Black Screen @ Start-Up

Question

My System: Dimension 8200, Flat Panel monitor, Windows XP-Home.   System was operating normally when I left room - gone for an hour and came back to a black screen, unable to get back to desktop screen and unable to shut computer off from tower button. I had to interrupt power at the surge protector to shut down. Upon restarting, screen displayed what appeared to be a normal Windows start-up, but then monitor status lights at bottom of screen go off (as if commanded?), and have the black screen again. When I attempt to turn monitor power on using controls at bottom it goes back off automatically. I restarted in SAFE MODE successfully, but noticed that computer messages or font were messed up (display problem?). Ran AdAware and SpyBot wo problems. Same symptoms recur when attempting to RESTART from SAFE MODE. Had to interrupt power again to shut system down. Restarted in SAFE MODE + NETWORKS to very ability to access Internet. Used Google to verify access to Internet. Same problem when attempting to RESTART--screen displays normal Windows XP start with timer bar, but then goes black and monitor turns off automatically.   Need help troubleshooting - what should I look for?

gone2tokyo · Answer

Since you can get into Safe Mode, you may try to uninstall your Display driver from the Device Manager (which could be any one of a number of integrated adapters or video cards according to the driver download page for the 8200). Upon restart in into windows the display will be defaulted to a generic driver at which point you can try to download the newest driver from dell or the manufacturer of the card. Quick question before you do anything though, did you happen to update the driver before this happened? Let us know!

Randy O.

shesagordie · Answer

Healy24What is the reading of the power button LED, green, blinking green, solid amber, blinking amber?What is the sequence of the diagnostic Lights on the back panel?This is Dell's Step by Step Troubleshooter.<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> Bev.===================================================Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

Healy24 · Answer

Randy---don't know where to go in SAfe Mode to do this. See my response to following message.

Healy24 · Answer

Bev---here's the sequence; 1. Start system from tower Power button and all indications are normal---all 4 diagnostic lights on back and Power LED go solid Green. 2. When DELL Logo appears, the graphic is distorted and font for text is garbled. 3. Status lights on bottom of Monitor (1, 2 & Power) cycle to Green, initially. 4. Windows start screen displays and graphics are OK (for about 10 sec).  5. Then the Monitor status lights !, 2 start to cycle and Power light goes Amber causing the black screen. However, the Tower Power and all 4 diagnostic lights remain Green with computer running. I cannot shut the computer down from the tower Power button---nothing happens when its depressed (unless I am in SAFE MODE). I have to shut system off at surge protector. When I do this I get a normal DELL Genesis graphic and screen. 6. When I RESTART and go to a menu via F2, F8 or F12, the menu graphics are garbled and contain symbols interspersed with text. However, I can still use these menus. When I go into SAFE MODE, the display is distorted---colors are muted and several sets of 4 vertical blue bars are overlayed on screen. However, I can select Start options, Control Panel, etc. 7. When I select various options from Advanced Options Menu (F8), and Restart Windows always get a repeat of above. 8. Checked the Properties of my internal C hard drive: normal indications.     So I'm at a loss as to what to troubleshoot and how to go about it. The messed up font/graphics would seem to be a big clue.

shesagordie · Answer

Healy24

Try reseating the video card or install a different card.

Does the power button LED go to blinking amber or solid amber?

Bev.

===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

Healy24 · Answer

Power button on Monitor goes solid Amber after 1, 2 begins to cycle (normal indication for a commanded power off). Power button on tower remains solid Green.   I haven't had a chance to open case and reseat Video card yet---hopefully later tonight. Did disconnect all other peripherals and move electrical connections to different plugs on surge strip. Same results persist. Will disconnect Monitor (Dell 1900FP) and run self tests, change settings to see if that provides any info. Since the monitor seems to display the Windows XP start screen without problems, it seems to mee that the source of the problem may more likely be the Video card, cabling? It seems like the monitor loses its video input when trying to get into Windows and get to the desktop,... this may be what is causing the Monitor's 1, 2 lights to start cycling before the screen goes black?

Healy24 · Answer

Bev----   (1) Per Dell 1900FP monitor troubleshooting guide, I unplugged the white video cable from back of tower with monitor on. This displayed the expected floating self-test check dialogue box and the monitor power LED remained a solid green. This verifies that the monitor is performing properly.   (2) I opened the case and reseated video card, but same problem persists. I put my Reinstall CD into drive and attempted to reboot from it. Same problem occurs, except get 'Press any key to ....' message which also has garbled text. When I press a key I get to the F8 key menu (garbled text and symbols) with timer running to Start Windows Normal. This continues with symptoms noted  above getting to black screen. What's different is that the reboot attempts from Reinstall CD continue to cycle through these same sequences over and over. Attempted to select reboot option with Last Known Good Configuration, but same end result.   Are there any checks or diagnostics that I can run from SAFE MODE that will verify the source of this boot + display problem? Anyhing that can confirm a video-controller hardware failure? I do not have access to a spare video card to swap.   What controls or affects the garbled text and display---is it possible that a part of a driver is corrupt or that this is a software and not a hardware problem?   Is there something I can do from SAFE MODE + NETWORKS that can scan my system externally or conduct a diagnostic?   Can I get to a point in SAFE MODE where I can initialize a clean reinstall of Windows as a last resort?

Healy24 · Answer

MISSING SOFTWARE & OS !!!!!   Was preparing to install a new Video card---directions said to uninstall drivers for old card, etc. Went to SAFE MODE and looked at Add/Reomve programs and found the following entries with no indication of any presence---like they were somehow deleted!!!   Epson Printer Software NVIDIA Display Driver NVIDIA Windows 2000/XP Display Driver Shockwave USB Staorage Adapter FX Windows Installer 3.1 Windows XP Service Pack 2   This would surely explain the symptoms!!!  How do I recover???

Healy24 · Answer

Need Help!

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Black Screen @ Start-Up

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