Display goes black after Windows loads

[ChrisLyon]

Okay, I know. The simple solution here would be to just buy a Mac- but I'm not in a position to do that right now. I've Googled this thing to hell and back with no solutions that work for me.

Let me describe what's going on here. Every time I start my laptop since last night when my display went ape on me (and I had to force restart), my computer starts, the Windows logo comes up and loads, the courser appears on a black background and then Windows logs in and nothing appears- and the courser goes with it.

I've formatted, reinstalled Windows XP Home, Pro, Media Center Editions. Each time it's a full format (not quick). The first time I used the original factory discs and original factory drivers.

I can boot into Safe Mode. When I delete the drivers, I can boot with basic XP Video Drivers but without full resolution (1680x1050). The max resolution I can get right now is 1280x1024 on my 16x10 LCD.

I've got an ATI Mobility Radeon x600 and, since it's a laptop, I can't change the hardware. Of course, if it were hardware, I wouldn't be able to use it at all, right? I've tried downloading the latest ATI drivers but to no avail. I've also tried a new power source from a friend's laptop of the same model series.

Help! I'm stuck in stretchy mode and it's killing me...

[Brent J. Craig]

Wow. Reformatting was a pretty drastic step, wasn't it? It usually takes me about 3 weeks to get desperate enough to do that!

I suspect perhaps the part you left out is that you updated your video drivers last night, or allowed windoz update to do it for you.

Laptops are very picky about their video drivers.

See if windoz (in safe mode) will let you rollback to your previous drivers. if not, try downloading current drivers for your vid card from another machine and installing them (in safe mode if you have to). It is best to NOT let windoz choose the best drivers and instead YOU select the one you want to install. You might also have to tell windoz what monitor you are using - for a laptop just choose a generic one with higher capabilities then your laptop screen.

Every time I allow windoz to 'upgrade' my video drivers I go thru this.

[ChrisLyon]

I didn't perform any updates last night. I installed "previous" drivers today by using the same factory disc I've used every time I've ever reinstalled drivers- which I've never had issues with.

It was about time for me to format anyways. And this computer is my bread and butter. I've tried all the basic steps (as outlined in my OP). I was just looking for someone to say something off the wall or hoping someone had a similar problem with favorable results.

Okay, team- what's the differential diagnosis for a computer who liked drivers before and doesn't now? If the drivers are installed- problems arise, if not, everything's peachy?

Hardware can't be the problem- because if it is- I'm screwed.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Have you tried outputting to something other than the built in LCD?

Have you tried booting to a LIVE Ubuntu CD? That would rule out hardware.

Sounds very much like a hardware problem somewhere in the chain if you're using the same drivers etc as a time when it was working before.

Another test to check is whether or not the computer is still working when it goes black. Set a startup link to an mp3 file and see how long it plays for.

Also for future reference 90% of "old computer troubles" that inspire people to reformat can be corrected by deleting your user account and logging in on a fresh account.

[CVB]

Chris, is it a Toshiba? Mine did the same thing and I couldn't find out what caused it - I tried everything including re-installing windows xp. I ended up getting a new laptop (gateway) and can only use the Toshiba when its hooked up to an external monitor.

When is apple going to roll out a tablet instead of POS thin mac books? All I really run is Solid works and Alias sketchbook.

[Nathan Buxton]

That is a hardware problem. Either something messed up the bios configuration or you fried something... there is really no other reason that could happen.

[ChrisLyon]

I can put out to my HDTV, but again, not to anything other than basic resolutions up to 1280x1024. So an external monitor might help simply because I could get a correct aspect on a CRT or 4x3 LCD.

The computer still works because I can navigate my computer and even perform basic functions when the screen is black (not off... just no info). I can play iTunes all day long, but the screen never displays the desktop or anything.

It's a Compaq Presario X6000 custom to order laptop.

I haven't tried LIVE Ubuntu CD. I'll check it out. I'm on the laptop now. Like I said, it only doesn't work when the drivers are installed. So I'm sitting on a computer with a stretched desktop :\ which sucks for designing.

I'm also reinstalling software which has put me behind on RedRelay. Grr....

Oh well. I'll have a PC up and running here tomorrow and I'll be able to catch up on that and other things. I just liked my mobility. If anyone has any other suggestions, let me know. I'm going to call ATI on Monday because their site is riddled with this issue on their knowledge base- but there is no real answer listed.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Is it only when the drivers are installed or is it only when you get up to the high resolutions that the drivers allow?

[ChrisLyon]

Only when the drivers are installed. Currently I'm running XP default VGA drivers. But when I install the ATI drivers (new and old) things get screwy.

[Lexicon]

It's either something in the BIOS relating to the onboard video or you've got damaged hardware. You should run a test on the video memory. Any decent PC tech in your area will have the software or you can find something that works for you.

[Nathan Buxton]

I had a recent problem somewhat simillar with a PCIe Geforce 6600... it got too hot and stopped working properly.. it worked somewhat but no matter what i tried with software or bios settings or formatting it wouldnt work properly. got a new card and it was fixed.

It aint so simple with a laptop i dont think.

[ChrisLyon]

Lexicon, I'm a decent PC Tech. Or at least i used to be. I was a PC tech for 5 years. I have an old version of ERD Commander and Hiren's Boot Discs, but I don't remember if they can check video memory. I'll look for something else. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

What happens if you install the drivers and boot into safe mode (no video drivers loaded correct?) and then set video accelleration to "no accelleration in the driver controls?

[ChrisLyon]

Hmm i haven't tried that. I'm currently on no acceleration for the VGA settings. I'll try that but i doubt I want no acceleration even if that does work.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

At the very least it'll tell us about the nature of the problem.

[Lexicon]

Lexicon, I'm a decent PC Tech. Or at least i used to be. I was a PC tech for 5 years. I have an old version of ERD Commander and Hiren's Boot Discs, but I don't remember if they can check video memory. I'll look for something else. Thanks for the suggestions.

Try PC Certify. I've got a few bazillion copies of it I freeloaded off of from one of my old jobs. Make sure you test all the hardware buses as well. I'd set it to test everything and let it do it's thing while you go and do whatever else you need to do.

[I Bloom]

Chris,

Here is the solution. Uninstall your PC from your office and then reinstall a Macintosh in your office.




:bleh:
IBloom

[ChrisLyon]

Thanks, ib... I would love nothing more than to make that happen.

Lex, oneguy, i'm working on getting that done today. I'll report back tonight.

[ChrisLyon]

No dice on loading drivers and setting accel speed in safe mode because the drivers aren't loaded in safe mode, therefore the settings are applied only to the VGA set loaded in safe mode. :(

I'm picking up some diagnostic discs today so I'll give them a whirl.

It's almost 99% hardware now.... which means a new Mac for me in the coming weeks ;).

MacBook Pro 17"
2.6 Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB RAM
200GB SATA 7200RPM

Anyone? Anyone?

If someone would take me up on my RedRelay Dailies Services I could afford that $4,000 machine.

5-6 Productions of 3-4 week length would pay it in full. Not to mention, the productions would pay half the cost of shipping hard drives or discs...

Hint hint, wink wink.