Why do a boot to a blank screen?

When i first start computer, I don't have any video output displayed. I then shut down the computer (cold start) and then the video works correctly. If I load software that requires windows to restart, there is no video. After I cold restart, (a warm boot does not work)I then get a video output. The machine works consistently in this "toggle" type mode.

This question was answered on December 5, 2002. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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I have found a similar problems on other systems, and is it ever aggravating, because the last thing you want to do is cold boot a PC once Windows has begun loading, even if you can't see it loading.

Turn your screen saver completely off Live without it If you have any third party icon or mouseware programs, uninstall them You don't need these, either They often have screen savers built in as an added "feature"

If your monitor, or software that came with it, has anything like a screen saver or blanker, unstall the software, and turn off any blanker included inside some monitors.

Trust me, you don't need screen blankers if they are causing problems with your machine The option that requires a mouse to wake your PC up from a blank screen is not working because it kicks in before the computer senses a mouse.

Doing a cold restart makes the scandisk begin and your video gets a chance to collect it's bearings Also, this process leaves tons of useless fragmented files on your PC If this problem has been going on a while, you may want to back up your data and reinstall everything.

Once the problem is completely gone, maybe you can try using some of the standard options that come with Windows, but keep the time turned way up.

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Posted by Robert of Mesa Community College on December 5, 2002

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