Hello,

Something happened on my PC. When XP is booting up, first I get the
'Microsoft Windows XP screen', then I get a black screen, that remains for
about three minutes. Then I get the 'windows is starting up screen', and
things proceed well. The black screen for about three minutes is a new
thing on my computer. Please let me know what I may have done wrong to
cause that. Thanks.

Talal Itani

Talal Itani <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Something happened on my PC. When XP is booting up, first I get the
> 'Microsoft Windows XP screen', then I get a black screen, that remains
> for about three minutes. Then I get the 'windows is starting up
> screen', and things proceed well. The black screen for about three
> minutes is a new thing on my computer. Please let me know what I may
> have done wrong to cause that.

Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If the
answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're positive
that your system is clean, undo your system changes if applicable or use
the System Restore tool otherwise.

--
d-d

Normally while booting the screen will show what's happening and may or may
not show the splash screen. The boot process can be set that these "items"
are not visible during boot resulting in a black screen,

Have you installed software lately or taken any other actions such as moving
or deleting files? Have you tried System Restore?

"Detlev Dreyer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Talal Itani <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Something happened on my PC. When XP is booting up, first I get the
>> 'Microsoft Windows XP screen', then I get a black screen, that remains
>> for about three minutes. Then I get the 'windows is starting up
>> screen', and things proceed well. The black screen for about three
>> minutes is a new thing on my computer. Please let me know what I may
>> have done wrong to cause that.
>
> Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
> installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If the
> answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're positive
> that your system is clean, undo your system changes if applicable or use
> the System Restore tool otherwise.
>
> --
> d-d

"AJR" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Have you installed software lately or taken any other actions such as
> moving or deleting files? Have you tried System Restore?

No, why should I do that. Note that I'm *not* the orignal poster! If you
have such questions, reply directly to the OP.

--
d-d

"AJR" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Normally while booting the screen will show what's happening and may or
> may not show the splash screen. The boot process can be set that these
> "items" are not visible during boot resulting in a black screen,
>
> Have you installed software lately or taken any other actions such as
> moving or deleting files? Have you tried System Restore?
>
> "Detlev Dreyer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Talal Itani <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> Something happened on my PC. When XP is booting up, first I get the
>>> 'Microsoft Windows XP screen', then I get a black screen, that remains
>>> for about three minutes. Then I get the 'windows is starting up
>>> screen', and things proceed well. The black screen for about three
>>> minutes is a new thing on my computer. Please let me know what I may
>>> have done wrong to cause that.
>>
>> Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
>> installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If the
>> answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're positive
>> that your system is clean, undo your system changes if applicable or use
>> the System Restore tool otherwise.
>>
>> --
>> d-d

I will scan my PC again for malware. I constantly add and remove
applications, so, I do not know the point at which the computer started
misbehaving. And, I do not know how to undo system changes, how to do a
system restore. Does XP save the system automatically, or is it done by the
user?

"Talal Itani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

> "AJR" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> Normally while booting the screen will show what's happening and may or
>> may not show the splash screen. The boot process can be set that these
>> "items" are not visible during boot resulting in a black screen,
>>
>> Have you installed software lately or taken any other actions such as
>> moving or deleting files? Have you tried System Restore?

>> "Detlev Dreyer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>>> Talal Itani <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Something happened on my PC. When XP is booting up, first I get the
>>>> 'Microsoft Windows XP screen', then I get a black screen, that remains
>>>> for about three minutes. Then I get the 'windows is starting up
>>>> screen', and things proceed well. The black screen for about three
>>>> minutes is a new thing on my computer. Please let me know what I may
>>>> have done wrong to cause that.
>>>
>>> Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
>>> installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If the
>>> answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're positive
>>> that your system is clean, undo your system changes if applicable or use
>>> the System Restore tool otherwise.

> I will scan my PC again for malware. I constantly add and remove
> applications, so, I do not know the point at which the computer started
> misbehaving. And, I do not know how to undo system changes, how to do a
> system restore. Does XP save the system automatically, or is it done by
> the user?

Start | Help and Support | System Restore.

Bert Kinney's System restore page.
http://bertk.mvps.org/index.html

Note there are all kinds of resources to answer this question. Search on
System Restore in Help and Support or do a Google search for it.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

"Talal Itani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>> Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
>>> installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If
>>> the answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're
>>> positive that your system is clean, undo your system changes if
>>> applicable or use the System Restore tool otherwise.
>
> I will scan my PC again for malware. I constantly add and remove
> applications, so, I do not know the point at which the computer
> started misbehaving. And, I do not know how to undo system changes,
> how to do a system restore.

"Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use"
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...w_03may19.mspx

> Does XP save the system automatically,

Yes, by default.

> or is it done by the user?

This may be done by the user as well.

--
d-d

"Detlev Dreyer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Talal Itani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>>> Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
>>>> installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If
>>>> the answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're
>>>> positive that your system is clean, undo your system changes if
>>>> applicable or use the System Restore tool otherwise.
>>
>> I will scan my PC again for malware. I constantly add and remove
>> applications, so, I do not know the point at which the computer
>> started misbehaving. And, I do not know how to undo system changes,
>> how to do a system restore.
>
> "Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use"
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...w_03may19.mspx
>
>> Does XP save the system automatically,
>
> Yes, by default.
>
>> or is it done by the user?
>
> This may be done by the user as well.
>
> --
> d-d

How often does XP save the system? Also, there is probably a number of
saved systems to restore from, so how do I know which one to restore?
Thanks a lot.

"Talal Itani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> How often does XP save the system?

See "Microsoft Windows XP System Restore"
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997627.aspx

> Also, there is probably a number of saved systems to restore from,
> so how do I know which one to restore?

That depends. Select a system restore point from the calendar where
you are pretty sure that the problem did not yet exist. Good luck.

--
d-d

"Talal Itani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
> "Detlev Dreyer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> "Talal Itani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>>> Nobody could see from afar what you've done to your system (de-/
>>>>> installations) prior to the first encounter of that problem. If
>>>>> the answer is "nothing", scan your system for Malware. If you're
>>>>> positive that your system is clean, undo your system changes if
>>>>> applicable or use the System Restore tool otherwise.
>>>
>>> I will scan my PC again for malware. I constantly add and remove
>>> applications, so, I do not know the point at which the computer
>>> started misbehaving. And, I do not know how to undo system changes,
>>> how to do a system restore.
>>
>> "Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use"
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...w_03may19.mspx
>>
>>> Does XP save the system automatically,
>>
>> Yes, by default.
>>
>>> or is it done by the user?
>>
>> This may be done by the user as well.
>>
>> --
>> d-d
>
> How often does XP save the system?

Read your resources. That question is answered in them.

> Also, there is probably a number of saved systems to restore from, so how
> do I know which one to restore? Thanks a lot.

Trial and error.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]