Computer boot problem

[Markkk]

I have a problem getting the computer to boot properly when I first turn it
on in the morning. (If I turn it off and then on later in the day it works
fine.) What happens is it goes through all the motions of booting up,
including playing the warm-up theme music, but the screen remains dark. If I
turn the monitor off and on, I can see the desktop for an instant when it
comes back on, before the screen again goes dark. The Windows loading screen
(with the moving bar) also flashes by momentarily during bootup. If I leave
the computer on for half an hour or so after the bootup, I can push the
spacebar to make the desktop appear (just like when the computer is in rest
mode and you push a key to make the desktop visible). From then on it
operates normally, including if I turn it off and then back on again. Does
anyone know what might be causing this and how I can restore normal bootup?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a problem getting the computer to boot properly when I first turn
it
on in the morning. (If I turn it off and then on later in the day it works
fine.) What happens is it goes through all the motions of booting up,
including playing the warm-up theme music, but the screen remains dark. If
I
turn the monitor off and on, I can see the desktop for an instant when it
comes back on, before the screen again goes dark. The Windows loading
screen
(with the moving bar) also flashes by momentarily during bootup. If I
leave
the computer on for half an hour or so after the bootup, I can push the
spacebar to make the desktop appear (just like when the computer is in
rest
mode and you push a key to make the desktop visible). From then on it
operates normally, including if I turn it off and then back on again. Does
anyone know what might be causing this and how I can restore normal
bootup?

Sounds like a hardware problem. I would borrow a screen from a
friend and see if the problem persists. The next step would be to try
a borrowed a video adapter, perhaps from your friendly computer dealer.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a problem getting the computer to boot properly when I first turn
it
on in the morning. (If I turn it off and then on later in the day it works
fine.) What happens is it goes through all the motions of booting up,
including playing the warm-up theme music, but the screen remains dark. If
I
turn the monitor off and on, I can see the desktop for an instant when it
comes back on, before the screen again goes dark. The Windows loading
screen
(with the moving bar) also flashes by momentarily during bootup. If I
leave
the computer on for half an hour or so after the bootup, I can push the
spacebar to make the desktop appear (just like when the computer is in
rest
mode and you push a key to make the desktop visible). From then on it
operates normally, including if I turn it off and then back on again. Does
anyone know what might be causing this and how I can restore normal
bootup?

I agree that this isn't a boot problem. It's almost certainly a display
hardware problem.

HTH
-pk

 

[NickelSlug]

Defective Video Card. Replace

 

[HeyBub]

Defective Video Card. Replace

"Markkk" wrote:

Before replacing the video card, remove the card and re-seat it. Sometimes a
poor connection is made better by heat and that follows your symptom.

If the above doesn't help, remove the card and use a pencil eraser on the
board's contacts and try again.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a problem getting the computer to boot properly when I first turn it
on in the morning. (If I turn it off and then on later in the day it works
fine.) What happens is it goes through all the motions of booting up,
including playing the warm-up theme music, but the screen remains dark. If I
turn the monitor off and on, I can see the desktop for an instant when it
comes back on, before the screen again goes dark. The Windows loading screen
(with the moving bar) also flashes by momentarily during bootup. If I leave
the computer on for half an hour or so after the bootup, I can push the
spacebar to make the desktop appear (just like when the computer is in rest
mode and you push a key to make the desktop visible). From then on it
operates normally, including if I turn it off and then back on again. Does
anyone know what might be causing this and how I can restore normal bootup?

Almost certainly, this is a hardware problem, not a Windows one. It's
either the monitor, the video card, or the cable connecting the two.

First, make sure the cable is firmly attached.

If that doesn't fix it, borrow a friend's monitor and try it. If that
fixes it, replace your monitor.

If that doesn't fix it, try reseating your video card on the
motherboard.

If that doesn't fix it, you'll probably need to replace your video
card.

 

[Markkk]

I want to thank everyone who helped with this problem. I’ve been out of town
since shortly after this post and was only recently able to take your advice
and replace the monitor, which fixed the problem. So very good help. Thanx.