Start-up Black Screen Issues With Blinking Underscore (Desktop)

[Captain]

Hello,

I’ve had PC start-up issues for maybe two months now (I’ve had the desktop for close to 6 months now possibly) and I figured I should ask for solutions because it clearly won’t go away by itself.

When I start my PC up sometimes it pops up with a black screen with a blinking underscore on the top left and the only way it goes away is by restarting my PC a million times until it decides to start-up properly and sometimes it starts up properly with no problems.

My PC specs are -
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K
Graphics Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 OC 6GB
Operating System: Windows 10. (I used a key I bought to activate Windows 10 on my computer, not a disc).
Motherboard: ASRock B250M-Pro4 Motherboard
Power Supply: Corsair VS650 ATX Power Supply
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM006

[phillpower2]

Welcome to PCHF Captain,

It is possible that something is not seated or connected properly or there is a problem with the “power good signal” (the Corsair VS range are budget level and not very good) did you build the rig yourself and therefore comfortable with working inside a computer or was the computer pre-assembled and therefore possibly covered by a warranty.

Operating System: Windows 10. (I used a key I bought to activate Windows 10 on my computer, not a disc).

So how was Windows 10 installed to the hard drive.

[Captain]

Thanks for the reply,
I watched my dad build the PC and he seated everything in quite well but at the same time that could still be a possibility. I’m not entirely comfortable working inside of the computer but it all depends on what needs to be done.

I put Windows 10 on a USB and used the USB to install Windows 10 onto my computer and then I used a key I bought to activate Windows 10.

[phillpower2]

I’m not entirely comfortable working inside of the computer but it all depends on what needs to be done.

Checking that all internal connections are secure + reseating the RAM and graphics card needs to be done, if not confident in doing this I would suggest that you ask your dad to help you out.

I put Windows 10 on a USB and used the USB to install Windows 10 onto my computer and then I used a key I bought to activate Windows 10.

Was Windows installed in UEFI BIOS and did you also install the drivers for the MB and starting with the chipset drivers first.

You are welcome btw

[phillpower2]

Any update for us Captain?

[Captain]

Well so far everything seems to be tracking fine. I think things might have not been properly sat down but if there’s ever a problem again I’ll be sure to come back with another update.
Thanks for the help, mate.

[phillpower2]

Glad to hear that all is now well with the computer and thank you for letting us know (y)

You are welcome btw

[Captain]

UPDATE:
After making sure everything wasn’t loose my PC has continued to have the same issues. Any other solutions out there?

[phillpower2]

Looking at the gap between replies it suggests that the computer has been fine for over a week, have you changed any settings or installed any new software or hardware since November 8th.

When I start my PC up sometimes it pops up with a black screen with a blinking underscore on the top left and the only way it goes away is by restarting my PC a million times until it decides to start-up properly and sometimes it starts up properly with no problems.

Is it the same behaviour as in your OP.

[Captain]

Yeah, it’s the same issue as my original post.

[phillpower2]

Looking at the gap between replies it suggests that the computer has been fine for over a week, have you changed any settings or installed any new software or hardware since November 8th.

Would it be possible for you to also answer the above for us if you will

[Captain]

Oh sorry, I didn’t notice that.
My PC has been fine for 4 months because I’ve had it for 6 months like I said above but for the last 2 months it’s been doing this behavior on and off. I don’t think placing everything down and make sure everything wasn’t loose did anything because it does this on and off a lot. It works fine for days and days and then every now and then it randomly decides to give me a black screen with a blinking underscore on the top left.

The only things I have installed that I can think of is my virus protectors (360 security and malewarebytes), applications such as steam, origin, battle.net and uplay because I download games from there, I use a software called CAM that monitors my PC’s heat, load, fps but that wouldn’t be the cause of the issue because things were happening WAY before I installed that software. I very much doubt that it’s any software or hardware that I’ve installed after giving it a nice browse.

[phillpower2]

My PC has been fine for 4 months because I’ve had it for 6 months like I said above but for the last 2 months it’s been doing this behavior on and off. I don’t think placing everything down and make sure everything wasn’t loose did anything because it does this on and off a lot. It works fine for days and days and then every now and then it randomly decides to give me a black screen with a blinking underscore on the top left.

The previous problems aside, the amount of time that has passed and the changes made to the system since the issues first began mean that the information is of no help to us I`m afraid, all we can work with is the time period of November 7th 2017 to November 16th 2017 and any changes made to the system between when you made the two following posts;

Well so far everything seems to be tracking fine. I think things might have not been properly sat down but if there’s ever a problem again I’ll be sure to come back with another update.
Thanks for the help, mate.

And;

UPDATE:
After making sure everything wasn’t loose my PC has continued to have the same issues. Any other solutions out there?

Download then run Speccy (free) and post the resultant url for us, details here, this will provide us with information about your computer hardware + any software that you have installed that may explain the present issue/s.

[Captain]

Results: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/r...LtIAHd2o4hjBBj

[phillpower2]

Would it be possible for you to tell us what you installed from the date that you post to tell us that everything was fine right up to when you post back to tell us that the problem had reappeared, this is important as any one of the items installed could be causing this.

Couple of points to mention in your Speccy report;

There are no voltage readings for us to be able to check.

The ST2000DM006-2DM164 hard drive, this is a green budget level HDD that has well documented problems, see example feedback here

Download and then run both the short and the extended Seatools for Windows tests, download from here

This mentioned last not because it is not important but because of the amount of follow up information;

You have 360 Total Security, some may but myself personally would not have this software or anything else related to the company anywhere near my computer or anything else capable of connecting to the internet, the following was post by a highly regarded malware removal expert on another well known forum;

Qihoo is a Chinese-based provider of free security and Anti-virus software (360 Total Security, 360 Internet Security, 360 Browser, 360 Security, 360 Mobile Safe, 360 Vault, etc). There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Qihoo to include it’s reporting other anti-virus software and search tools as being malicious, deceptive marketing practices and various privacy issues.

[ul]
[li]Qihoo 360 Fakes A Microsoft Security Patch[/li][li]Privacy Issues With China’s Qihoo 360 Technology[/li][li]Online security firm accused of stealing user info[/li][li]The 1 Company You Need to Avoid in 2013[/li][li]Qihoo’s “Backdoor” Suspicions Erupt In User Backlash[/li][li]The 360 Safe Browser is not as “safe” as you might think[/li][/ul]

Windows 10 has an updated version of Windows Defender that offers the same real time protection as Microsoft Security Essentials, you do not need third party AV protection and by not installing any you are reducing the possibility of potential conflicts and freeing up resources on your computer, would recommend you uninstall 360 Total Security and all of its associated junk asap then have Defender carry out a full scan of your computer and to be fully updated.