use as well.
i tried with removal of graphic card to go on board, but there's no bios boot up that i can access to to turn on on board graphic

2. no hdmi cable to try yet. i'll try tomorrow. funny part is why bios boot up don't even take place

 

[jq75]

i encountered this problem before, MAKE SURE there is nothing in between the motherboard and your computer case, is there any screws that stuck in between your MB and case? check your guidebook that comes with your motherboard, for example if the book say 8 standoffs screws then you install 8 standoffs screw only, do not put in extra standoff screw like altogether 9 of it. This kind of thing is common, the motherboard is normal but don't want to start up because you might risk damaging the mb due to short circuit.

More help http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

btw what brand you using? i using msi MB very good quality mb that has safety protection.

no screws as been using system for a few years, never open it since it was fixed up till today, i open casing to troubleshoot

http://www.asus.com/sg/Motherboards/P8Z68V/HelpDesk_Manual/

manual section 2.26, pg 36 mentioned

"2.2.6 Onboard LEDs
1. POST State LEDs
The POST State LEDs of CPU, DRAM, VGA card, and HDD indicate key components status during POST (Power-on Self Test). If an error is found , the LED next to the error device will continue lighting until the problem is solved. This user-friendly design provides an intuitional way to locate the root problem within a second."

the two led that didn't light up at all is graphic card and hdd led..
memory and cpu did light up though

 

[jq75]

http://www.asus.com/sg/Motherboards/P8Z68V/HelpDesk_Manual/

manual section 2.26, pg 36 mentioned

"2.2.6 Onboard LEDs
1. POST State LEDs
The POST State LEDs of CPU, DRAM, VGA card, and HDD indicate key components status during POST (Power-on Self Test). If an error is found , the LED next to the error device will continue lighting until the problem is solved. This user-friendly design provides an intuitional way to locate the root problem within a second."

the two led that didn't light up at all is graphic card and hdd led..
memory and cpu did light up though

i quote the above.

my rusty troubleshooting skills conclude is a soon to be faulty graphic card i supposed.
led light was stationery on on memory, so i started with memory

the card was never used for hard core gaming since this desktop was set up.

this is what i did earlier,
1. clear bios with on board vga graphic
2. strip down pc to mb, ram and cpu, start with 1 pc of ram, bios boot ok, with each restart, sit additional ram piece till all 4 pieces are in it and bios boot passed. quite a few trial and error tried.
3.connect all drives, boot up, removed all my previous card drivers. thought could be driver conflict when i realised i got nvidia and ati drivers in it, so removed all. restart as few times on onboard graphic and its working fine.
4. introduce my exisiting ati card, system detected and installed drivers just like a new card, works fine. stress the card with a few video on youtube and "the
on and off intermittent flashing screen and snowy white dots spread on the screen' returned.
5. soon after bsod pointing to display device driver surfaced. removed ati card
6. hard restart and go back to onbaord graphic. removed all 3rd ati party drivers.
7. restart system a few times after win update and type my FR here.