White screen boot with Windows with second monitor plugged

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White screen boot with Windows with second monitor plugged

Hi,

I've just installed Windows 8.1 with Boot Camp in an Early 2008 Mac Pro.

Windows runs like a charm but if boot with the second monitor plugged then the White Screen of Death appears! Everything works fine with just one monitor. There's nothing weird with the monitors/screens (that I know) they work perfect together in OS X.

Boot with two monitors plugged -> White Screen

Boot with one monitor plugged -> Everything is perfect

First monitor is an Asus P38 connected through HDMI and PortDisplay adapter and the second one is a DELL connected through DVI. Both of them are plugged to an ATI HD 4870.

Anybody knows something about this issue?

Regards,

Juan Carlos Jiménez

Mac Pro, Windows 8

Posted on Feb 28, 2014 12:26 PM

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Answer 1

turbostar

Level 4

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Feb 28, 2014 3:16 PM in response to jcjimenez

What happens if you boot with one attached then attach the 2nd while windows is running? Try it with each monitor. You may have to access display preferences to extend your desktop to the 2nd monitor.

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Answer 2

turbostar

Level 4

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Feb 28, 2014 3:18 PM in response to jcjimenez

Before that, download and install the latest ATI driver

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Answer 3

jcjimenez Author

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Mar 1, 2014 2:25 AM in response to turbostar

Nothing is wrong if I attach the 2nd monitor while windows is running (after the boot). But if the computer boots with both monitors attached, I get the white screen immediately after I choose Windows in the Alt/Option boot Mac gray screen.

Besides, I don't think that the drivers are related because there is no time to load any driver. In fact:

If the computer boots with one screen, after I press Enter to select Windows in the boot menu, after 4-5 seconds, a BIOS like screen (black screen with white text) appears and then the Windows boot logo. And the boot is normal.

If the computer boots with both monitors attached, after I press Enter to select Windows in the boot menu, after 4-5 seconds, the White Screen appears (without BIOS screen, i.e. BEFORE Windows boot, right?)

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Answer 4

turbostar

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Mar 1, 2014 3:22 AM in response to jcjimenez

So both boot to OSX without an issue? All I can suggest is to do both PRAM and SMC resets. If those don't work, all I would know to do would be clean reinstall windows since it looks like a software/driver issue somewhere.

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Answer 5

turbostar

Level 4

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Mar 1, 2014 3:27 AM in response to turbostar

This is an Apple OEM 4870 or a PC/flashed one? Did this just start, or did you just start trying this?

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Answer 6

jcjimenez Author

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Mar 1, 2014 3:34 AM in response to turbostar

Yes, they both boot to OSX without a problem. I doubt the driver issue because what I told you before, the white screen happens even before the "bios" after selecting Windows.

I've already reset PRAM and SMC with no success... It's an Apple OEM 4870

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Answer 7

turbostar

Level 4

2,941 points

Mar 1, 2014 3:49 AM in response to jcjimenez

The internets decided on bad card when this happened before ... https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2006867

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