Windows 10: monitor(s) intermittently failing to activate on cold boot up

I’ve started encountering a problem with my desktop PC running windows 10.
I have 2 monitors fed by a GeForce GTX 670 on a Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard with an Intel I 7 3770K chip.
Recently the monitors have failed to display anything when the PC is switched on – not always – but frequently enough recently to raise the alarm that this is a problem.
The PC emits its usual beep but no start up screen or any other sign of boot up occurs with increasing frequency.
I’ve tried booting to ‘safe’ – no effect ; un/replugging the hdmi cables and swapping them over – no effect ; soft rebooting and completely disconnecting from the mains. A total switch off from the manins worked twice but now even that cannot guarantee a cure - the failure rate of booting to a visible desktop is getting greater.
This is a fairly venerable machine (built 2012), but has performed as a steady workhorse for years, requiring only a thorough vacuuming some time ago to deal with filth build up on internal fans.
I might add that when (as now) both displays are on, everything is normal, no shudders, odd noises, nothing suspicious at all.
Before I dismantle things, has anyone a pointer as to the most likely cause of this gremlin?
BTW – 1 further point.
The button battery on the motherboard. If this is replaced (and I suspect it’s on its last legs), does it mean that anything has to be reset? Over the years I’ve fitted 3 extra hard drives.
I hate going into BIOS, the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard display is not a model of clarity and a lot has been lost in translation. If I can get away with not having to navigate the BIOS screen, either in its traditional or Gigabyte’s flaky schematic form, I’d add years to my life

:)

 

9700 Pro cold boot syndrome

I have a powercolor 9700 pro that has the cold boot syndrome (fails post on cold boot, reset machine and everthing works fine). Does anyone know if flashing to the latest vid bios will remedy that? The card has been tried in D865PERL, Soyo P4S, ASUS P4S800D-X, Soyo Dragon Ultra (Platinum), and now an ECS NForce3-A. *Mad All mobos exhibit the same problem. On some other forums, people have claimed that changing memory timings has helped. Any suggestions?

 

BSOD DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE randomly after cold boot/sleep

For the past month I have been getting random BSOD's all with driver power state failure. They happen randomly, usually within the first 5-10 minutes of cold booting or waking my computer. Steps I have taken to attempt to fix the problem:

1. Reinstalled GPU drivers/ tried old drivers
2. Fresh installed Windows 1803, still happened, then fresh installed 1709
3. Disabled Fast Boot

None of these things fixed the issue, any help would be much appreciated at pinpointing the issue. Thanks

 

Cold boot issue, very frustrating!

its from a 100% cold boot. Ill try the overclock thing, and also run some memtest tonight.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I do appreciate it. That USB one seems strange but ill try it! *Toast :toast: