When I turn the computer on - I get the Windows screen and then it goes blank
and doesn't take me to the log on screen. I need to restart in safe mode and
system restore - which doesn't always work.

any ideas?

I'm runnning Windows XP Home Edition if that's any help!

"Gail G" wrote:

> When I turn the computer on - I get the Windows screen and then it goes blank
> and doesn't take me to the log on screen. I need to restart in safe mode and
> system restore - which doesn't always work.
>
> any ideas?
>

Gail G wrote:

> I'm runnning Windows XP Home Edition if that's any help!
>
> "Gail G" wrote:
>
>> When I turn the computer on - I get the Windows screen and then it
>> goes blank and doesn't take me to the log on screen. I need to
>> restart in safe mode and system restore - which doesn't always work.
>>
>> any ideas?
>>

Gail, I'm sorry but that isn't enough information to get focused
troubleshooting. It could be malware, a faulty driver or other sofware,
or hardware like your video card failing in Regular Mode. Here is a
link to help you craft a good newsgroup post so you will see the kind
of information you need to provide:

http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Once we know the details about your computer, its hardware, the
virus/malware status, what changed between the time things worked and
the time they didn't, we can determine where to start troubleshooting.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

thanks for the help. I'll check out all the details and see if I give you any
more details. I'm a novice - so don't really know where to start.

"Malke" wrote:

> Gail G wrote:
>
> > I'm runnning Windows XP Home Edition if that's any help!
> >
> > "Gail G" wrote:
> >
> >> When I turn the computer on - I get the Windows screen and then it
> >> goes blank and doesn't take me to the log on screen. I need to
> >> restart in safe mode and system restore - which doesn't always work.
> >>
> >> any ideas?
> >>
>
> Gail, I'm sorry but that isn't enough information to get focused
> troubleshooting. It could be malware, a faulty driver or other sofware,
> or hardware like your video card failing in Regular Mode. Here is a
> link to help you craft a good newsgroup post so you will see the kind
> of information you need to provide:
>
> http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
> Once we know the details about your computer, its hardware, the
> virus/malware status, what changed between the time things worked and
> the time they didn't, we can determine where to start troubleshooting.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

Gail G wrote:

> thanks for the help. I'll check out all the details and see if I give
> you any more details. I'm a novice - so don't really know where to
> start.
>
Then it would be smartest to take the machine to a professional computer
repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA). In the
meantime, here are some hardware troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are
seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Download
the file and make a bootable floppy or cd with it. Boot with the media
and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power supply can be faulty.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, have a professional do it.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User