John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15218
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
 |
« on: September 03, 2009, 11:47:00 AM » |
|
I have Win. XP, and a few months ago just out of the blue the monitor will go black and the external HD stops for about 2 1/2 minutes shortly after I turn the system on. After that approx. amount of time passes, the screen again lights up and continues loading as usual, plus the ext. HD also comes back on. From then on, everything works normal....albeit a little slow but that's my fault. Too much crap loading up and running I'm assuming. But, it's the same stuff that was on there prior to the above event, and I use most of it although not daily. I picked up a new flat screen monitor recently along with new speakers...worked out great, plug and play...no problems. The black screen still exists. I've looked all over the "net" and have yet to find a cure so I'm about ready to reformat the HD and see if that helps, although I'm not excited about that little process either. I'm open to suggestions or ideas. I can live with it since everything works normal, it's just a PITA when I want to get on quick....takes at least 7-8 minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Stitch_in_La
|
|
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2009, 11:50:13 AM » |
|
I would first think virus. Make sure that you are running the most current definitions and that the program is actually running. I had avirus that was smart enough to disable the anti virus and hijack the install. After that spyware.
Chuck
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ArmyValker
|
|
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2009, 04:22:00 PM » |
|
Try reinstalling your video drivers. Go into the hardware manager and see if anything is flagged. Because it's happening consistently, at startup, it makes me think hardware conflict. Also, the "black screen" is consistent with a video card issue. I'd clean up all the extra crap that's making you run slow, disable unnecessary services, and make sure you have all the most current drivers payin close attention to the video card and associated software, ie.. ATI controls... DirectX software...etc...
Could also be something crazy like mention previously a bad virus or spyware. However, I caution you not to rest on this explanation because unless you've been very vigilant, the likelyhood is that you have many virus's and lots of spyware ANYWAY.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Sharkey
Member
Posts: 567
GOT CURVES??
VRCCDS0184
|
|
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2009, 04:40:43 PM » |
|
You can go to start/run/then type in "msconfig"
then the startup tab that will allow you to turn things off at startup. Turn off unnecessary things, it allow you system to boot up much faster.
I have a cloned image of my hard drive on a usb drive using Ghost
I can clone it back instead of reinstalling . It only takes about 10 minutes to new configuration
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
|
|
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2009, 04:55:57 PM » |
|
Can you disconnect the external hard drive? I have seen them go bad and cause all kinds of problems. If you go into administrative tools then event viewer you may see whats the problem. I would also try booting the computer into safe mode and see if it still does its thing.When it comes on there are 3 other things that I would check when the computer has a problem it does a dump you do have a system dump folder that could be causing problems. The prefetch data file needs to be erased and also I would run check disc. You didn't specify what was on the screen when the thing goes out because this can also be a indication of where the problem is. Windows boots things in a certain order if you can follow that order you can narrow down the problem. I also have a cloned hard drive and keep it in a safe place so if anything happens you always have a backup. I wouldn't format just yet though it may be the easiest to get your computer back up but then you have to reinstall everything you could also take a chance and while its still working backup most things and then do the install and then restore. Also windows disc does have a repair feature on the disc so you may want to see about that too.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
“Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.”
|
|
|
|
ArmyValker
|
|
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2009, 06:50:41 PM » |
|
You can go to start/run/then type in "msconfig"
then the startup tab that will allow you to turn things off at startup. Turn off unnecessary things, it allow you system to boot up much faster.
I have a cloned image of my hard drive on a usb drive using Ghost
I can clone it back instead of reinstalling . It only takes about 10 minutes to new configuration
If in doubt, leave it on! Some of those services you can turn off in MSCONFIG are needed. Google it, you'll get a good list of what to turn off and what to leave on. just go to Start>Run type in msconfig.exe and you'll get a nice utility panel. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15218
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
|
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2009, 06:51:41 AM » |
|
I'm familiar with MSConfig and turning off programs in StartUp. Problem with that is many can be turned off initially, but soon as you use that program next time there is something internal that puts it back on an "active" list. As for the external HD having an effect or causing the problem....it didn't. The black out started before I added the external. One of the problems with my CPU is when I got it from Dell, everything came already installed and there was no systems disc that came with it. I have since contacted Dell and was given the OK to access a number of system files to enable me to reformat. Included...obviously....were the Dell drivers. I'm not inclined to try reformatting just yet, but would like to get into MS Dos...just can't figure out how to do it on XP. Any suggestions on how to do that?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15218
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
|
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2009, 07:11:22 AM » |
|
I'm not inclined to try reformatting just yet, but would like to get into MS Dos...just can't figure out how to do it on XP. Any suggestions on how to do that?
Never mind, just figured it out. Had to go to Start, Accessories, Command Prompt. BINGO...I have a DOS screen. Now I might be able to look at the "internals" of some files....assuming I can find my old DOS reference book. Been so long I've forgotten a lot of commands, seemed like "back then" I was able to clean up file problems easier. It's now 10:15a.m., guess I'll go shave and catch up on some reading. Need to find that old manual first.....  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16781
upstate
South Carolina
|
|
« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2009, 08:02:04 AM » |
|
. I'm not inclined to try reformatting just yet
My kind of old thinkpad (t40) has XP on it. It got so slow I hated it. I reloaded the OS, windows-updated the flop out of it, and quit putting stuff on the desktop (used to be cluttered with stuff that all had to be visited before the generic icon would turn into the right thing...) now it is perfectly acceptable. My really old thinkpad (I named it stinkpad) had XP on it. It was worthless. I put Cent-os on it a couple of weeks ago. Except for the part about figuring out how to make the wireless PCMCIA work again, it was easy, and now even it is usable, for a web browser... -Mike "reloading is often so worth the trouble..." |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
DavRed
Member
Posts: 345
Buckeye AZ
Phoenix AZ
|
|
« Reply #9 on: September 04, 2009, 09:12:42 AM » |
|
Just a thought.. It kinda sounds like windows is looking at alternate boot devices before it looks at the hard drive. Once it is happy that there are no other boot devices. It continues. I am wondering if you have any usb devices attached to that thing while booting. I would disconnect them and try booting.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15218
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
|
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2009, 09:29:33 AM » |
|
Just a thought.. It kinda sounds like windows is looking at alternate boot devices before it looks at the hard drive. Once it is happy that there are no other boot devices. It continues. I am wondering if you have any usb devices attached to that thing while booting. I would disconnect them and try booting.
Yes, as a matter of fact I do have some USB attachments. All the external stuff like printers, connections for downloading my camera, etc., are all USB. I'm tempted to take the afternoon off(I'm retired ) and do some testing. The pool light and yard work can wait another day. Think the first thing I'll do is reboot and check where it's looking first, second, etc., should be the HD, then a DVD...in that order. Haven't looked at it since I bought this contraption, might be interesting. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
NiteRiderF6
Member
Posts: 559
Doug n Stacy
Mississippi
|
|
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2009, 10:51:59 AM » |
|
John, If you think you have a USB addressing problem, eliminate one USB device at a time until your problem clears, then you can attempt to troubleshoot that one item. My company laptop was experiencing long delays on startup or when I clicked on "My Computer". I finally figured out that it was attempting to index the servers in Dallas from the mother company, since that's the way it was set up to download initially from the IT Department. I wouldn't monkey around with your startup files, or your registry very much, since most of the items there are necessary for computer operation and to run some of those financial programs that you have loaded on your PC. If I had your money, I'd just go down and buy a new computer and another for a back up and move all of my data over to those.  Good Luck! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate - SuperValk Mod - SS - Lots of Chrome!  |
|
|
DavRed
Member
Posts: 345
Buckeye AZ
Phoenix AZ
|
|
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2009, 12:37:40 PM » |
|
Just a thought.. It kinda sounds like windows is looking at alternate boot devices before it looks at the hard drive. Once it is happy that there are no other boot devices. It continues. I am wondering if you have any usb devices attached to that thing while booting. I would disconnect them and try booting.
Yes, as a matter of fact I do have some USB attachments. All the external stuff like printers, connections for downloading my camera, etc., are all USB. I'm tempted to take the afternoon off(I'm retired ) and do some testing. The pool light and yard work can wait another day. Think the first thing I'll do is reboot and check where it's looking first, second, etc., should be the HD, then a DVD...in that order. Haven't looked at it since I bought this contraption, might be interesting. Printers are not useally a problem. But things like a mp3 player or hard drive. Bight be your problem. Eather case would not be hard to rule that out. Just unplug the USB stuff and reboot. If its cleared just start plugging them in 1 by 1 till you find the one causing it. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ArmyValker
|
|
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2009, 02:38:00 PM » |
|
If it's the "original" install on your computer it definitely wouldn't hurt to backup and reinstall Xp. Most store-bought brand name computers come with windows, but it's full of bloated software and stuff you really don't need. The first thing I do on ANY new computer is reformat hard drive and reinstall a clean windows , then manually add all the components and update drivers.
Hope you get your problem figured out!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Scott in Ok
Chief Worker Ant
Administrator
Member
Posts: 1157
Oklahoma City, Ok
|
|
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2009, 03:25:37 PM » |
|
If this pause right after turning the computer on happens before windows starts up, you can stop messing with windows. Doug is most likely correct, you have a USB or similar conflict. Unplug that external HD and boot it once and see if that solves it.
-Scott
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers!
|
|
|
John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15218
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
|
« Reply #15 on: September 05, 2009, 07:11:31 AM » |
|
If this pause right after turning the computer on happens before windows starts up, you can stop messing with windows. Doug is most likely correct, you have a USB or similar conflict. Unplug that external HD and boot it once and see if that solves it.
-Scott
Didn't think it would because it started before I added the external HD. It will start to load, brings up the XP screen and the little thermometer thing starts paint brushing back and forth(or forth and back if you're left-handed ). It appears to nearly finish loading Windows before going black, and a few seconds later the external shuts down. When it comes back up it's the blue Welcome screen and continues as though nothing happened. Guess I'll just leave it alone, works fine after the hiccup. Some day I'll get around to reformatting. A note for NiteRider....Doug, how about a loan so I'll have all the money you say I have. A loan I don't have to pay back. Please, don't quit working, I need that SS check each month.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
hedgehorn
|
|
« Reply #16 on: September 05, 2009, 08:59:52 AM » |
|
I got sick and tired of all the virus and malware problems with Windows a couple of years ago and switched to Linux. Never a problem since. Most people don't know that the Linux OS is free and have never been exposed to it. Most people that use it love it.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Duey
|
|
« Reply #17 on: September 05, 2009, 12:19:54 PM » |
|
Get cccleaner. It's free. You can change startup settings. Find junk links and a lot of weird things. Take your time. ( www.ccleaner.com ) It's easier the msconfig. And if you mess things up you can just go back and restore it. Make sure you back up anything you want to fix/remove. Update your bios at the manufacturer's website. Hp.com, etc as neeeded. In the Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager check and update all the driver as needed. In the Control Panel/Add and Remove Programs. Review what is installed and remove any you don't want or are suspicious. Check them on line if your not sure. Goto Kellys-Korner-XP.com/X.htm and see if there is any thing you want to do. There is a lot of stuff there. Back up your existing primary disk and re-install xp on it. Move saved applications from the back up drive to the reformatted primary. I use Acronis True Image 10. I save a complete copy of the primary to a back up drive. THey have newer applications at their website so check them out if you like. Good Luck ! Let us know what you find! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Duey
|
|
« Reply #18 on: September 05, 2009, 12:21:25 PM » |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Kingbee
Member
Posts: 486
VRCC# 576
Northern Illinois
|
|
« Reply #19 on: September 05, 2009, 04:24:22 PM » |
|
 Big thumbs up to ccleaner
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
