[sliktek]

Hi, I am running windows xp professional edition sp2 and my desktop has been running fine for the past few years. All of the sudden I turned it on one day and after the xp logo came a blank screen which never transitioned to the login screen. I can run my computer in safe mode with no issues. Yes, I have tried reinstalling the graphics card driver (Radeon X300) and I have tried running chkdsk check. No, I didn't install anything recently before it happend. I really don't want to have buy a new graphics card.
Thanks for your help in advance.

[Wanderer2]

None of what you mention indicate a problem with the video card. It does indicated an issue with something getting loaded under a normal boot.

Usual method to troubleshoot this is to use msconfig and disable all startup programs via safe mode. Then come up normally and see if you make it to the logon screen. Once there add one program back at a time until you get the blank screen again. Then you know where to start looking.

[sliktek]

Good suggestion, but I tried diagnostic startup via msconfig and the screen still turned blank. Diagnostic means that it only loads the drives and services needed to run Windows.

[spent]

Could be the cause of an update gone wrong. Have you tried a system restore?

[sliktek]

I don't have system restore enable because I heard it can hold viruses once you delete them. I don't think I updated anything although I do remember a few days ago before it stopped working I tried an Sp3 update and it didn't work.

[managed]

You may have got a driver update via Automatic Update if you have it enabled.

Have you tried the VGA mode option from the Safe mode screen ?

[sliktek]

I tried VGA mode and it did the same thing. I cannot do automatic updates because safe mode does not allow you to run updates.

[yeppers]

Recently, I too was getting blank screen just after windows logo page showed during boot process. The difference is that I am running Nvidia graphics driver, not ATI. (Win XP sp2 on a HP desktop with Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE graphic driver).
The following seven step fix worked for me:
1)Started computer in safe mode.
2)From 'run', entered 'msconfig', from 'boot.ini' tab, checked '/BASE_Video' box.
3)Successfully rebooted computer in normal mode and noticed that system boot and speed ran perfectly (although graphics settings were bare bones).
4)Logged into HP driver download site and downloaded the graphics driver that originally came with my computer.
5)Installed original graphics driver.
6)Entered 'msconfig' again, and unchecked '/BASE_Video' box.
7)Restarted computer in normal mode.

NOTE: 'Rolling Back' the graphic driver from within device manager, did not fix the problem. I had to completely reinstall the original graphic driver, that I downloaded from my computer manufacturer site.

On a side note, about 'system restore'.
I recommend leaving system restore enabled. Because, if you do get a virus, just disable 'system restore' before you clean the virus. After cleaning virus, re-enable system restore. System Restore is a nice tool to use from time to time. For example, before I install any software or updates, I usually create a system restore point in advance.

[sliktek]

The computer did not boot normally when I tried that. aaah, this is so annoying. I really need to get onto my computer.

[yeppers]

Maybe the problem has to do with that failed (partially installed) SP3 update that you performed a few days before the problem appeared. From a healthy computer, try logging into your computer model's manufacturer site, and see if they recommend a Microsoft Windows XP SP3 Upgrade Utility for systems with AMD processors. This utility is meant to be installed prior to installing windows XP SP3. If you have a different (non-AMD) processor, there still may be a processor-specific pre-install SP3 utility from your computer manufacturer site. If yes, from a healthy computer, download utility and burn to CD. Then start your problematic computer in safe mode and install the utility.
Before you install the utility, it might be a good idea to copy your hard drive data onto other media. Or, you could slave the problem drive onto a healthy system, and copy/paste the data off that way.
If the upgrade utility installs correctly, try re-installing SP3 using the same method for installing upgrade utility. For future, I highly recommend Acronis hard-drive imaging software. The acronis image restoration process is a breeze.