Monitor screen entirely black except for little white arrow

I've come back to my computer a couple of times this week only to find the screen entirely black except for a little white arrow that I can move around. What's up with this? I know my computer is old, but is it finally dying?

This question was answered on April 4, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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First of all try a new monitor on your computer, so you can eliminate the hard drive as a problem If it does work than the problem applies on your monitor and if does not work the problem is with the video card

Also you can try your monitor in another computer

If the problem is the video card than try to reseat the video card to a different slot Clean the card's edge connectors using contact cleaner or whithe eraser Try to replace the video card with a known good one

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Posted by Student of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on April 4, 2004

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