Blank Startup Desktop, Intermittant

[Homer]

OK, I have read all the articles I can find about this but in my case, the
system starts normally after about 3 or 4 reboots. Always starts normal
in safe mode. I have disabled everything in startup (MSCONFIG) and still
have the problem...sometimes.

Here is what I have tried:
Replaced ATI video card with nVidia and installed latest driver.
Tested system RAM over weekend with zero fails.
Image 80 GB C drive to new 160 GB Seagate.
When I do a CTL-ALT-DEL and bring up task manager, EXPLORER.EXE is running
but screen is still blank.

This is enough to make me crazy. If anyone has any idea what to try that
I have not allredy, let me know.

Thanks,
JohnS

 

[Guest]

Is there anything logged in the event viewer when this happens? With bootup
problems, I would remove any add-in cards (modems, sound cards, etc) and
start from there. You might also try checking to see if your motherboard,
chipset, etc. have any newer drivers, or possibly your motherboard has a bios
update for this type problem. Is this an HP, Dell, etc., or is this a
machine you've built or had built for you? Has this been going on long, is
it a recent problem, did it happen after an update?

John

 

[Homer]

Is there anything logged in the event viewer when this happens? With
bootup problems, I would remove any add-in cards (modems, sound cards,
etc) and start from there. You might also try checking to see if your
motherboard, chipset, etc. have any newer drivers, or possibly your
motherboard has a bios update for this type problem. Is this an HP,
Dell, etc., or is this a machine you've built or had built for you?
Has this been going on long, is it a recent problem, did it happen
after an update?

John

OK, I have read all the articles I can find about this but in my
case, the system starts normally after about 3 or 4 reboots. Always
starts normal in safe mode. I have disabled everything in startup
(MSCONFIG) and still have the problem...sometimes.

Here is what I have tried:
Replaced ATI video card with nVidia and installed latest driver.
Tested system RAM over weekend with zero fails.
Image 80 GB C drive to new 160 GB Seagate.
When I do a CTL-ALT-DEL and bring up task manager, EXPLORER.EXE is
running but screen is still blank.

This is enough to make me crazy. If anyone has any idea what to try
that I have not allredy, let me know.

Thanks,
JohnS

This is a system I built. P-4, 2.8 GHz. I will do the BIOS update and
chipset update as well and post back. I really don't have any cards
installed that I can run without so I will leave that for a last resort.
Thanks for your reply..

JohnS

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

If all is well via Safe Mode, this indicates that it is a driver issue. In
most cases, display drivers.
Try a roll back via the Device Manager. Also, end the explorer.exe process
(leave the task manager open), then go to File/New Run and type in
explorer.exe.

Other options and added info:

Restore Taskbar and Desktop to Default Functionality (Line 164)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Restore Taskbar,Start Menu and Desktop (Line 117)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm