Windows XP startup problem (black screen)

[madventura]

I fixed my black screen problem by realising that the bios boot section had moved my usb drive to the main boot drive. the only way to get around this is to disconnect all usb devices (leave keyboard attached) boot the comp 1 - 5 secs go into your bios make sure that the main boot device is the hard drive with windows on it, save and boot again and it should load windows (7) in my case, if not then boot and 1 - 5secs in press F8 and manually choose your hard drive to boot from, I realise that differnt motherboards have different keys to press, but they all should allow you to choose which hard drive to boot from manually. After you get into windows create a back up and then fix the comp with windows repair and it should successfully rewrite the boot commands again. I hope this helps.

 

[mondfahrer]

It won't allow me to change any of the advanced settings (I'm trying to change the refresh rate to 60Hz). The only option, which really isn't an option b/c it's the only item in the drop down menu, is to "Use hardware default setting". I'm assuming since I'm using a very old monitor, and the screen goes black after Windows loading, that it's the refresh rate I must fix. I'm running WinXP Pro. Does anybody know how to get this to allow me to change the refresh rate? Thanks.

Edit: I fixed this by using advanced startup menu (F8), and enabling VGA mode, and once loaded, allowing Windows to automatically change display for optimal settings. I couldn't have gotten this far if not for this forum, so thanks again!

Hi,
thanks a lot, without these post i would never had realized how to overcome the black screen after the moving loading bar. Starting in VGAmode works, but allowing windows to automatically change desktop settings made the screen black again (also changing resolution does this). Installing the monitor driver doesnt help too.
But so far I'm proceeding

 

[mondfahrer]

ok finally i managed it:
The key is to reinstall a proper driver for the graphic card (reinstall under hardware section of "systemsteuerung")

 

[taku]

Hi
I'm new to this community and didn't find more suitable topic for my problem, hope moderator's wont be to upset

Anyway, i tried to google my question but didn't get an aswer that i hoped for.

Problem is following:
Yesterday i finished working with my laptop, shut it down like normally. Today, when turning it on, screen remained blank(black), then it showd this welcome page with log in button and everything was working perfectly. I immedeatly restarted my computer, same thing... totally blank untill login information page. Then i scanned computer for viruses and spyware (using spybot and avast antivirus, but found nothing) then backed my important stuff to external HD and restarted computer again. Same thing (what is positive about it, it boots up faster than normally LOL )

Could it be a sign of something on a verge of crashing/breaking down?
Should i be worried or just ignore it.

OP. system is xp pro 32 bit

PS! sorry for my bad english, not my first choice of language...


Thanks if you bother to help or give some advice.