Start-Up Problem Puzzle

[Guest]

For the past week or so, when starting up Windows XP Home Edition for the
first time in the morning, the screen suddenly collapses and goes black
during or before desktop or sometimes when I make it briefly to the Internet.
I keep retrying, with F2 or F8 or once even pulling out and reinserting the
master plug -- and my PC stays fine for the rest of the day and night.
However, when first starting the next morning -- the same problem occurs.
System Restore, Last Good Configuration, and Start Windows Normally have not
worked. And I haven't downloaded new software in many months; Norton
anti-virus says it's fine. I also have Microsoft Firewall and Spyware. I
hesitate to try something too complicated, for fear of doing more harm than
good. Could you help with something that is relatively simple and safe?
Thank You!

 

[Bob I]

Reseat all cables.

 

[beb]

Back up your important files. You might be heading for a total failure.
Check your event logs for any indication of a problem, paying attention to
errors and warning in both the system logs and application logs. Try
downloading and running another antispyware software. One does not catch all
threats. Lavasoft Ad-aware and Spybot search and destroy are two antispyware
program that should be downloaded, installed and definitions upgraded and
your machine scanned to be more sure that you are not infected with spyware.
Run a online antivirus scan to give you better idea if you are clean
although your other antivirus software says so.

Pandasoftware.com and bitdefender http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
offer online virus scans.

If your are clean run a disk check to see it your disk is alright. Start
Menu >Run type in box chkdsk /f choose yes and restart your computer.

 

[John Barnes]

Is your system in a cold room. Mine has problems unless it is prewarmed
internally on cold mornings.

 

[paulmd]

Reseat all cables.

Open the case, make sure all of the fans are still spinning. Look for
bulging capacitors (a sign of impending motherboard failure). It's also
possible you have a power supply issue, or a failing video card.