Black Screen for Too Long

[Talal Itani]

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

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

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.

 

[AJR]

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]

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.

 

[Talal Itani]

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?

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?

 

[Rock]

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.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

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/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_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.

 

[Talal Itani]

"Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use"
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx


Yes, by default.


This may be done by the user as well.

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.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

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.

 

[Rock]

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.